Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION WELCOMES STRUGGLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 19:16

YEREVAN. – The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) welcomes
the struggle of environmentalists in various regions of Armenia and
expresses its readiness to join their environmental initiatives.

“Stressing the importance of literate environmental policy and
necessity of comprehensive approach to environmental issues, ANC’s
environmental committee introduces draft project of environment policy
for public discussions.

Lots of mining deposits are being exploited in Armenia while being
public property, but the super profit is received by only several
people in ruling administration.

Authorities continue to build cafeterias in public parks. ANC sees the
solution only in change of authorities,” ANC environmental committee
statement reads.

“GO TO MASHTOTS PARK, AND THEN WE’LL TALK”

05:13 pm | Today | Social

The environmentalists protesting at Mashtots Park are the bad students
of architect Levon Igityan.

During a press conference at “Hayeli” Club, the architect suggested
leaving the mayor alone since he had found a temporary solution for
the elite stands on Abovyan Street by placing them at Mashtots Park.

Igityan says he doesn’t understand what the environmentalists are
suggesting.

Environmentalist Karine Danielyan suggested that he could give Igityan
her suggestions that she had given the mayors and the president.

In response, Igityan said he had read those suggestions, but Karine
Danielyan counter-argued and said he hadn’t.

Karine Danielyan also doesn’t condemn the municipality’s decision
and says she would like to believe in the mayor.

Environmentalist Meri Khachatryan told the mayor that the
environmentalists were demanding for the preservation of the green
areas in Yerevan and that Taron Margaryan hadn’t liked the term
“demanding”.

Khachatryan says the municipality should stop construction and discuss
the issue of the stands.

Levon Igityan calls on the environmentalists to remember that the
stands are being placed at Mashtots Park temporarily and doesn’t know
what is going on there. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been there.”

The environmentalists tell him to go to Mashtots Park and then they
will talk.

BALTIC PIPELINE SYSTEM 2ND LINE TO LAUNCH LATE FEB IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 21, 2012 – 16:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The second trunk line of the Baltic Pipeline System
(BTS-2) to transport oil to Europe may be launched at the end of
February or in early March, Igor Dyomin, spokesman of Russia’s oil
pipeline monopoly Transneft, said on Tuesday, February 21, according
to RIA Novosti.

The BTS-2 pipeline project is implemented to secure reliable supplies
of oil to European consumers. The 1,000-kilometer pipeline, with an
annual capacity of 30 million metric tons of oil, runs from Unecha
in western Russia to the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga in the country’s
northwest, bypassing Belarus.

“Preparations to launch the oil terminal [in Ust-Luga] are well under
way. We think [the pipeline launch] could be in late February or in
early March,” Dyomin told Prime news agency.

The BTS-2 launch has been suspended several times since October 2011
owing to problems in bottom dredging operations.

Dyomin also said that Transneft had not worked out an oil export
schedule through the BTS-2 for the first quarter of 2012 and tariff
price for oil transportation yet.

RUBEN MATEVOSYAN RECEIVES GOLD MEDAL IN GYUMRI

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: People’s Artist of Armenia Ruben
Matevosian was awarded with the golden “Varpet” (Master) medal on the
initiative of the mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasian. The surprise gift
and the medal were given to the beloved singer at the beginning of
the concert held in Vardan Achemyan theater, Armenpress reports. The
singer noted that being recognized as a Master in the “city of masters”
was the best gift he had had in 70 years.

The concert celebrating the singer’s 70th birthday was a unique
opportunity for the citizens of Gyumri to enjoy old and new songs
once more. The singer emphasized the importance of the concert in
Gyumri calling it a “report of the work done in past years”.

TIGRAN ARZAKANTSYAN’S MOTHER INDIGNANT OVER MASHTOTS PICTURE

Panorama.am
22/02/2012

The mother of MP Tigran Arzakantsyan, Mrs Varsenik, got indignant
when she saw Mesrop Mashotots’ picture on a school wall. Hraparak
writes that when the teachers explained who was that man Mrs Varsenik
opposed, saying, “So what if he is Mashtots? Has my Tigran or that
man done good to your school?”

