Author: Babajanian Karo

Oligarchs in Armenia cannot become opposition – political technology specialist

May 16, 2013 | 01:04

YEREVAN. – There cannot be an opposition oligarch in Armenia.

Political technologist Karen Kocharyan told the abovementioned to
Armenian News-NEWS.am, commenting on Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
Chairman, oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan’s recent statement that PAP cannot
become an opposition.

`I have always said it is impossible to imagine PAP and its leader in
the role of an opposition. Now, I reiterate my assertion in the
present context,’ Kocharyan noted, and added that it is up to them as
to how they will explain this.

The political technologist also stated that he will continue to assert
that the oligarchs in Armenia cannot become opposition.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Zhoghovurd: Imperial Hotel owned by Arthur Baghdasaryan?

11:27 16/05/2013 » DAILY PRESS

Yerevan’s newly built Imperial Hotel is owned by Secretary of
Armenia’s National Security Council (NSC), leader of Orinats Yerkir
Party Arthur Baghdasaryan, Zhoghovurd daily says. However, Orinats
Yerkir spokesman Arthur Sisakyan refuted this information to the
paper, saying that Baghdasaryan has no connection with Imperial Hotel.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIE
Le Président de l’Association des consommateurs arméniens s’oppose à
l’annulation des plaques d’immatriculation jaunes sur les taxis

Armen Poghosyan, président de l’Association des consommateurs
arméniens, a exprimé son opposition à la proposition de la police de
la route de remplacer les plaques d’immatriculation jaunes sur les
taxis avec des certificats spéciaux.

Cette proposition a été soutenue par le gouvernement mais Armen
Poghosyan a dit qu’il trouve cette idée illogique et inacceptable,
étant donné que les plaques d’immatriculation jaunes servent comme
excellente preuve de la légalité du service de taxi, alors que le
certificat qui est proposé et devant être fixé sur la lunette arrière
de la voiture n’est pas clairement visible.

Gevorg Dosturyan, chef de l’organisation non gouvernementale Position
civile, a déclaré que le remplacement des plaques d’immatriculation
jaunes avec des certificats laissera place à des fraudes faciles.

« Le département de police de la route n’a pas résolu le problème des
taxis clandestins encore, mais il a déjà proposé une nouvelle
initiative, qui permettra de créer plus de place pour les entreprises
de transport de passagers clandestins » a-t-il dit.

Selon l’Association des consommateurs arméniens, il y a 15000 taxis en
Arménie. Parmi eux, 30% n’ont pas de licences.

Il y a environ 9000 taxis agréés en Arménie aujourd’hui. Parmi eux,
7000 appartiennent à 500 services de taxi.

jeudi 16 mai 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

NKR Announced Lottery for Resettlement of NKR

The Aparazh newspaper has published an exclusive interview with the
NKR deputy prime minister Arthur Aghabekyan where he shared details on
the state lottery initiative for the resettlement of NKR.

`The number one resource enabling resettlement without serious social
obstacles is our land resources in Kashatagh and Karvachar. We can
offer territories to resettled people and economic operators which
will create jobs. The next condition which will enable immigration is
creation of jobs in manufacturing. The NKR legislation is favorable
for running businesses and creating jobs,’ the deputy foreign minister
said.

He informed that in 2013 the NKR government has launched a national
lottery. Profit will be spent on resettlement.

The prizes will be products produced in Artsakh, including carpets,
apartments in Stepanakert, tours to Artsakh etc. The first lottery
will be on 28 December 2013 (the day of election of the first Supreme
Council). The lottery ticket costs 2000 drams.

14:12 15/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Homeless – Video

07:02 PM | MAY 14, 2013 | SOCIAL

78 year-old Albert feels a deep regret every time he passes by his
former house in Hanrapetutyan 33 address. The area was announced
public priority interest 6 years ago, the houses of the residents were
deconstructed, yet there has never been any new construction in that
place.

The circumstances in the video

The Daily Star (Lebanon)
May 15, 2013 Wednesday

Homenetmen back in first division after 10-year wait

by Dany Abboud

Homenetmen ended a 10-year wait for top-flight promotion to Lebanese
basketball’s first division Monday as they claimed the final series
comfortably 3-0 after their 58-51 victory over Tadamon Zouk.

