Author: Babajanian Karo

BHK deputies come to Government

18:01 | February 7,2015 | Politics

Alexander Ghazaryan, head of the government department that deals with
the acceptance and discussion of citizen requests, has approached the
members of “Kasetsum” movement.

“Why have you come here? Go and demand from police! It is possible
that it is a show,”- he said.

BHK representatives Naira Zohrabyan, Mikayel Melkumyan and Elinar
Vardanyan have joint the protesters.

“At present no hypothesis can be brought forward. Constantly we are
contacting HRD Karen Andreasyan and relevant bodies. We have no
information. Beating and solving problems in that way are becoming a
tradition in our country,”- said Naira Zohrabyan.

It should be reminded that unknown people abducted activist Artak
Khachatryan from Tolstoy Street. He actively took part in the rallies
against “Turnover tax” law.

Oil surge to raise Rouble value, boosting Armenia’s economy

12:51 * 07.02.15

In case the past three days’ surge on the oil market continues, it
will raise the value of the Russian Rouble, whose increased transfers
to Armenia will likely boost the domestic economy, says Vilen
Khachatryan, a Doctor of Economics at the National Academy of
Sciences.

“When the oil price is up, it implies an increasing or increased flow
to Russia. In case the trend is sustained, the Rouble will gain value.
So from this point of view, it is possible to spend less Roubles for
purchasing Dollar, and that will positively impact Armenia’s economy,”
the economist told Tert.am, meantime ruling out the possibility of a
rapid effect.

As of Friday morning, the crude oil Brent future prices for March were
up by 0.95% to $57.11; the WTA future prices for the same period
showed an increase by 1.41% or $51.19.

Khachatryan also cited the Euro exchange rate as a possible reason of
the decline.

“The Rouble today is the world’s most highly devalued currency; while
all the other currencies lost value by 10%-20% in 2014, the Rouble
devaluation was down by over 40%,” the economist noted.

But he refrained from making any forecasts, considering it a bit unrealistic.

“This is a trend, so in case we take the time-based approach, the oil
prices start rising from February until March; that has been the case
in the past five years. But in order to make more or less justifiable
forecasts, we need the Rouble’s stabilization at a higher rate –
within the range of 60-65 Roubles per one Dollar,” Khachatryan added.

Many experts believe that the current surge bears a temporary
character. “The decline in the oil value is said to be due to the
reported oil reserves and supplies in the United States. “The battle
between oil bulls and bears will likely continue tonight when the US
weekly drilling rig count numbers are released,” Nicholas Teo, a
market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said Friday.

After Genocide Armenians’ rights not yet restored: Al Arabiya News

13:34, 7 February, 2015

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS: The Arab Al Arabiya News published an
article, devoted to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Armenpress
reports that the author of the article is the famous Lebanese
politician Nayla Tueni.

Russian political expert: In both Armenia and Azerbaijan it is the
oppositions rather than the governments that oppose the existing
status quo

by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, February 7, 14:19

There are a number of actors who are interested in growing tensions in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, Russian political expert Alexander
Sotnichenko told ArmInfo on Saturday.

“One of them is the United States. Now that the Americans have
strained relations with Russia, they are seeking to weaken its allies,
including Armenia, and to discredit any international projects in the
post-Soviet area. So, they may well be financing Armenian forces
opposing the existing status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh. The other
destabilizing factors are the oppositionists like the Pre-Parliament
and those criticizing Russian-Armenian relations after the tragedy in
Grumri. Many experts believe that this may be a sign of somebody
preparing to topple the ruling regime in Armenia,” Sotnichenko said.

Regarding Azerbaijan, he said that that country has a strong “party of
war” – an opposition force comprising a number of high-ranking
military officials and MPs. “They believe that now that Russia is
having problems with its Eurasian Economic Union and the Customs Union
projects, Azerbaijan’s military and economic dominance in the regions
can help it to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by force.
Aliyev’s regime is hardly interested in this, but considering
Azerbaijan’s oil price-related problems, those wishing to solve the
country’s problems by means of a splendid little war may prevail,”
Sotnichenko said.

According to the expert, the passiveness of the OSCE Minsk Group makes
things even worse. “Their strategy is not to resolve the conflict but
to freeze it and to prevent a new war, but sooner or later it may fall
victim to some provocateurs,” Sotnichenko said.

As far as Turkey is concerned, he believes that the Turks are not
interested in high tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh. “They have lots of
unsolved political problems of their own. What they seek in the South
Caucasus is economic dominance and this can be attained only in case
of political stability. On top of this, the Turks enjoy quite good
partner ties with the Russians. So, they must be very careful in this
region so as not to spoil this partnership,” Sotnichenko said.

NEW US AMBASSADOR PROUD OF ARMENIANS PARTICIPATING IN US PROGRAMS – VIDEO

19:01, 06.02.2015

YEREVAN. – The U.S. Embassy in Armenia introduced new Ambassador
Richard Mills.

He is the first ambassador who has been dealing with issues related
to Armenia prior to his appointment.

“I never stopped following events in your country. I have been
so pleased to watch the United States and Armenia to establish
strong partnership at all levels government-to-government and
people-to-people. I am proud of many Armenians who are participating
in U.S. educational, cultural and professional programs and I am
inspired by their contributions to Armenia’s political, cultural and
economic life,” he said.

“THERE MUSTN’T BE MAIDAN AND CIVIL WARS”

16:55 | February 5,2015 | Politics

There mustn’t be Maidan and civil wars in Armenia: today announced
“Heritage” party vice president Armen Martirosyan during BHK
conference. He added, “We must act, we don’t have a second chance. We
have a short time as the society expects concrete actions from us.

