Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SUMMONS COMMANDERS

Vestnik Kavkaza
Feb 20 2012
Russia

The Armenian Defense Ministry has started a three-day gathering of
commanders of the Armed Forces, Armenia Today reports.

Officers will be informed about the plan for development of the
Armed Forces, domestic and foreign policy, cooperation, improvement
of skills.

The first lecture for officers will be read by Defense Minister
Seyran Oganyan. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Secretary of National
Security Council Artur Bagdasaryan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
head of the General Staff Yuri Khachaturov and other officials will
makes speeches.

PUBLIC VS BUSINESS OVER ARMENIAN CAPITAL’S GREEN AREAS

Tert.am
20.02.12

Well-known people, political and public figures, arrived at Yerevan’s
Mashtots park on Sunday.

Hovhannes Azoyan (an actor and showman) says: “If you do not plant
a tree, do not at least destroy it. It will backfire on the people
doing so.”

Hayk Marutyan (an actor and showman) says: “I just say to them: where
do you take you children for a walk?’ They answer: ‘To the park. This
is the only place we have.’ This territory is not equipped. So let’s
equip it.”

Anahit Baklhshyan, a Heritage party member, says: “It’s an illegal
structure. So we should not tarnish our young mayor’s reputation.”

Never Mnatsakanyan (a TV anchor) says: “I call for peace with Nature.

Some things are unacceptable.”

Ashot Adamyan (an actor), says: “I am ready to stand here shoulder
to shoulder with any protestor. This is a way of defending your
self-respect and rights.”

Yervand Manaryan: (an actor) says: “”It has always been the practice
throughout history: some would build, others would destroy. Now the
one stronger will gain the upper hand. You must know you are stronger.”

“How can they destroy it with a hospital nearby? That’s abnormal. In
any country – and it used to be practice in Armenia as well – there
are green zones near hospitals,” a doctor says.

NKR PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THE NATION ON ARTSAKH REVIVAL DAY

armradio.am
20.02.2012 14:00

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan issued an
address on the occasion of the Artsakh Revival Day marked on February
20. The message reads:

“Dear compatriots,

On behalf of the republic’s authorities and on my own behalf I
cordially congratulate you on the Artsakh Revival Day.

February 20, 2012 was written in golden letters in our modern history,
becoming one of the glorious pages of the chronicle of the Artsakh
national-liberation movement. Long-term struggle of the Armenian people
achieved its culmination. Taking into consideration the fundamental
principle of people’s right to free self-determination we tried to
bring our just and legal voice to the international community.

Being unshakable in the decision taken, the proud people of Artsakh
together with Armenia and world-spread Armenians managed to confront
the cruel war imposed by Azerbaijan and set about the difficult task
of building an independent state.

Guided by universal norms of international law we realized our natural
right to self-determination and took our worthy place in the regional
and international processes. Step-by-step the state government system
was established, democratic institutions were built, free market
economy was created.

Today we can say that we have steadily developing state, regular and
efficient army, healthy civil society. Every day and every hour we
have to preserve and further strengthen these achievements of our
independence. It is everyone’s duty.

Dear people of Artsakh,

I once again congratulate all of us and wish peace, prosperity,
further success for the sake of free and independent Artsakh and our
heroic people.”

L’AN A ADOPTE UNE LOI ANTICONSTITUTIONNELLE ?
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 20 fevrier 2012

La presse d’opposition attire l’attention sur l’adoption d’un projet
de loi, en première lecture a l’AN, sur ” le regime juridique des
situations d’urgence ” qu’elle considère comme anticonstitutionnel. Le
projet de loi preconise l’~Rutilisation des forces armees en cas
de situations d’urgence dans le pays, alors que, comme le rappelle
Haykakan Jamanak, l’article 55 de la Constitution definit clairement
les cas où les forces armees peuvent intervenir (agression militaire
contre la RA, situation de guerre ou danger de guerre). Le quotidien
rappelle egalement que l’article 8.2 de la Constitution stipule que
dans les affaires politiques, les forces armees restent neutres. Selon
le quotidien, l’administration de S. Sarkissian souhaiterait
faire des forces armees un outil entre les mains du President afin
qu’il puisse l’utiliser a des fins de politique interieure. Dans un
entretien a Aravot, le membre du parti ” Mouvement national armenien ”
(CNA), Hovhannès Iguitian, relève que l’adoption d’une telle loi ne
peut signifier qu’une chose : les autorites sont certaines que des
actions de protestation massives se produiront [suite aux elections]
et preparent le terrain afin de pouvoir utiliser, sur une base legale,
les forces armees. M. Iguitian se dit convaincu que les affirmations
des autorites selon lesquelles les prochaines elections seront les
meilleures elections de l’histoire de l’Armenie independante ne
sont destinees qu’aux ambassadeurs etrangers et aux organisations
internationales. ” Le parti Republicain se prepare-t-il a la guerre ?