BEIRUT: Homenetmen ended a 10-year wait for top-flight promotion to
Lebanese basketball’s first division Monday as they claimed the final
series comfortably 3-0 after their 58-51 victory over Tadamon Zouk.

The Armenian side will be in the premier league next season for the
first time since the 2004-05 season.

“I am very proud of the team,” said Bosnian head coach Allen Abaz.
“It’s an occasion the people here have waited an awful long time for.
So I’m glad we were able to make [them] finally happy.”

“This club holds a big tradition, and most importantly is followed by
a huge fan base which is very attached to its team; even though they
haven’t achieved good results for a while, they kept supporting them,”
he added.

Looking ahead to next season, Abaz added: “It’s a huge challenge. We
are going into a tough and strong league. We are going to plan
properly, that has started already. We will make sure the structure we
have put in place keeps us striding forward.”

“Our first aim is to play good basketball and improve on our
performance. We should not put hard goals to achieve, but rather look
to develop gradually every year.”

Hundreds of fans gathered in Mezher stadium Monday to mark the
league’s victory and its long-awaited return to the league’s first
division.

Supporters burst onto the court in their hundreds and embraced players
including Bassem Balaa and Joe Ghatas. Former player Guy Manoukian,
now a musician and businessman – and one of the team’s backers, was
also hugged and cheered by jubilant fans.

“I am happy to be working with such a dedicated person and someone who
loves the game like him [Manoukian]. The Lebanese league is the
biggest winner to have such people, and I hope we can achieve together
a lot more for the team,” Abaz said.
Homenetmen suffered heartbreak in 2012 after losing to Tebnin in the
playoff semifinals and missing out on the chance to qualify. The
Armenian side are now looking forward to joining Lebanon’s top teams.

Homenetmen possess several players who are more than accustomed to the
top division. One of these is Ghatas, who played for Sagesse for eight
years, as well as for Champville.

The shooting guard played a major role in his team’s return to the top
flight, netting 24 points and eight assists in the third and final
game.

“Our goal was to win the title and secure automatic promotion to the
top flight after last year’s disappointment,” Ghatas said.”We had some
difficulties during the season, but I guess we were able to cope with
all the situations, and achieve our goal at the end.”
“They used to tell me about how big Homenetmen fans are, and coming
from a team [Sagesse] who has the biggest fan base in Lebanon, I
honestly wasn’t expecting a lot,” he said.

“But what I saw in the finals was incredible. They had a huge impact
on the team, especially in the third match when we were down by 15 in
the first quarter,” he added.

“I want to dedicate this win to Rony Abou Jaoude [a Bejjeh player who
passed away last February in a car accident] who was a big loss to
Lebanese basketball as a whole, as well as the team management,
coaches and fans.”

Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
May 15 2013

Lukashenko: Development of cooperation with Armenia is among long-term
priorities of Belarus

13.05.2013 15:27

YEREVAN, 13 May (BelTA) – Development of all-around cooperation with
Armenia is among the long-term foreign policy and foreign economic
priorities of Belarus, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said
after talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, BelTA
learned.

The head of state stressed that Armenia is an important friend and
very close partner of Belarus in Transcaucasia. Addressing Serzh
Sargsyan, Alexander Lukashenko noted that the period of the
presidential campaign has recently ended in Armenia, and Belarus is
ready to be there for Armenian people to help them implement their
plans and ideas.

According to the Belarusian President, the talks in Yerevan focused on
the whole range of issues of bilateral relations. Agreements were
reached to enhance cooperation between the Foreign Ministries,
parliaments, and to continue supporting each other within the
framework of international organizations.

“Belarus and Armenia are interested in the deepening of relations in
all areas. We have no closed themes in cooperation from agriculture to
military-political issues. But at this stage, our main priority is the
development of economic contacts and expansion of bilateral trade,’
said the Belarusian leader. He is confident that the current trade
does not meet the potential of the two countries and can be increased
at least twice in the coming years.

