Author: Babajanian Karo

78-YEAR-OLD WOMAN HUNGRY BECAUSE OF TAX OFFICIALS

04:35 pm | Today | Social

It is the second month that Raya Prazyan, a 78-year-old resident
of the village of Kakhakn in Gegharkunik marz, goes to bed without
having enough food. Tax authorities deduct 10,000 AMD from her monthly
pension of 31,000 AMD as an administrative fine.

Until 2006, the woman had a small stall near the village school,
selling chewing gums and cookies to schoolchildren and paying all
the taxes. She had to close her stall after it was robbed.

Roza Prazyan told “Hetq” that no one told her that she was required
to file an aplication to the tax authorities, informing them that she
went out of business. Early this year the old woman received a letter
from the tax authorities that a fine of 500,000 AMD was imposed on her.

So a sum of 10,000 AMD is deducted from the woman’s pension every
month until the full amount of fine (500,000 AMD) is levied.

See details in video of “Hetq”

HOW MUCH DAMAGE DID RA STATE BUDGET SUFFER FROM ARMAVIA?

2012-09-25 17:45:33

The bill on “RA air passengers exit state tax levy order” was presented
to Government session discussion in 2009. In its turn NA adopted
law on making changes and addition in the law on “state tax”, which
has become valid since March 29, 2009. According to that change the
procedure on air tax payment AMD 10.000 state debt including air fare.

According to the well-informed sources of Lurer.com, Armavia company
hasn’t paid the AMD 10.000 for more than two years.

Note, in case of not regular air transportation levy of state tax
should be provided by the company which exploits the airport, in this
case – Armavia.

US IS TRYING TO MAKE ARMENIA ITS ALLY IN THE REGION: TRUMAN NATIONAL SECURITY PROJECT

14:49, 25 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Most Americans wouldn’t be shocked
to learn that the largest American embassy in the world is in Baghdad,
Iraq. But the second-largest is in a surprising place: Armenia. It
begs the question: why? The Truman Project’s Daniel Gaynor studying US
foreign policy, energy security and democracy issues in the Caucasus
region came forth with the announcement, Armenpress reports.

“The best explanation is a real estate mantra: location, location,
location. Armenia, a landlocked country with just three million
people, might be in the roughest neighborhood in the world. But in
America’s eyes, it might be in the most important position of any
US ally to advance President Obama’s foreign policy agenda.What it
lacks in natural resources-it has little oil, gas or jewels-it makes
up for in geography. Few countries are in better position to shape
US foreign policy than Armenia.Armenia borders Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Iran. As a part of the former Soviet Union, it relies
on nearby Russia extensively for trade and military backing. The US
has a significant stake in all five countries, and Armenia is now
coming into view as a potentially potent lever to advance American
aims.That is, if the Armenians can be won over.As the US tries
to woo Armenia to become a stronger ally in the region, the term
“geostrategic” has never been more apt. Armenia is literally at the
center of a number of countries that Washington considers among its
top priorities. As President Obama tries to accomplish key foreign
policy objectives-like preventing Iran from attaining nuclear bombs or
seeing democracy flourish in Russia-he’s got to encourage Armenia to
play along.To Armenia’s south, one such issue is unfolding in Iran’s
nuclear centrifuges. Last week, a media skirmish between the US and
Israel boiled over when Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,
stated publicly that America had no “moral right” to say whether or
not Israel could bomb Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear
weapon. President Obama reportedly called Netanyahu at 3AM to quell
tensions.America is racing to develop every diplomatic pressure point
it can on Iran, lest Israel launch a preemptive attack and embroil
America in a third Middle East war in ten years. One of those pressure
points goes straight through Armenia.While the US has cut off formal
relations with Iran-Washington talks through Switzerland’s embassy
there-it’s no secret that it employs a variety of foreign policy
crowbars to influence and destabilize Iran’s ruling regime. Some,
like President Obama’s latest round of economic sanctions, are
well known. Partnering with Armenia is not, but could have a major
impact. Through economic and diplomatic incentives, the US is actively
trying to shape Armenia into an ally. As President Obama seeks to
economically isolate Iran-his sanctions have cut the value of Iran
currency in half-he is trying to regionally isolate the regime,
as well. Armenia is key to that strategy.For Armenia, the game is
far less simple. Partnering with the US-with whom it has a good,
but not great, relationship-could alienate the few friends Armenia
has left in the South Caucasus region. It wants military cooperation
with Russia, but economic access to the west.While it has tried to
deepen relations with the European Union and the US, Armenia’s two
best friends at the moment are arguably the US’s most challenging
adversaries: Russia and Iran.