“, c’est ainsi qu’Aravot intitule son article.

Coconut Oil Controversy Goes Unanswered by Agriculture Minister
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
13:35, February 10, 2012

Back in December the State Commission for Economic Protection (SCEP)
fined several dairy producers when it was discovered that they had
added coconut oil and milk powder to their sour cream.

Ashtarak Milk, a company owned by ARF MP Ashot Apoyan, was fined 50 million AMD.

When asked by Hetq if the fine had ulterior political motives, SCEP
President Artak Shaboyan said the agency isn’t involved in politics
and that, in any event, Ashtarak Milk accepted the error of its way
and had already paid the fine.

The use of coconut oil is an inexpensive way for manufacturers to
raise the fat content in dairy products.

But is it safe?

We posed the same question to Minister of Agriculture Sergey Karapetyan.

`Coconut oil is another food additive. But it was the SCEP who fined
those companies. Now the Food Safety Agency is looking into the
matter,’ Minister Karapetyan said.

RUSSIA IS SWINGING THE STATUS QUO
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:16:27 – 20/02/2012

Apparently, Russia decided to “convince” Armenia to recognize
Karabakh’s independence. The Editor-in-Chief of Regnum Agency Modest
Kolerov attended the conference dedicated to the 20 anniversary of
Karabakh independence and stated that no international recognition will
happen until Armenia recognizes Karabakh’s independence: “The inertial
process will not protect the independence of Artsakh, without any new
historical national acts this process will not develop. It makes no
sense to require the recognition of independence from the world for
as long as Armenia does not recognize the independence of Karabakh”
said Kolerov.

Director of the International Institute of Military States (Russia)
Aleksei Martinov shared his opinion and said: “I am sure, Armenia
should immediately recognize Karabakh’s independence”.

In response, Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s parliament Eduard Sharmazanov
stated that Armenia does everything for the recognition of the NKR
independence and the recognition by Armenia is necessary to achieve
this aim, it will happen.

The arguments brought by the Russian political scientists are
interesting. Say, Kolerov compares the situation with the one of
Abkhazia and Ossetia. He says that Russia was going to recognize this
republic establishing agreement relations with it. Kolerov was as
if hinting that the recognition by Armenia can become a springboard
for Russia. It is noteworthy that dwelling on the recognition by the
West, Kolerov noted that it won’t happen until French peacekeepers
are deployed in Karabakh. This once again seems a hint – if Russian
peacekeepers are deployed in Karabakh, recognition may follow also.

But why do we need such recognition like in case of Abkhazia?

One more no less strange argument is brought by the other expert
Aleksei Martinov who stated that Karabakh’s recognition by Armenia
will lead to the non-resumption of the conflict, while it is evident
that the conflict will be resumed if Armenia does not recognize it.

The Russian political scientists are evident to be trying to achieve
a change of the status quo by Armenia which has not yet allowed
the Russian party be present in Karabakh. Karabakh’s recognition by
Armenia and documental recognition of responsibility for its security
may enable the Russian troops in Armenia widen their competences
reaching also Karabakh.

Many Armenian politicians dwelt and dwell on the necessity to recognize
Karabakh. But when Russia or any other party starts pushing Armenia
to make that step in the most inconvenient moment, it causes doubts.

In the end, no one hides that Russia’s policy relating to the Karabakh
issue will become more aggressive after Putin’s election. But the
status quo of the Karabakh issue is so fragile, it has been so long
and carefully laid, that no violations, even for Putin’s ambitions,
must be allowed.

ARMENIA’S CIVIL AVIATION RECOGNIZED THE BEST IN THE CIS

ARMENPRESS
February 20, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS: Head of the Government-affiliated
Civil Aviation Department Artyem Movsisyan was in Kiev February 14-16
and in Moscow on February 17. Press office of the department told
Armenpress that Movsisyan participated in Kiev in the event organized
by TRASECA organization. Within the framework of the EU funded program
starting from this year trainings, certifications will be organized for
the employees of the department for three years. Overall 80 employees
of the department will be involved in the program. The programs will
be conducted for free.

