Author: Babajanian Karo

WAITING FOR HOMES: MANY ORPHAN GRADUATES IN ARMENIA REMAIN WITHOUT HOUSING DESPITE STATE PROGRAMS

Society | 05.12.14 | 12:08

Photo: agbudiscoverarmenia.wordpress.com

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

A total of 350 alumni that graduated from Armenian orphanages in
different years are in the housing waiting list for several years
already, while their turn never comes. Leaving the institutions
they face the problem of homelessness and numerous social hardships
being left without control. After they turn 18 they continue living
in orphanages, at their relatives’ places or in some NGOs. Annually
their number grows by another 35.

Nikolay Nalbandyan, the director of the orphanage in the town of
Gavar, some 120 kilometers away from Yerevan, said that four of the
orphanage graduates continue living in the dormitory building located
near the orphanage.

“They are not registered at the orphanage anymore, but if they
have nowhere else to go, would we just kick them out? The orphanage
continues paying for the food, electricity, gas before they receive
their own flats,” Nalbandyan said.

Lilit Avetisyan, 25, in 2006 moved from the Gavar orphanage to the Our
House NGO in the town of Echmiadzin. This is an organization where
the beneficiaries sign a contract with the organization to continue
their education at educational institutions during the five years of
their stay there.

“I was supposed to live here till 2010. It is four years already that I
have lived here by an additional contract. I have been on the waiting
list since 2007, I do not even believe that I will ever receive an
apartment. I work at a printing house, and I get a salary of 40,000
drams,” Lilit said. “I cannot even rent a place on that money, or
pay for my expenses.”

Many graduates, just like Lilit, are on the waiting list of the ‘State
Support for Orphanage Graduates’ program, which however stopped in
2008. The program was launched in 2003 and as a result graduates
from 1991 who appeared in the streets or lived in different places
after leaving the orphanages were registered in the list. Among 503
registered graduates 149 received flats during the years of 2003-2008.

A long waiting list of graduates was created after 2008 when the
government stopped the program after the scandalous revelations
made by the Audit Chamber. Huge means belonging to the program
were misappropriated. In July 2010 it was officially announced that
misappropriations reached 1 billion, 237,500,000 drams (about $2.8
million).

Astghik Minasyan, the head of the Social Support Department of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, said that the government is
realizing a program called ‘Housing for Socially Vulnerable and People
in Special Groups’, within which orphanage graduates received flats
in Maralik.

“Unfortunately, many of them refused the housing. The biggest problem
is that they cannot find work in Maralik. Next in the program is
buildings located in Yerevan’s Tbilisian Highway. Everybody wants to
get the housing in Yerevan, which is related to the same work pool
problem,” she said.

Our House NGO Director Tigranuhi Karapetyan does not consider it right
that graduates of barely 18 are sent to Maralik or Spitak without
a job or future support. Karapetyan thinks that the program must be
amended to address all problems.

Consultant of the Ombudsman Anna Safaryan said that many graduates of
orphanages turn to the Ombudsman’s office. Many of them complain that
their turn never comes, and others – of the quality of the housing
they were already provided with.

“After leaving the orphanage the state, skip for providing housing for
several cases, does not support or get interested in the future of this
children anyhow,” Safaryan said. “Graduates with disabilities appear in
even graver conditions as they have only one path to choose – to the
nursery home or to a psychiatric center. The state does not undertake
any measures for those with disabilities, whereas in specialized
orphanages the number of children with disabilities exceeds that of
those without disabilities. There is still a lot to be done here.”

HELICOPTER DOWNING WAS AVOIDABLE, LAVROV AND KERRY STATE

Thursday 4 December 2014 15:38
Photo: majalla.com, cgdev.org, huffpost.com

Sergey Lavrov,John Kerry and Harlem Desir

Yerevan/Mediamax/. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries have once
again ruled out the military settlement of NK conflict and called on
Yerevan and Baku to work actively towards a lasting settlement.

At the meeting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers in Basel today,
the Heads of Delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries –
Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States John Kerry and State Secretary for
European Affairs of France Harlem Desir issued a joint statement.

“We regret the upsurge in violence in the past year along the line
of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The sides must take
additional actions to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and create a more
favorable atmosphere for advancing peace talks”, the statement reads.

