Author: Badalian Vardan

AVOIDING MILITARY SERVICE ACCORDING TO LAW

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:52:50 – 19/11/2011

A group of young people who have completed their military service
sent a letter to Supreme Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan. They are
indignant that “the number of young government officials who have
not served in the army is growing”.

They demand that Serzh Sargsyan make a statement on those members
of parliament, ministers and other high-ranking young people who
were born after 1972 and have not served in the army, and their
appointment. Those who served in the army note rightly that such
injustice may be destructive for Armenia.

The Armenian press regularly reports high-ranking officials who
have not served in the army. Usually, most of them avoid service
“in accordance” with the law. They get a “scholarship” to study at
a university, then they are admitted to do a master’s program and a
PhD program and in this period they have just enough time to marry
and have two children.

Other high-ranking officials or their sons get deferment for different
reasons and spend their military service in cafes and clubs of Yerevan.

Our leaders know the plight in the army better than anyone else and
they will not send their kids to the army “voluntarily”. Let the
“puppies” of others serve, as Vova Gasparyan would say.

Young people who served in the army bring up the issue of justice.

Justice is an abstract notion but at the same time it is highly
concrete when it is related to dignity and equality of man. Sometimes
it has more grave consequences than war.

FULE: EU, TURKEY INCREASINGLY UNHAPPY ABOUT RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 19, 2011 – 10:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Both the European Union and Turkey are increasingly
unhappy about the current state of their mutual relations, according
to the EU’s commissioner for enlargement.

“There is a great deal of frustration in the relationship on our side
because we had hoped the reform process that your people want and
would benefit from, have been slower than we hoped,” Stefan Fule said
at the “Turkey-EU: Common Interests Revisited” conference, which was
held in Istanbul on Nov. 17 and 18.

“But we should not become hostage to that frustration. Turkey and
the EU need each other more and more everyday,” Fule said.

Fule also said they were concerned about the recent arrest of Turkish
intellectuals and the state of the press freedom in Turkey.

“The anti-terror law in the penal code and legislative framework is
not adequate to protect the freedom of expression in Turkey. Also, the
interpretation by prosecutors and judges in the European Convention
of Human Rights on the issue of media freedom is too restrictive,”
Fule told journalists during a press conference on the sidelines of
the conference.

Fule said the European Commission would actively take part in
remedying the situation in Turkey. “We are in regular contact with
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on this issue to help
Turkish authorities, especially the justice minister, on a series of
steps – including amending the anti-terrorist act and penal code –
to address the shortcomings of that legislative framework. We will
be part of this program and we will finance it,” he said.

Fule also said the EU was investing 4.8 million euros in helping Turkey
enact reforms between 2007 and 2013. “I am not talking about loans,
I am talking about EU money each and every year being committed
to reform in Turkey. I hope and trust all this money will be used
efficiently for the benefit of the Turkish people,” he said.

EU Minister Egemen Baðýþ, in turn, criticized the EU decision-making
system. “It should not be acceptable in democracy that two countries
are making the decisions for 27 countries. The EU should also review
its decision-making mechanisms,” Baðýþ said.

LE GAMBO ARMENIEN DEFILERA LORS DE L’EXPOSITION CANINE A EREVAN
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 19 novembre 2011

L’association armenienne des amoureux des chiens organisent depuis
2010 des defiles et expositions canines internationales a Erevan. La
prochaine se deroulera dimanche 20 novembre a Erevan où participeront
une trentaine de races de chiens dont le gambo armenien chiens
typiques de l’Armenie. Hier dans la campagne armenienne, ces chiens
robustes ont desormais investi egalement la ville et les amoureux
des chiens -et notamment du gambo armenien- se comptent par dizaines
de milliers en Armenie. Selon Violetta Gabrielian la presidente de
l’association armenienne des amoureux des chiens, le gambo armenien
est ” le fort national, notre richesse, comme d’ailleurs le chat de
Van “. Le gambo armenien demeure une enigme pour les chercheurs qui
n’arrivent toujours pas a determiner a quelle epoque ont apparu en
Armenie ces chiens robustes et attachants. On ne connaît pas non plus
leur nombre en Armenie.

‘AZERBAIJAN CAN LIBERATE OCCUPIED LANDS IN SHORT’

News.az
Nov 18 2011
Azerbaijan

The ‘key’ to the Karabakh conflict is held by the Kremlin as it was
stated in early 1990s.

The statement came from Elchin Bayramli, head of Center for Strategic
Research Altay, political expert.

“The only way out for us is to make Russia neutral at any cost. In
other words, Russia should either guarantee that it will not interfere
with hostilities or it should put pressure on Armenia to withdraw
from the occupied lands,” the analyst said.