That’s not necessarily because of shared ideologies, or even shared
interests; it’s because Armenia doesn’t have many friends to pick
from.Of its four neighbors, two-Turkey and Azerbaijan- have have closed
off their borders to Armenia. To go on a road trip, every Armenian
must pass through either Tbilisi, Georgia or Tehran, Iran.Why the
frosty reception? Turkey, which the New York Times recently called
“the historic nemesis of the Armenians,” is still steaming mad over
the negative PR associated with Armenian Genocide. The Turks claim
rogue military elements are responsible; Armenians believe the Turkish
government is reluctant to take the blame.In either interpretation,
the facts are stark: about 1.5 million Armenians perished in a war with
Turkey between 1915 and 1918. The Turks closed off its border in 1993,
and with it, a significant chunk of Armenia’s economy disappeared. In
the decades since, Armenia has pressed for international recognition
of the genocide-and rightfully so-but that has only stoked the fire
with the Turks.But, while one would think that the genocide rift is
what led Turkey to close off its border, it’s not. Instead, Turkey
is standing in solidarity with another neighbor over a contested
territory.Azerbaijan, another fromer Soviet republic, shut its borders
with Armenia after the two battled over an Armenian-populated enclave
in Azerbaijan, called Nagorno-Karabakh, in the 1990â~@²s. Today,
the territory remains a “semi-autonomous” area; meaning that the
Azeris want it back, the Armenians believe they control it, and the
Karabakhtis has declared independence (which no country has formally
recognized).Meanwhile, the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is sliding downhill. Last week, Azerbaijan made a deal with Hungary
to extradite a convicted Azeri murderer. (The man, eight years ago,
nearly decapitated a sleeping Armenian serviceman with an axe at a
NATO-sponsored English class.) He was returned under the condition
that he would serve at least 25 more years in jail.Instead, as the
New York Times put it, he received “a new apartment, eight years
of back pay, a promotion to the rank of major and the status of a
national hero.” Uproar in Armenia ensued. Armenia’s President released
a statement warning, “The Armenians must not be underestimated. We
don’t want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win.Meanwhile,
Azerbaijan is enjoying the windfall from oil exports. Israel, in
particular, has strengthened relations with the Azeris, purchasing
30 percent of their oil from them, as well as selling them over $1.5
billion in military supplies. The US is also a buyer of Azeri oil. As
the New York Times points out, Azerbaijan invested more money in
its military than Armenia’s entire state budget last year. Hardly
the sign of harmonious relations to come.So far, Armenia’s walked
a diplomatic tightrope with skill. As my Lonely Planet travel book
explains, “Despite its limited resources, Armenia has become a master
at geopolitics.

What other country in the world can say it maintains good relations
with the US, Russia and Iran?Given the cards they’re dealt, Armenia has
been a remarkable success story. If America hopes to engender greater
cooperation, it’s got to sweeten the deal-through trade agreements,
offering economic reforms and encouraging private sector development
in Armenia. Armenia became independent in 1991. Two decades later,
it’s still trying to find its footing in the region. It may not have
gold, oil, gas or jewels to give to the US. But, instead, it may have
something more useful: a strategic position in the most critical–and
potentially most dangerous–region in the world.

FRENCH ENVOY: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT POLITICAL WILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 25, 2012 – 13:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hopefully, progress will be recorded in the Nagorno
Karabakh negotiation process, French ambassador to Azerbaijan said.

“The progress depends on the political will of the conflicting
parties. No achievement will be recorded without it,” News.Az quoted
Pascal Meunier as saying.

As he further noted, peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict was a
priority issue at the meeting between Azerbaijani and French presidents
in Paris.

“We can’t say that France is not enough involved in Karabakh conflict
resolution, with Paris hosting the last meeting between OSEC Minsk
Group co-chairs and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia,”
he said.

VASSILY ATAJANYAN NAMED NKR PRESIDENT’S REPRESENTATIVE IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Panorama.am
25/09/2012

On September 25, Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree
appointing Vassily Atajanyan adviser to the NKR President, permanent
representative of the President in the NKR National Assembly,
presidential press service reported.

AZERBAIJANI GENERALS USE STATE FUNDS TO PURCHASE WEAPONS FOR PERSONAL USE – EXPERT

news.am
September 24, 2012 | 23:02

YEREVAN. – Military equipment of various types will once turn to
be a serious problem for Azerbaijan, expert Arkadiy Grigoryan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am. He provided comments by the request of the
agency on the purchase of new Cobra armored cars recently.