Touching upon the November 12 downing of a military helicopter along
the line of contact, the Heads of Delegations of Co-Chair countries
stated “it was an avoidable tragedy”. They believe it underscored the
importance of measures by the sides to reduce tensions, restore trust,
and avoid future incidents.

“We appeal to all sides to demonstrate restraint to prevent further
escalation. We also call on them to settle humanitarian issues in the
spirit of the Astrakhan statement of October 2010 of the Presidents
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation”, noted the Heads
of Delegations of intermediary countries.

They stressed that the three meetings between the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2014 have revitalized the most important
channel of communication between the sides.

“We welcome the agreement by the Presidents in Paris to intensify
dialogue in the coming year. It is time for the sides to overcome
disagreements, restore confidence, and honor their commitment to enter
into a negotiating process that can result in a settlement. They are
expected to acknowledge that the basis for a comprehensive settlement
are the elements and principles outlined in the joint statements by
the Presidents of Russia, the United States, and France, especially
those that were discussed during the last summit in Paris”, the
statement reads.

The Heads of Delegations noted that negotiations on a comprehensive
peace agreement under the auspices of the Co-Chair countries should
begin as soon as possible.

“We remain ready to work closely with the sides to reach a lasting
settlement and open a new chapter of peace, but stress that the
primary responsibility to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict rests
with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan”, the statement reads.

NAIRIT EMPLOYEES ARE IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL BUILDING: 2/3 OF THE STAFF WILL BE CUT (VIDEO)

12:54 | December 4,2014 | Social

Today “Nairit” employees have again gathered in front of the
Presidential building. They are demanding to pay 18 months’ salary
and the reoperation of the factory. Factory employees have already
been sent notes by the directorate that they will be dismissed from
February 6. They haven’t expected such resolution of the issue.

Director of the factory Ruben Saghatelyan is also in front of the
Presidential building. He noted that by dismissing the employees
they are trying to solve the problem, as 1500 employees have been in
enforced idleness and have got salary for 4 years.

A new treaty will be signed with 500 employees from February 6. The
Director explained that those employees must preserve the factory
though it doesn’t give production. Nairit employees are waiting for
the meeting with the head of the staff of the President. They were
informed that the head of the staff is at the Government session,
and will meet Nairit employees after the session.

GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES NEW CATEGORY OF MILITARY PRODUCT SUPPLY FROM RUSSIA

12:07, 4 December, 2014

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The Government of the Republic of
Armenia develops new mechanisms to implement the provisions of the
agreement on the development of the military cooperation signed with
the Russian Federation in 2013. At the session of the Government the
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan informed
that the adoption of the decision will foster the development of the
mechanisms and approaches for the implementation of the obligations,
envisaged by the agreement “On the development of military cooperation
between Armenia and Russia”.

“Between the two countries a definition of issues, related to the
import and export procedures of the military production and the
necessary agreements is being defined. This gives our cooperation a
new level and fosters the development of the military partnership”,
– said Seyranyan, Armenpress reports.

RUSSIA DISTURBED THE RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT, SAYS PAUL GOBLE

12.04.2014 11:13 epress.am

In 2001, during the Key West Summit, Armenia and Azerbaijan were closer
to resolving the Karabakh conflict than ever before. The paper 168
Zhaminterviewed American analyst Paul Goble, who authored the famous
“Goble Plan.” Goble, who was a special advisor to the US Secretary
of State, had written an article in the beginning of the Karabakh
war suggesting the path of “territorial trade” as a resolution to
the issue, urging Armenia to concede the city Meghri to Azerbaijan
for Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin.

During the interview, Goble noted that in 2001 many of the points on
the table were extremely close to that alternative he had suggested.

“The two sides were very close to resolving the conflict because
President Robert Kocharyan and President Heydar Aliyev gave a higher
priority to their people than their personal authority, and if there
was no foreign intervention, it would’ve been possible to reach the
final agreement,” said the analyst.

According to him, among the foreign powers, Russia did not let Armenia
and Azerbaijan reach the final resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Goble believes that the issue left unresolved has a strategic
significance for Moscow because it has never been able to control
the Northern Caucasus without controlling the South. On the other
hand, Goble believed that the West is in favor of the maintenance of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s “stable status-quo.” In regards to the relevance
of the Goble Plan, he stated that “at the time, it was a good idea,”
however, currently it has no place in the resolution of the conflict.