SHAHEN KHACHATRYAN TO DELIVER LECTURE ON “REFLECTION ON GENOCIDE IN ARMENIAN PAINTING”

Noyan Tapan
2012-02-22

On February 23 at 6 p.m. Distinguished Artist of the Republic of
Armenia, art critic Shahen Khachatryan will deliver a lecture with
photos on “Reflection on the Genocide in Armenian Painting” at the
Glendale Public Library. The event is organized by the Armenian
Writers Association of California and Stephanie’s Art Gallery.

Shahen Khachatryan graduated from the Art Academy of Petersburg
as an art critic. In Yerevan, he was Director of the newly created
Martiros Saryan Museum, and was appointed Director of the National
Gallery of Armenia in 1990. In addition to his dozens of works, he
has collected works of art and has been able to procure 400 paintings
for the Museum of Yerevan, as well as 9 works by Ayvazovsky, 70 works
by M. Saryan and dozens of other paintings. Shahen Khachatryan has
presented several articles and has delivered many speeches on the
history of Armenian art. His monograph about Ayvazovsky has received
the first degree medal in Moscow.

His volume “Color of the Sea” is dedicated to the 95th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in which he presents the Armenian painters
that have created paintings devoted to the Armenian Genocide. Armenian
painters of four generations are included in the volume that starts
from the massacres of 1895.

During his lecture, Khachatryan will present newly discovered paintings
with commentaries.

The event will feature performances by reed pipe player Salbi and
lyre player Sosi of the “Yerknayin Tagher” Ensemble.

AZERBAIJANI TRACE IN GERMAN MPS’ INTENTION TO ISSUE ANTI-ARMENIAN STATEMENT – HERITAGE

news.am
February 22, 2012 | 13:22

YEREVAN.- An intention of the German Bundestag’s (Parliament)
largest faction to issue a statement ignoring Armenia’s position on
the Karabakh conflict has Azerbaijani trace, said Armenian MP.

Head of Hertiage parliamentary group Stepan Safaryan said the statement
drafted by the CDU/CSU group is not only directed against Armenia
but also distorts the essence of the Karabakh issue.

“Armenian parliament’s groups are discussing a letter to CDU/CSU
group which will be an answer to distortion of the essence of the
Karabakh problem. I think the letter will be signed by the heads of
the parliamentary groups in two hours and agreed on during the meeting
with Speaker Samvel Nikoyan,” Safaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As to the idea of the statement, Safaryan believes the Azerbaijani
lobby played its role in the process.

“On the other hand, the statement can be regarded as a consequence
of the Madrid Principles. Unless we solve our main problems – reject
the Madrid Principles falsifying the essence of the Karabakh issue –
such statements can be issued not only in Germany but other states
as well,” he concluded.

According to press reports, CDU/CSU group is preparing to issue a
statement on the Karabakh issue ignoring the position of the Armenian
side. Specifically, Karabakh and the adjacent areas are defined as
occupied, and there is a call made upon the Armenian side to return
those territories.

“GRANT-EATER” VOVA

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:30:40 – 22/02/2012

Yesterday there was a press release informing that the U.S. Embassy
donated approximately $50,000 of classroom computer equipment to
the Police. In fact, the Armenian Police and Armed Forces receive
millions of grants from the U.S. and the European Union to reequip and
modernize these structures regularly to comply with the international
standards. Note that this money is a present.

In this regard, the press and social networks are buzzing whether
the Police is a grant-eater.

Vladimir Gasparyan used to work as Deputy Defense Minister. Now he
holds the office of the Chief of Police of Armenia. He has repeatedly
delivered ardent speeches against the representatives of the civil
society who protest against unlawfulness, violence in the army calling
them “homeless” grant-eaters and so on. It turns out that on the
one hand the high-ranking government officials, in the face of Vova
Gasparyan, would not mind receiving grants, on the other hand, they
do not want to hear about the plight in the abovmentioned structures
and demands by the society fearing the “evil eye” to the money of
Americans and Europeans.

MINING COMPANY DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST OPPOSITION ENVIRONMENTALISTS’ CONCERNS

epress.am
02.22.2012

Geoteam CJSC, which is exploiting the Amulsar gold mine in southern
Armenia, in a statement issued today said it doesn’t agree with the
assessment of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) Environmental
Affairs Committee.