“The Cobra is not news as such purchases have always happened
periodically,” the expert said stating such cars are for limited
purposes and are not intended for wide range military actions but are
rather for certain operations, for example, anti-terroristic actions.

According to him, it is not a secret that Azerbaijani generals purchase
weapons and conclude contacts not following the needs of the army or
the state but in their personal interests and for personal use.

As the Azerbaijani APA agency reported quoting military sources,
another part of armored cars were brought to Baku recently.

TIGRAN DAVTYAN WILL PARTICIPATE IN MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES

ARMENPRESS
25 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: On September 25 the Minister of
Economy of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Davtyan will make a four-day
working visit to Austria and then to the Italian Republic. On September
25-26 the Minister will participate in the Ministerial Conference of
Caucasus and Central Asian countries taking place in Vienna, during
which they will discuss issues related to the trade, investments,
finances, tourism and energy, as well as the new opportunities of
economic cooperation with the European countries.

As Armenpress was informed by the Ministry, within the framework of
the visit on September 26 the Minister Tigran Davtyan would meet
the Deputy Director General for Trade of the European Commission
Peter Balas, the Federal Minister of Economy of Austria Reinhold
Mitterlehner and the Deputy Secretary General of the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development Richard Boucher.

On September 26-28 the Minister of Economy of Armenia Tigran Davtyan
will visit Rome to take part in the Armenian-Italian Business Forum.

On September 27 Tigran Davtyan will meet the Minister of Economic
Development of Italy Corrado Passera, the Minister of Tourism and
Sport of Italy Piero Gnudi and the Chairman of the Italian Chamber
of Commerce Santo Santoro.

On September 28 a business forum will take place in Rome with
participation of about 200 Italian businessmen, where the Armenia’s
investments potential and the business environment will be presented.

The Forum is organized by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Economy
of Armenia, the Armenian Development Agency, the Ministry of Economy
of the Italian Republic and the Italian Chamber of Commerce.

MILITARY TRUCK CRASH: 1 DEATH, 9 INJURED

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:14:41 – 25/09/2012

On September 24 in Aragatsotn region, a military truck crashed. There
were 10 conscripts inside 9 of whom were hospitalized.

Conscript Gor Galstyan died in the hospital at 00:20 on September 25.

The health of other soldiers is in extremely hard condition.

ZHIRAYR REYISYAN: NO SHOTS IN THE MORNING IN ALEPPO

ARMENPRESS
26 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: As Armenpress was reported by the
Press Secretary of the National Primacy of Aleppo Zhirayr Reyisyan,
the situation in Aleppo was quiet at the moment and there were no
shots. In the evening of September 25 there were shots and explosions
in Aleppo, which are assumed to be far from the Armenian districts,
nearby the peripheries of the city.

The Armenian-language website of Lebanon aztagdaily.com informs that
the Armenian schools of Damascus, Ghamishli, Kesabi and Latakia have
already begun functioning. Taking into account that in the capital the
situation is quieter, 4 Armenian local schools have been opened. There
are 38 Armenian daily and 1 Sunday schools in Syria.

We got informed as well that on September 25 the Free Army of Syria
took the responsibility for the explosion nearby the school, given
to the children of the victims.

In Syria more than 20,000 people, including more than 20 Armenians,
died in the collisions between the opposition and government forces,
which have lasted about 18 months.

UNE INVITATION DE TARTUFFES
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 26 septembre 2012

Après avoir lu le recent ” communique ” de Monsieur Richard Takvorian
en date du 22 Août dernier, nous nous sommes rememores cette belle
tirade du grand Corneille : ” Les visages souvent sont de doux
imposteurs. Que de defauts d’esprit se couvrent de leurs grâces ! –
Et que de beaux semblants cachent des âmes basses “.

Depuis plusieurs mois, notre paroisse de Nice, autrefois si paisible,
est en proie a la desunion. Depuis des mois, se parant de toutes
les vertus chretiennes et se presentant comme ” d’humbles fidèles ”
de notre Eglise, un groupuscule a decide de rejeter l’autorite du
Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine et de son representant en France. Ceux
meme qui avaient divises les fidèles en deux categories, les ”
bons fidèles “, heritiers des ” bâtisseurs venus après le genocide
” et ceux, venus plus recemment, auxquels on ne reconnaissait ni le
droit d’adherer a l’association cultuelle ni d’etre elus a sa tete,
ne cessent depuis d’en appeler a la concorde et a l’union.