Otherwise, the society will be disappointed.”

Armen Martirosyan is sure that the demand of the society is definite:
the country needs early elections, “In a short period of time we
will reach early elections through joint actions, I think there is
no other way.”

BORDER TENSIONS: ONE CIVILIAN, ONE SERVICEMAN KILLED IN AZERI CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Karabakh | 06.02.15 | 10:28

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

A civilian has been killed in an Armenian village as a result of
another ceasefire violation committed by Azerbaijan. A serviceman,
meanwhile, was killed by Azerbaijani forces at the Line of Contact
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to reports, on Thursday night Azerbaijani forces for several
hours were firing at border villages in Armenia’s northwestern Tavush
province.

Residents of the village of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur told ArmeniaNow that
the gunshots that began in the direction of their community from
6 pm were particularly intensive as compared to routine shootings
and they only intensified into the night. Late on Thursday it was
reported that 60-year-old resident of the village Vanik Ghukasyan
was killed. The mayor of the community confirmed this information.

This is the second Armenian civilian to have been killed by Azeri
troops this year. Another civilian, 85-year-old resident of the
village of Movses Levon Andreasyan, was wounded by an Azeri sniper
on February 4.

The villages of Movses and Aygepar were also under fire last night.

According to preliminary information, houses and cars were damaged
in all mentioned villages.

The situation also remains tense at the Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of
Contact where, according to the NKR Defense Ministry, on the night of
February 4-5 and throughout the next day the Azerbaijani side continued
intensive shooting using weapons of different calibers. As a result
of the ceasefire violations one Karabakh serviceman, 25-year-old
Shekspir Hakobyan, was fatally wounded at the positions.

ANALYSTE : METTRE DAVANTAGE L’ACCENT SUR LES QUESTIONS D’AUTODETERMINATION

ARMENIE

Le processus de règlement pacifique du conflit du Haut-Karabagh et
tout ce qui est lie au Haut-Karabagh doit etre une question de première
preoccupation pour l’Armenie en 2015, selon un analyste politique.

Karen Bekaryan responsable de l’ONG integration europeenne a declare
aux journalistes que les processus internationaux continueront en 2015
et que l’Armenie devrait preter attention aux problèmes relatifs au
droit a l’autodetermination, ainsi qu’aux developpements geopolitiques
en cours.

“Je pense que nous devons commencer a promouvoir le problème de
l’integration interne Haut Karabagh-Armenie. Probablement, il est grand
temps meme que nous introduisions dans les programmes scolaires que les
ecoliers armeniens devraient avoir l’occasion de visiter le Karabagh
et vice versa. Je suis sûr qu’a partir de cet âge, la comprehension
humaine de la patrie et de la propriete laisse des traces d’ une
manière plus interessante que lorsque vous laissez cela au hasard.

Peut-etre qu’il est temps pour nous d’avoir un tel programme >>, a
declare Bekaryan, ajoutant qu’avec les tensions frontalières recentes
et le comportement de l’Azerbaïdjan cela vaut la peine de penser a
developper les relations dans tous les domaines entre l’Armenie et
le Karabagh y compris et d’abord dans le domaine de la securite.

Selon l’expert, en 2015 des discussions sur la loi sur la citoyennete
du Karabagh pourrait egalement commencer.

En ce qui concerne le processus de règlement pacifique du conflit du
Karabagh, Bekaryan pense que la diplomatie armenienne doit montrer
au monde comment se comporte l’Azerbaïdjan.

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 6 fevrier 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

IS NO DIRECT THREAT TO ARMENIA – EXPERT

13:30 / 06.02.2015

The 2015 started hot in Armenia and outside of it, expert Armen
Petrosyan told the reporters on Friday. Speaking about the activity
of the Islamic State he said that this year it has already beheaded
three hostages and burnt alive the Jordanian pilot.

“The IS has elaborated activity both in Syria and Iraq. Unfortunately
we too suffered from their activity. The IS destroyed one of the
Armenian churches in Mosul. I do not though think that it was a step
against the Armenians. It is their attitude toward spiritual and
cultural institutions,” he said.

As to whether the IS is a threat to Armenia, the expert stressed that
there is no direct threat to Armenia. “IS threatens the other states
having associates there, in this regard there is no threat to Armenia
as it does not have associates here,” he stressed.

Petrosyan stressed that the western coalition set up to fight against
IS is just limiting its expansion but does not give fatal blows. “It
means that the IS will remain there and may expand in the Syrian
territory but not in Iraq,” he said.

HRAPARAK: WHY DID LAW ON PUBLIC CHAMBER FAIL TO PASS PARLIAMENT’S VOTE?

09:06 * 06.02.15

The paper has talked to the Public Chamber’s president for comments
on the National Asssembly’s negative vote on an earlier proposed bill
regulating the institution’s functioning.

Vazgen Manukyan said that the parliament argued the lack of necessary
constitutional provisions addressing the Public Chamber. “It turned
out, during the debate over the bill, that it isn’t possible to adopt
such a law, as the Constitution makes no reference to the Public
Chamber,” he said.

Asked whether the package on constitutional reforms doesn’t address
the issue, Manukyan replied, “Serzh Sargsyan and President of the
Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan have proposed including that
issue too, in the package. Once the final text on the constitutional
amendments is available, it will be clear whether or not the proposal
is there.”

The paper notes that the draft law submitted to the parliament
envisaged extending the Chamber’s authorities to allow its
representation at National Assembly’s plenary sessions and in the
Government.