“On Feb. 21, the Armenian National Congress Environmental Affairs
Committee, not providing any justification, called Amulsar mine
exploitation ‘unacceptable’. It is surprising that a political group
makes such a statement, adopting the stance of a judge. We believe
that HAK’s Environmental Affairs Committee at least had to examine the
research and conclusions of local and foreign environmental experts,
which are available on our site

“If after becoming acquainted with these materials, HAK’s experts
continue to consider our project ‘unacceptable’, we are prepared to
invite them to a public debate – with the participation of the public
and the media,” reads the statement.

The mining company notes that the Amulsar Gold Project is carried out
in strict accordance to and consistent with the norms of environmental
legislation of the Republic of Armenia. Geoteam stresses that since
2006, it has invested $30 million USD into Armenia and will invest
an additional $52 million USD this year. In addition, Geoteam has
provided jobs to the residents of the communities surrounding Amulsar
and implemented several social programs, “changing people’s mindset
and attitude toward life.”

WORLD BANK SUPPORTS WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT FOR 133,000 RESIDENTS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: The World Bank’s Board of Executive
Directors today approved a US$15 million loan for the Municipal Water
Project for Armenia. The Project will support improvement of the
quality and availability of water supply in selected service areas
of the Armenian Water and Sewerage Company (AWSC).

The activities proposed under the Project will directly benefit over
133,000 residents in the cities of Ashtarak (Aragatsotn region), Masis
(Ararat region) and Echmiadzin (Armavir region) and 15 neighboring
rural settlements. The investments will increase average daily supply
of drinking water service from 12 hours to 17 hours, improve water
quality, decrease water pollution risks and improve customer service.

About 21,000 residents will also benefit from installation of new
meters. The Project will generate multiple benefits for the public
and private sectors by creating a more conducive environment for
service delivery to users and stimulating economic activities.

“This Project supports the Government’s strategy aiming at promoting
access to quality potable water across the country, including in
small and medium-size towns and rural areas. This is an important
part of the World Bank’s Country Partnership Strategy for Armenia,”
said Asad Alam, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.

The proposed Project is a repeater operation, building on the success
of the Municipal Water and Wastewater Project (MWWP) and its Additional
Financing, and expanding it to new towns and rural settlements. Over
the project implementation period of 2004-2011, the MWWP achieved
good results benefiting 264,000 households: the average daily supply
of drinking water increased from 6 hours to 15 hours/day, cities with
minimal daily hours of water supply increased from 68 percent to 94
percent; revenue collection increased from 47.9 percent to almost 94
percent; billing on the basis of metered consumption increased from
40 percent to 81.2 percent, and bacteriological safety compliance
increased from 93 to 98.2 percent.

“We are particularly pleased to continue supporting improved access
to sustainable water supply services in rural Armenia given its
strong linkages to health and environment,” said Jean-Michel Happi,
World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “The goals of the proposed
investments are to drastically improve physical infrastructure in a
technically sound, cost effective, and reliable manner.”

The project includes three components. The first component (Investments
in water supply systems) finances the design, construction, and
supervision of priority reconstruction and rehabilitation works; the
second component (AWSC investments) will fund water metering program,
and facility automation; and the third component ((AWSC management
strengthening) finances the enhanced management contract and technical
studies, as well as the financial and technical audits.

“Over the past decade, the Government has succeeded in improving
access, reliability and quality of drinking water with increased use
of public-private partnerships (PPP), which have brought about higher
efficiency and improvements in quality of service to customers,”
said Ahmed Eiweida, head of the World Bank team designing the project.

“With the World Bank support, the Government also competitively
selected an international water operator to manage the AWSC under
a Management Contract. Significant amount of investments are still
needed to reduce the high level of commercial and technical losses,
and to rehabilitate the water and wastewater infrastructure.”

The total financing of the project is USD18 million, of which the
Government of Armenia will finance USD3 million. The IBRD loan in
the amount of USD15 million carries a maturity of 25 years including
a grace period of 10 years.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the total IDA
and IBRD commitments to Armenia amount to US$1, 612 million.