The expert noted that he sees no other way out and that the
negotiations have already exhausted.

“Armenians do not agree to get even the highest autonomy in the world
and semi-independent state. International organizations and big powers
co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group exert no pressure on Armenia in this
regard. So, it is clear that there is no any other way out except for
the one I said above. Azerbaijan can liberate its lands in short time
once the war resumes,” Bayramli added.

VIC DARCHINYAN WANTS ANOTHER SHOT AT ABNER MARES

Panorama
Nov 18 2011
Armenia

Vic Darchinyan hopes he, too, gets another shot at Abner Mares,
“Boxingscene” said.

Darchinyan said on a conference call Wednesday that he wants them
both to win their fights Dec. 3 in Anaheim, Calif., so that he can
“destroy” Mares in their own bantamweight championship rematch. Mares
will face Joseph Agbeko in another rematch Dec. 3.

“They gave Abner Mares a rematch with Agbeko,” Darchinyan said. “Why?

It [should’ve been] me. He punched me in the [groin] all the way. From
the sixth round, I couldn’t even breathe. And he didn’t give me a
rematch. They gave [Agbeko] a rematch. Why? I’m looking for Abner
Mares [to] beat Agbeko and I want to knock him out in the ring and
send him into retirement.”

“I would love to fight, after this fight, the winner of Agbeko and
Mares,” Darchinyan said. “It doesn’t matter who’s going to win. I
would just love to fight them. [Whoever] will win, I’m just going to
come and destroy him. You will see, guys.”

EURASEC ANTI-CRISIS FUND MEETING MIGHT BE STARTING POINT FOR ARMENIAN NAIRIT FEASIBILITY STUDY
by Aram Gareginyan

news.am
Nov 18 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian News – NEWS.am offers exclusive interview with
the Head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) representation in
Armenia Sergey Yelizarov.

Is the supporting documentation for Nairit’s application to EurAsEC
Anti-Crisis Fund ready: feasibility studies, environmental action plan,
marketing strategy of the industry?

I reckon it is yet untimely to speak about the need to start a
full-fledged work on the documents. Investment project on Nairit
must first be approved by the Board of ACF. In the case of a positive
decision we will come up with a schedule, including, inter alia, the
preparation and submission of documentation. Therefore, next meeting
of ACF Council might be the starting point for work on these documents.

How would you estimate Armenia’s economic index – Draft of State
Budget for 2012, dynamics of state debt, inflation, and current state
of economy?

Overall picture of macroeconomic situation in Armenia tends to
be stable: indexes for inflation (5.7 percent in October 2012 in
relation to the same period of last year), increase in GDP (5 percent
for January-September 2012 in relation to same period of last year)
and ratio of external debt to GDP (4 percent for September 2010).

Persistence of such trends may favorably affect the increase in tax
revenue and, consequently, the growth of budget revenues and reduction
of its deficit.

Which sectors have the have the greatest potential of development in
Armenia in near future?

In my opinion, the mining industry and agriculture would be called
most perspective.

These sectors may have a significant impact on improving the
economic situation in the country. Development of infrastructure and
transportation, as well as further improving the investment climate
in the country should contribute to these sectors.

DIASPORA BUSINESSMAN SWINDLED AND CHEATED IN ARMENIA

November 18, 2011

Serzh Sargsyan’s brother Levon Sargsyan is involved in at least one
large-scale fraud, “Zhamanak” daily editor Arman Babajanyan said
on Friday.

With the participation of Levon Sargsyan, US Armenian businessman
Edmond Khudyan, who invested over 5 million dollars in Armenia,
was made bankrupt.

Who are Levon Sargsyan’s ‘accomplices’?

Vice President of the Chamber of the Advocates Nikolay Baghdasaryan
named businessmen Vladislav Mangasryan and Edik Yesayan who
appropriated Khudyan’s properties without his knowledge and pocketed
millions of dollars.

According to Arman Babajanyan, Levon Sargsyan is the ‘godfather’
of this trickery.

“It was Levon Sargsyan who introduced Vladislav Mangasryan to Edmond
Khudyan and sponsored all illegal transactions throughout that time,”
said the chief editor of Zhamanak daily.

Edmond Khudyan, who was participating in the news conference via
Skype also gave the name of Serzh Sargsyan’s brother saying he ‘made
investments in Armenia on Sargsyan’s advice.’

What happened in reality?

Edmond Khudyan invested 5 million dollars in Armenia and developed
a high-rise building in the center of Yerevan. His partner and
contractor was Vladislav Mangasryan. Khudyan appointed Edik Yesayan,
his long-time friend, as director of the company.