Exhibant en permanence, comme une oriflamme, un pathetique sentiment
de victimisation, ceux qui se presentent partout comme les proies
malheureuses de ” l’arbitraire autocratique d’Etchmiadzine ” ne nous
ont rien epargne. Mais a l’annonce de la prochaine visite de notre
Patriarche, ils se sont empresses de lui adresser par le biais de ce
communique de celui qui se presente comme le ” President du conseil
paroissial de l’Eglise apostolique armenienne de Nice- Côte d’Azur ”
une invitation a venir ” benir les fidèles de notre eglise historique
Sainte Marie “. Dans le meme temps, et sans repit, nous subissions la
rengaine ” de la modeste eglise bâtie par les rescapes du genocide
” dans laquelle pourtant depuis plusieurs mois, les auteurs de
cet acte de division permettent un simulacre de la Divine liturgie
interprete par un pretre defroque, recrute par eux. Les bâtisseurs de
ce sanctuaire auraient sans doute apprecie … Ceux-la meme, osent
utiliser le mot de ” sacrilège ” pour caracteriser une decision du
Catholicos et du Conseil Spirituel Supreme qui ne faisait pourtant
qu’enteriner leur rupture avec l’Eglise armenienne. A jouer avec le
feu …

Bien que se voulant habile, la man~uvre qui consiste aujourd’hui
a inviter le Catholicos a aller ” benir les fidèles de l’eglise
historique Sainte Marie ” est puerile et constitue une grossière
provocation a laquelle nul ne peut accorder le moindre credit,
a commencer par ses auteurs. En effet, comment imaginer que le
Catholicos de tous les Armeniens aille benir un groupe de gens
qui a quitte de lui meme la communion de l’Eglise armenienne,
qui interpelle son chef spirituel en le designant sous son nom de
bapteme, c’est a dire en niant son onction sacerdotale, son sacre
en tant qu’eveque et en tant que Patriarche supreme ? Pourquoi ces
” fidèles ” viendraient-ils aujourd’hui quemander la benediction de
celui qu’ils refusent de reconnaître comme leur pasteur et auquel
ils denient toute autorite autant que toute legitimite ? Une visite
de Sa Saintete le Catholicos dans cette eglise qui nous est aussi
chère qu’a ceux qui l’ont accaparee ne pourrait avoir lieu qu’après
un acte de repentir des responsables de cette division, par le renvoi
de celui qui se dit pretre et qui ne l’est pas, et par la remise des
clefs du sanctuaire a son legitime destinataire, l’Eglise apostolique
armenienne. Les refrains de tartuffes de ce petit groupe ne peuvent
naturellement tromper personne.

Nous sommes tout aussi lasses d’entendre cette sempiternelle
ritournelle des ” valeurs republicaines et laïques ” que nous
maltraiterions, faisant ainsi de l’immense majorite des fidèles de
notre Eglise des citoyens ” douteux “, ou en nous stigmatisant comme
les adeptes d’un ” communautarisme qui rongerait les fondements de
la Republique “.

Mais qui sont les ” communautaristes ” ?

Ce sont en realite ceux qui evoquent a tout va ces valeurs, qui
nient toute dimension spirituelle a la mission de l’Eglise et
definissent souvent leur engagement dans la vie ecclesiale comme
purement ” national “, dont certains osent meme proclamer qu’ils ne
sont pas croyants, qui sont les plus sûrs agents d’un communautarisme
intrinsèquement antichretien et etranger a notre Eglise. Ces man~uvres
visant a tromper tant les fidèles que les autorites civiles de notre
pays sont a la fois vaines et pitoyables.

A la veille de ce bel evenement, les fidèles de la Sainte Eglise
apostolique armenienne des Alpes Maritimes, du Var et de Monaco,
se rejouissent de la venue de Sa Saintete Karekine II, successeur
des saints Apôtres Thadee et Barthelemy et titulaire du siège du
grand Confesseur du Christ, saint Gregoire, le second Illuminateur
de l’Armenie. Quand a ceux qui ont ete les artisans de cette cruelle
blessure dans le corps du Christ, nous les invitons a mediter cette
maxime populaire : ” celui qui entreprend de creuser une fosse,
finit toujours par y etre enseveli “.

Patrice DJOLOLIAN President executif du Conseil Diocesain