On February 17 Artyem Movsisyan participated in the official event
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of creation of Inter-State Aviation
Committee in Moscow where Armenian aviation department has been
considered the best in the CIS countries and was granted an award.

Power Engineering Magazine
Feb 18 2012

Rosatom prepared to finance 50% of new reactor at Armenian NPP –
minister

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom is prepared to finance 50%
of the cost of a project to build a new generating unit at the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Armen Movsisian said at a press conference on Thursday.

The Russian proposal was discussed in Yerevan last week during a visit
to Armenia by Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko, Movsisian said.

At the time, Kiriyenko said Rosatom was prepared to invest 20-25% “and
more,” but that the “main investments will be on the part of Armenia.”

Movsisian also said that Armenia is prepared to consider any other
lucrative proposal for any other investor to participate in the
project.

It was reported earlier that CJSC Metsamorenergoatom, a 50-50
Russian-Armenian joint venture set up to build the new generating
unit, is holding negotiations with foreign investors to involve them
in this project.

Movsisian also said that, according to the law, the government may not
retain a controlling stake in the company that will operate the
generating unit.

“How many percent will belong to who does not play any significant
role. What’s important is that a company registered in Armenia will
operate the unit,” the minister said, adding that the nuclear reactor
with capacity of 1,060 MW is scheduled to be built in 2019-2020.

The existing reactor at the Armenian NPP will undergo a stress test in
2012, the preparations for which were already made last year,
Movsisian said. If the reactor passes the test, Armenia plans to
extend its service live for another ten years.

The Armenian NPP now has one 400 MW generating unit, the intended
service life of which ends in 2016. However, Armenia has already said
that the reactor will only be mothballed after a new one is built.
IAEA experts have also said that the life of the existing reactor can
be extended.

Vp of

Source: Interfax News Agency

Interfax, Russia
Feb 17 2012

Armenian economy will grow 4.2% in 2012-2013 – World Bank

YEREVAN. Feb 17

The World Bank predicts that Armenia’s economy will grow 4.2% per year
in 2012-2013 and that inflation will be 4%-4.5%.

That is a base forecast, and could be revisited in conditions of
Eurozone economic crisis, the director of the Bank’s Yerevan offices,
Jean-Michel Happi, told reporters on Friday.

Although the Armenian economy is recovering from the economic crisis
of 2009, it is still not vigorous and is very much susceptible to
shocks from abroad, Happi said. In conditions of post-crisis
export-price decreases, less investment and private transfers, big
Armenian economic growth cannot be counted on, he said

The country needs to increase its GDP and export growth rates to
ensure the stability of state foreign debt, Happi said. After the
crisis, Armenia’s foreign debt increased substantially and is unstable
now, he said. Despite the economic recovery, Armenia has to provide
for the entry of new companies into the market, promote the
improvement of the competitive environment, the development of
exports, and the diversification of sources of economic growth, he
said.

Armenia’s budget for this year reckons GDP growth of 4.2% and
inflation of 4% – plus or minus 1.5 of a percentage point.

The World Bank board of directors has approved to credits for Armenia
totaling $91 million, Happi said.

A credit of $80 will be extended for supporting the country’s state
budget, including $50 million for a 25-year term with a five-year
grace period at 1.25% per annum and $30 million (25 years) with a
ten-year grace period at LIBOR plus a floating margin. These funds are
aimed at increasing the level of state management and the
competitiveness of the private sector, as well as helping the most
vulnerable members of society, Happi said.

The second credit is of $11 million, to be supplied as additional
financing for the country’s social investment fund in order to
continue social programs. This is also a 25-year credit, with a
five-year grace period and extended at a rate of 1.25% per annum.

The World Bank has provided Armenia with credits amounting to $1.597
billion since 1992.

Cf

Iranian news agency reporter arrested in Azerbaijan

February 18, 2012 – 18:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Forces of the national security ministry of
Azerbaijan arrested and jailed Fars News Agency (FNA)’s correspondent
in Baku, the agency said.

According to FNA dispatches, the security forces raided the house of
the FNA correspondent on Thursday, Feb 16 night and arrested him
without any specific charge.

During the attack in the Nardaran neighborhood, many other political
activists were also arrested.

The move is seen as part of Azerbaijan’s recent anti-Iranian move as
Baku had earlier expelled the official representative of the Islamic
republic news agency as well, the agency said.

Meantime, political observers also believe that the wide-scale arrests
by the Baku government are aimed at intimidating and pressuring the
opposition activists.