SON EMINENCE L’ARCHEVEQUE TATEV GHARIBYAN EST ENTRE DANS LE REPOS ETERNEL

ARMENIE

C’est avec une profonde tristesse que le Saint Siège informe ses
fidèles que le 26 Novembre, Son Eminence l’Archeveque Tatev Gharibyan
est entre dans son repos eternel a Sao Paulo, au Bresil, après avoir
developpe une insuffisance renale après une greffe de rein. Il avait
77 ans et etait l’un des membres superieurs de la Fraternite du
Saint-Siège d’Etchmiadzin.

Servant de primat du diocèse armenien du Bresil depuis 1980, Son
Eminence l’Archeveque Tatev Gharibyan a quitte sa position l’an
dernier en raison de problèmes de sante.

La mort de l’archeveque est qualifiee de grande perte pour l’Eglise
apostolique armenienne et ses enfants fidèles.

Sa Saintete Karekin II, Patriarche Supreme et Catholicos de Tous
les Armeniens ; Conseil spirituel supreme et le clerge de l’Eglise
armenienne pleurent la mort du Père.

Beni soit la memoire des justes.

jeudi 4 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LA PAUSE FISCALE POUR LES COMMUNES FRONTALIÈRES RENCONTRE UNE OPPOSITION LOCALE

ARMENIE

Une nouvelle loi adoptee par le parlement d’Armenie qui va donner des
exonerations fiscales aux entreprises basees le long de la frontière
du pays avec l’Azerbaïdjan a ete fortement critique par des gens qui
y vivent.

La loi, qui prevoit “l’exoneration de l’impôt pour l’activite
entrepreneuriale dans les villages frontaliers”, entrera en vigueur
le 1er Janvier de l’annee prochaine. Selon la loi, les proprietaires
d’entreprises recevront des incitations fiscales pour investir
dans des activites industrielles et commerciales dans 47 districts
frontaliers. Le gouvernement calcule que l’allegement fiscal total
s’elèvera a 2,5 milliards de drams, soit environ 6 millions de $
par an.

> a
declare le vice-ministre des Finances Vakhtang Mirumyan au parlement
le 21 Octobre, expliquant que ces entreprises n’auraient pas a payer
la taxe sur la valeur ajoutee de 20 pour cent, l’impôt sur le chiffre
d’affaires de 20 pour cent, et l’impôt sur le revenu dont le taux de
base peut varier de 24,4 pour cent a 26 pour cent.

Malgre les avantages apparents de l’offre, les personnes vivant le
long de la frontière ont critique la nouvelle loi. Samvel Saghoyan est
le chef de l’administration locale dans le village de Chinari, situe
dans le nord-est de l’Armenie près de la frontière avec l’Azerbaïdjan.

Il s’oppose a la nouvelle loi parce qu’elle n’affecte que les
entreprises et donc ne beneficiera pas a la majorite des residents
locaux.

> a declare Samvel Saghoyan a l’IWPR. >.

Quatre-vingt pour cent des terres arables dans la zone frontalière de
l’Armenie sont au ralenti en raison du risque de coups de feu de la
partie azerbaïdjanaise. Les tirs des snipers et les raids occasionnels
sont des caracteristiques constantes de la vie a la fois sur la
frontière entre l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie et le long de la “ligne
de contrôle” qui forme une frontière autour du Haut-Karabagh. Cet ete
a vu une augmentation alarmante des incidents de tir en première ligne.

En août de cette annee, le Premier ministre et les parlementaires
armenienne qui ont visite les villages le long de la frontière ont
promis de faire tout ce qui etait possible afin de repondre aux
preoccupations des residents locaux.

Les opposants a la nouvelle loi font valoir que donner des exonerations
fiscales aux entreprises ne fera rien pour aider ces zones.

Vachik Melkumyan est un agriculteur de 55 ans dans la region du
Tavush. Il y a deux ans, il a ete touche a la jambe droite tout en
travaillant dans les champs. Il dit que les gens qui vivent le long
de la frontière ont besoin de soutien medical et d’un eventail de
services publics plutôt que d’un regime d’exoneration d’impôt.

