Author: Babajanian Karo

ITAR-TASS, Russia
October 26, 2012 Friday 03:28 PM GMT+4

PM Sargsyan invites Inanishvili to visit Armenia

YEREVAN October 26

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has invited the head of the
government of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, to pay an official visit
to the republic. The invitation was extended in a message, sent by
Sargsyan to Ivanishvili in connection with his taking office as
Georgian prime minister.

The Armenian government head wished his Georgian counterpart “success
and many accomplishments” in his “important mission,” says the message
the text of which was made public on Friday by the prime minister’s
press service. Sargsyan is “confident that by our joint efforts we
will be able to give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation, which is
based on the centuries-old friendship traditions between the Armenian
and Georgian people.”

Paper says Putin’s visit to Armenia postponed

October 27, 2012 – 17:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Haykakan Zhamank daily, Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia, which was said to be
earlier scheduled for late October or early November, has once again
been postponed.

Russian media outlets have already reported that Putin’s visits to
India, Turkey and Pakistan have also been put off.

According to CIS Executive Committee, the meeting of the Council of
CIS heads of state has been shifted to early December, with the
reasons not clarified.

Meanwhile, Reuters yesterday, Oct. 26 noted Russian president’s health
problems as the reason, which was later denied by Putin’s spokesman.

Armenian prime minister’s appointment was expected to be in the focus
of the discussions between Russian and Armenian presidents. According
to government circles, Sargsyan-Putin discussions will be held early
December in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in the framework of CIS
presidents’ council meeting, the daily says.

Haykakan Zhamanak: Bisharyan leaves for China as member of NSC delegation

12:01 27/10/2012 » Daily press

Head of Orinats Yerkir Party parliamentary faction Heghine Bisharyan
left for China along with leader of Orinats Yerkir Party, Secretary of
Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Arthur Baghdasaryan, Haykakan
Zhamanak writes.

Arthur Baghdasaryan left for China as NSC Secretary, not as leader of
Orinats Yerkir Party, but he took his co-partisan with himself as
member of NSC delegation, says the paper.

The paper tried to verify the information but was not able to reach
either Orinats Yerkir Party office or faction Secretary Mher
Shahgeldyan on the phone.

Source: Panorama.am

Armenian MP claims to turn to court against athletes’ threats

news.am
October 27, 2012 | 17:14

YEREVAN. – Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Levon Martirosyan is
ready to turn to court if threats on his address do not stop.

`Recently some groups have started to threaten me and have chosen our
honorable athletes. Some days ago I stated my attitude in the
Parliament towards the performance of the Armenian athletes in the
2012 London Olympics. It is unclear to me why it made such a stir in
some groups as if I was speaking about defeat in a potential war,’
Martirosyan claimed.

He also called on those who have really something to tell him to say
it in front of him and do not hide behind others’ backs.

To note, the Armenian athletes released a statement claiming that MP
Martirosyan touched upon their big family in the sport world on Oct. 3
in an obvious ironical, disrespectful and mocking tone.

Armenian identity jeopardized in Diaspora – expert

news.am
October 26, 2012 | 18:32

YEREVAN. – Armenian Youth Foundation held on Friday a
meeting-discussion organized by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
and the Yerevan Medical University students on Advocating national
values among the youth.

Historian Edgar Hovhannisyan talked about the Armenian family and its
role of identity preservation, stressing that the national
peculiarities were transformed to next generations due to families.
The same was true for the Diaspora. However, it is jeopardized due to
mixed marriages.

Another speaker Vahram Mirakyan touched upon the informational and
psychological wars and referred to the information attacks by Turkey
and Azerbaijan on Armenia.

Environmental impact examination of Khachaghbyur-2 hydropower plant
declared invalid

ARMINFO
Saturday, October 27, 14:42

By the order of Armenian Minister of Nature Protection Aram
Haroutyunyan, the environmental impact examination of Khachaghbyur-2
small hydropower plant has been declared expired, i.e. invalid. The
official website of the Ministry reports that the decision is based on
the proposals submitted to Haroutyunyan on 24 Oct 2012.

To recall, on October 24 the minister pointed out the design
deviations in the construction of Khachaghbyur-2 on the Paghjur
tributary of the River Aghstev. Earlier the green activists reported
that the construction of the HPP was carried out in the area of two
partial reserves – Ijevan and Turkish Hazel Alley. In addition, nearly
100 trees were cut for that purpose.