In 2010, Vladislav Mangasryan, and EdikYesayan mutually decided to
sell the flats and pocket the money without Khudyan’s knowledge. Later
they claimed that it was done to save the company from bankruptcy,
for everybody’s benefit.

Since then E. Khudyan placed several lawsuits against the parties
to return stolen properties and to bring them to justice but those
efforts have been unsuccessful.

The lawyers today presented two similar cases of swindle masterminded
by the same people. They are going to establish a foundation that
will defend the rights of Diaspora businessmen.

AZERBAIJAN WAITING FOR ARMENIA TO GO BANKRUPT: DE WAAL

epress.am
11.18.2011

The possibility of renewed hostilities between Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh is very small, Thomas de Waal, an expert on the
South Caucasus and senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace in Washington, said in an interview with
ArmRADIO-FM107.

“In July of this year, I travelled to Baku, and their reaction after
Kazan was that they don’t want war and they’re spending money on
weapons not to fight but to force Armenia to join the arms race and
go bankrupt. I think that Azerbaijan is living an illusion,” he said,
reports Russian-language news agency Regnum.

According to the analyst, regardless of financial means, Armenia won’t
make unilateral concessions. “If you go back 10-15 years ago, Armenia
and Azerbaijan were equal. Now Azerbaijan is clearly a richer and
stronger country. However, can this be linked with the Karabakh issue?

No, I don’t think so, because even if Armenia is poorer and weaker,
it will do everything in its power to protect Karabakh. And although
I don’t think Armenia has very good social and economic prospects,
I also don’t think that Armenia will be forced to cede Karabakh.”

CYBER SECURITY FOCUS OF MODEL OSCE CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
18.11.2011 12:38

Around 60 students from Armenia embarked on discussions and
negotiations on the importance of cyber security in a globalized
world, and possible OSCE action at a two-day Model OSCE Conference
that started today in Yerevan.

The Model OSCE Conference is an exercise during which the work of
the Permanent Council, the main decision-making body of the OSCE,
is simulated, with students playing roles of representatives of
OSCE participating States and bodies. The aim of the initiative
is to educate students about the OSCE and give them an opportunity
to experience first-hand the challenges of international diplomacy
in action.

This time, the conference participants will discuss and suggest
a course of action to tackle the challenge posed by an internet
grouping calling itself “The Shadow”, which threatens the security
of the region, inflicting substantial harm to hypothetical OSCE
participating States of Kartonia, Syland and Lotyko.

“In our interconnected world, people and institutions in participating
States of the OSCE, rely on the Internet for everything. We look
forward to hearing innovative ideas and fresh views on possible
ways of countering cyber threats, which the OSCE places high on its
agenda,” said Carel Hofstra, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan. “At the same time, negotiating a common approach to combating
cyber crime requires from participants the application of diplomatic
and negotiation skills, and their development is another objective
of the Model OSCE initiative.

Prior to the conference, participants were trained in public speaking
and negotiation skills, and also participated in thematic workshops
on the OSCE, international relations and diplomacy, as well as
cyber crime.

Nvard Sununu, who played the role of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
said: “The simulation exercise hits three targets at the same time:
it presents the role of OSCE in the international relations, informs
young people of a certain problem, and provides them with a unique
opportunity to learn and develop debating, negotiating and public
speaking skills.”

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been holding Model OSCE Conferences
since 2008.

TSVETANA PASKALEVA PRESENTS “THE KARABAKH’S WOUNDS”
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
18.11.2011 16:45

Bulgarian journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva prepared today a series of
films titled “The Karabakh’s Wounds” on the occasion of three jubilees
– the 20th anniversaries of the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh and twenty years of her residence in our country. The CDs with
seven films in six languages are already on sale in Armenia. 500 out of
the 1 000 copies released will be distributed among the military units.

The documentaries will be presented in Artsakh, Russia, France,
Bulgaria and other countries. Today the author handed the first copy
to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The “Wounds of Karabakh” includes seven documentaries on the
Artsakh liberation war. The films have been translated into Russian,
Spanish, English, Bulgarian and French. Tsvetana Paskaleva and the
“Armenian Music Center” Company intend to distribute the films in
the above-mentioned countries.

“The world seems to forget about Karabakh. I want to remind the
international community about the path Artsakh has passed and present
how it has achieved its victories,” the author said.

Tsvetana Paskaleva first visited Artsakh in May 1991. Artsakh changed
her destiny.

“Armenia and Artsakh became the basis of my professional outlook. I
realized my role as a documentalist. I just found myself in the right
place at the right time.”

Tsvetana Paskaleva expressed gratitude to all those who have
contributed to the creation of the series of documentaries.