> a-t-il declare a l’IWPR. >.

Vachik Melkumyan a exhorte le gouvernement a offrir des soins de
sante gratuits et d’autres avantages.

> a-t-il ajoute. a declare
Pashinyan au parlement le 23 Octobre, en soulignant que ces mesures
coûteraient le meme coût que le regime de reduction de l’impôt.

Nikol Pashinyan a dit que le gouvernement a bloque son projet de loi
en raison de ses propres nouvelles lois qui, selon lui etaient des
efforts insuffisants.

a-t-il declare a
l’IWPR. >.

La nouvelle loi a ete bien accueillie au parlement, bien que certains
aient mis en evidence des lacunes structurelles. En particulier, le
projet de loi ne precise pas la duree des avantages fiscaux. Mikael
Melkumyan du parti Armenie prospère souligne egalement que les
entreprises ne peuvent pas ressentir les bienfaits.

DEBATS PARLEMENTAIRES AUTOUR DU TRAITE DE L’UEE

Opposition

L’Assemblee nationale a debattu du traite d’adhesion de l’Armenie
a l’Union economique eurasienne hier, pour la deuxième journee
consecutive. Plusieurs deputes de l’opposition ont declare que ce
traite est une grave menace pour l’independance nationale.

Des discours emphatiques livres par eux etaient peu susceptibles
d’influencer les legislateurs du Parti republicain et presque tous
les groupes de l’opposition representes au Parlement armenien. Ces
derniers sont censes voter pour la ratification du traite signe par
les presidents de l’Armenie, la Russie, la Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan
a Minsk en octobre.

Alexander Arzoumanian, ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères
affilie a aucun des partis parlementaires, a decrit l’UEE comme une
“tentative de la Russie pour reincarner l’Union sovietique.” “Toutes
ces declarations sur notre securite economique et energetique sont
un non-sens”, a t-il ajoute. “Comment pouvons-nous avoir la securite
energetique en remettant ce secteur dans les mains d’un autre pays ?”

Arzoumanian a egalement fait valoir que l’Armenie rejoint le bloc
russe a un moment où l’economie russe s’enfonce.

“En rejoignant l’UEE, l’Armenie est en train de perdre ses perspectives
strategiques et la motivation pour devenir un locataire miserable
dans l’espace economique eurasien”, a annonce Nikol Pashinian, autre
opposant non partisan.

“Ce traite a ete impose”, a declare Tevan Poghosian, un depute
representant l’opposition du Zharangutyun. Il a ajoute esperer toujours
que le document ne soit pas ratifie par certains Etats membres de UEE.

Zharangutyun est la seule force parlementaire qui soit ouvertement
opposee a l’adhesion de l’Armenie a l’UEE. Il ne detient que
trois sièges a l’assemblee qui en compte 131. Les deux allies de
l’opposition du Zharangutyun, le Congrès national armenien et le Parti
Armenie prospère, ont clairement fait savoir qu’ils vont voter pour
la ratification du traite. L’adhesion de l’Armenie dans l’UEE est
egalement soutenue par les deux autres partis d’opposition siegeant
au parlement : Orinats Yerkir et la FRA.

jeudi 4 decembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

POUR LE PM, LES TAUX DE CHANGE DU DRAM SONT SOUS CONTROLE

Monnaie

Les autorites armeniennes vont stabiliser le taux d’echange du dram,
et vont prevenir toute flambee des prix a la consommation, a declare
hier Hovik Abrahamian, en echo a des declarations faites par la
Banque centrale.

Le Premier ministre a blâme la situation economique qui s’aggrave
en Russie, cause de la depreciation importante de ces dernières
semaines du dram armenien. “Il n’y a pas de problème. La Banque
centrale maintient la situation sous contrôle et je pense que les
choses seront reglees dans les prochains jours “, a t-il declare.

Le dram a affaibli de plus de 6 % par rapport au dollar depuis
mi-novembre, dans un contexte de baisse des flux de tresorerie
provenant des Armeniens travaillant en Russie. Le rouble russe s’est
deprecie encore plus fortement, en raison d’une baisse continue
des prix internationaux du petrole et de l’impact des sanctions
economiques occidentales.