Shakhtar coach: Mkhitaryan opened new spaces

October 27, 2012 – 15:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The two-time Armenian player of the year Henrikh
Mkhitaryan was also named Shakhtar’s best player of last season, but
has gone on to even bigger and better things this season, goal.com
reports.

Mkhitaryan has been instrumental in the club’s mind-boggling start to
the season that has seen them win every single one of their 12
domestic games so far.

The midfielder has replaced Jadson as the side’s creative hub in
midfield this term and matched his goal tally of the previous season,
10, after just six outings this term.

Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu hailed the 23-year-old’s importance to
the side this season, saying: “Our huge step forward has been
Mkhitaryan’s development. He’s accelerated the game and opened new
spaces.”

New appointments in the Diocese of the Armenian Church

2012-10-27 03:17:17

His Holiness Garegin II Supreme Patriarch and the Catholicos of All
Armenians made appointments to the priests in various dioceses of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Friar of the Holy See Fr. Aren Shahenyan has been appointed to service
in the Diocese of Gegharkunik.
Reverend Father Hayrik Hovhannisyan, was dismissed from the
responsibilities of the priest at Holy Cross Monastery and primate of
Crimea of the Armenian Diocese of Ukraine and has been appointed as
the spiritual leader of Saint Hakob church of the Armenian Diocese of
the region of Leman and Geneva, Switzerland.
The host of the Holy See Reverend Father Mkhitar Grigoryan has been
appointed as the priest at Holy Cross Monastery and the primate of
Crimea of the Armenian Diocese of Ukraine.

`2500 AMD Are No Money,’ About Increasing the Minimum Wage (Video)

October 26, 2012 17:43

Yesterday the legislative proposal of the Cabinet, according to which
starting from January 1, 2013, the minimum wage in Armenia will be 35
thousand AMD a month instead of the existing 32500 AMD, passed first
reading. Thus, the bill on amendments to the Minimum Monthly Wage Act
was approved. carried out a small survey among some
citizens of the Republic of Armenia to find out whether they were
pleased with the fact that the Cabinet was going to increase the
minimum wage by 2500 AMD. The majority of citizens who talked to us
complained, since according to them, that small increase didn’t
correspond to the increase in prices.

We present the opinions of citizens without editing. One of them
expressed the following idea, `They have increased the wage, but how
much have the prices of goods increased? If the Cabinet members are
paid that wage, will they live on that?’

Another citizen noted, `2500 AMD is a small sum, it is less than one
spends in one day. It will not help the people in any way.’

Some citizens said that the increase wouldn’t affect them, since they
were not government workers.

One of our interlocutors said, `I am not pleased, the Cabinet should
have increased the wage more. If an MP can live on 40 thousand, then I
am satisfied. Or, if an MP is paid 600.000 AMD and it is not enough
for him and he starts a business, how can a pensioner or someone who
lives on the minimum wage live?’

Another citizen said, `I don’t know anything about the wage. I don’t
know how much people get, but the increase in prices affects us. 2500
AMD are no money, it is the cost of a pack of cigarettes, a lighter.
They should have increased by at least 30-40 thousand….’

One of citizens said the following, `Certainly, that increase is not
enough. The people are not in a good condition as it is to live on
that sum? No matter how much they increase, it will not satisfy the
needs of people, particularly the youth. And if we compare ourselves
with other countries, the wage should correspond to the other
countries’ one too. I certainly work, but I will retire and what
pension will I get…?’

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Armenia has lowest infant mortality rate in CIS

13:53 27/10/2012 » Health

Neonatal and maternal mortality rates in Armenia have decreased over
recent years, Karine Saribekyan, Director of the Maternal and Child
Health Unit at the Armenian Ministry of Health, told Panorama.am,
presenting the results of the 2010 Armenia Demographic Health Survey
(ADHS) conducted by the Armenian Ministry of Health and the National
Statistical Service of Armenia.

15 cases of maternal death were recorded in Armenia in 2008, 13 in
2009, 3 in 2010 and 3 in 2011. Neonatal mortality rate dropped more
than 10 percent in 2010, according to the report.

The health official noted that the legislative changes led to
registration of infant deaths, as a result of which death cases
increased threefold. Some child deaths are not registered for
subjective reasons, she said. As a result, we have about 56 percent
non-registered deaths.

`Nevertheless, Armenia has the lowest infant mortality rate compared
to CIS countries,’ Mrs Saribekyan concluded.

Source: Panorama.am