`We need to jointly look for new forms of economic cooperation,
including the implementation of joint industrial and infrastructure
projects with the attraction of investments and introduction of
cutting-edge technologies,’ Alexander Lukashenko said.

According to the President of Belarus, the countries have been
actively developing humanitarian relations. The intergovernmental
agreement on cooperation in the protection of the rights of national
minorities of the two countries testifies to the fact. `Thousands of
Armenians who live in Belarus today have never had any complaints,’
the Belarusian leader stressed.

Alexander Lukashenko expressed satisfaction with the agreements
reached at the talks. In his words, the meetings demonstrated mutual
interest in developing constructive cooperation and real prospects for
the implementation of joint plans.

The President of Armenia, for his part, noted that the official visit
of the Belarusian head of state has taken place ahead of the 20th
anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
`Approaching this date we can boast a high level of bilateral
cooperation and have a solid understanding that the positive
experience in interstate cooperation gained over the period is our
main asset,’ he said.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, the parties discussed a wide range of
issues in economy, geopolitics and humanitarian activities. The sides
talked over the activity of the intergovernmental commission for trade
and economic cooperation which is due to meet this summer.

Areximbank-Gazprombank Group: Armenia ready for e-commerce

May 15, 2013 – 19:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s e-commerce market possesses great
potential, Deputy Director of Areximbank-Gazprombank Group CJSC said.

According to Ruben Khachatryan, the number of internet users
significantly increased in the past 4 years.

`Areximbank-Gazprombank Group was the first bank in Armenia to ensure
receipt of electric payments through VISA plastic cards,’ he said.

Mr Khachatryan noted that significant growth in the number of online
shops was reported in 2013, with the total turnover totaling AMD 63
074 444 since September 2012.
`In the period of September 2012- December 2012, the turnover grossed
AMD 13 099 240 and AMD 49 975 204 in the past 4 months,’ Mr.
Khachatryan said, voicing hope that Armenia is ready for transition to
e-commerce.

Our people have experience of getting rid of tyrant authorities –
Garegin Chookaszian

09:55 – 15.05.13

Pre-parliament Political Council member Garegin Chookaszian believes
that dictatorship has been established in Armenia but people have the
experience of getting rid of it – they acquired this experience in
1988.

`We can learn from other peoples as well, but let’s remember the
changes that happened in tyrant Communist party system,’ he said,
speaking to Tert.am, noting that at that time a second pole has been
created by the pan-national movement and in future a revolution
without quakes took place.

He said the interest of the people toward their self-organized
movement has increased. Speaking at May 17 rally Chookaszian said,
`Naturally, this will be our first rally and the expectations from it
is the start of self-organization process and any response of the
people will be right.’

Speaking about rally in Gyumri, he said that in this way they are
aimed at starting formation of group of supporters which launched
successfully with the more than a half of participants of the rally
were listed which was a very important step.

`Such meeting was held with Gyumri people for the first time and I
think it was a success,’ he noted.

Chookaszian said today the political field in Armenia is bankrupt. `It
is not the matter of lack of politics, just today the people are
opposing to the system and to the administration and here is not the
issue of parties, regretfully the parties did not manage to reinforce
during these 25 years and the political field failed in Armenia. This
is the main problem,’ he said, adding that there is a need to reform
the political field in Armenia.

`In the current situation of Armenia, the role of representative
democracy in the country decreases, but it does not mean that it will
not be in Armenia, just in the transition period direct democratic
principles will mainly work,’ he concluded.

Armenia’s aviation market to have another Arab airline company

May 15, 2013 | 01:02

YEREVAN. – Air Arabia airline company of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) applied to the Armenian Government-Affiliated General Department
of Civil Aviation (GDCA), with a request to conduct two weekly flights
to UAE.

GDCA official Hrant Mirzoyan told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Air Arabia represents the Emirate of Sharjah, and these flights will
be conducted to Sharjah, which is close to Dubai. Mirzoyan informed
that the application is being examined and, in all likelihood, it will
be approved.

To note, solely Fly Dubai airline company conducts flights between
Armenia and UAE, four times per week. This company had applied to
GDCA, with a request to conduct daily flights. But, as per Mirzoyan,
GDCA is inclined towards increasing the flights to five times per
week.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am