Bien que le dram a perdu 1,7 % de sa valeur mardi, la Banque centrale
a insiste sur le fait qu’il a suffisamment de reserves en devises
pour empecher de nouvelles fluctuations des taux de change. Le taux
de change est reste pratiquement inchange hier.

Abrahamian a insiste pour dire que ce dram plus faible n’entraînera pas
une hausse des prix a la consommation en Armenie. “L’inflation est dans
une fourchette de 5 %, ce que je considère comme normal”, a t-il dit.

Le vice-Premier ministre Vache Gabrielian a meme dit au Parlement
armenien tôt dans la journee que les autorites maintiendront le taux
d’inflation annuel dans leur fourchette cible de 4 % fixe pour 2014.

Abrahamian et Gabrielian ont egalement declare que l’Etat regulateur
sanctionnerait rapidement les entreprises qui essayeraient de
capitaliser sur l’instabilite des taux de change avec des prix >.

Les fluctuations des taux imprevisibles ont deja affecte certaines
societes armeniennes orientee vers l’importation. “Je n’ai pas vendu de
biens de mes entrepôts depuis quelques jours”, a declare Raffi Mkhjian,
proprietaire de Raffaele Contini Trading Company, qui importe et traite
du cafe. “Aucune entreprise qui importe des matières premières et des
autres marchandises ne peut eviter des pertes dans cette situation”,
a t-il dit.

Samvel Avetisian, gestionnaire de la voiture concessionnaire Kia
Motors Armenie, s’est egalement plaint de l’incertitude du marche
des devises. “Il y a un taux de change le matin et une autre le
soir. Et la Banque centrale et des boutiques de change fixent des
taux differents. Nous avons maintenant du mal a calculer le prix en
dram de nos voitures “.

jeudi 4 decembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

WE SEE UNREALIZED POTENTIAL IS SWEDISH-ARMENIA RELATIONS – AMBASSADOR

13:22 * 04.12.14

In an exclusive interview with Tert.am, Armenian Ambassador to Sweden
Artak Apitonyan stressed the northern European country’s pivotal role
for Armenia, highlighting particularly the need of multi-sectoral
close cooperation as an integral part of Armenia’s European agenda.

The ambassador said he thinks that the two countries have considerable
work to do, particularly in the economic domain.

The trade overturn is far from matching the existing potentials,
although we have a 30% growth in comparison with last year. Our
export level is very low, not even worthy to mention. The Swedish
representation in Armenia is more inspiring , with about two
dozen companies working through direct representations or regional
headquarters. What’s even more, there are several major companies
such as Ericson, Elekta, Scania, Oriflame and so on. The company LL
Bolaget is going to arrange waste disposal activities in Yerevan.

“We would like to see Swedish companies better involvement in Armenia’s
economy, having in mind also the investment agreement between the
two countries,” he said.

Mr Apitonyan further elaborated on the Embassy’s program aimed to
boost trade-economic relations. He said they intend to implement the
projects in collaboration with the responsible government agencies.

“We are going to undertake steps to accomplish the business environment
and the regulation of legal contractual domain, particularly,
negotiations and sign an agreement to avoid double taxation. We’ll
carry out work to introduce the leading branches of our economy
to Swedish business circles. This year we are planning to conduct
several conferences in Stockholm and other cities and towns of Sweden
to address the topic,” he said, adding that the events will focus on
the IT sector, food industries, jewelry making etc.

The ambassador further unveiled plans for organizing different
exhibitions in Sweden in an effort to make the Swedish market more
accessible to Armenian products. He said they will continue promoting
the Swedish companies’ representation in the country to encourage
their use a platform for business transactions with other states in
the region.

It’s very commendable that our Swedish partners too, share our approach
to boost economic cooperation. “The first ever high-ranking visit
since the launch of the embassy in Yerevan was that of Trade Minister
Eva Bjorling who was accompanied also by Swedish businesspeople.

“There is still much to do to upgrade our bilateral relations to the
current level of potentials. I think bilateral efforts are necessary
to raise the quality and effectiveness of our relations. And I repeat
it is encouraging to see such efforts also by Swedish companies,”
he added.