Author: Badalian Vardan

NON-GOVERNING PARTY MP DESCRIBES CURRENCY MARKET UPHEAVALS AS UNPRECEDENTED, BUT PREDICTABLE

ECONOMY | 19.12.14 | 15:14

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenia needs not cosmetic or sectional, but drastic changes,
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) lawmaker Mikayel Melkumyan said on
Friday, commenting on recent days’ turmoil on the country’s currency
market.

Enlarge Photo

According to Melkumyan, while the developments were unprecedented, they
were still predictable. He reminded the media that the PAP warned about
high volatility risks still after the parliamentary elections of 2012.

“We told you that the state has shifted from the correct path,
and the economic policy we run will take us to a dead-end. What
happened during the recent days cost too much for our society. It
struck hard everyone – all layers of the society – without exception;
the villagers, who started cutting the animals and selling because
forage became very expensive; the scientists, teachers and doctors –
the purchasing power of their salaries was cut in half. The small and
medium business hesitated, did not know how to price their goods and
services,” the MP said.

According to Melkumyan, the people are in shock, they do not understand
what is happening around them, and they do not know how much longer
the ‘indefiniteness and despair’ will last, and, as the MP said,
‘this will leave its influence still for a long time.”

Melkumyan thinks that there are two main reasons behind the dram
devaluation: one is the external influence, namely, all that causes
changes in the Russian economy, and the other one – the internal
state of the economy.

“If your economy’s immunity, resistance is equal to zero, it will
be influenced by the wind every day. It was the way during the
Russian-Georgian war when within 5-6 days our storages of oil and
petrol depleted. It was clear for us that this might happen, because
during the last 2-3 years no investments were made,” the MP said.

Although the results of the recent days’ drastic inflation have not
been summarized yet, however the National Statistical Service (NSS)
Price and International Comparisons Division head Gurgen Martirosyan
at Friday’s press conference presented the price changes picture for
2014 in the consumption market saying that by November there was a
more favorable situation in the country in terms of inflation.

According to Martirosyan, in November, compared to October, a
1.3-percent inflation was recorded, and whereas in September, October
and November of 2013 the overall inflation made one percent, during
these three months of 2014 the overall inflation made 2.7 percent.

As the dram hit its historic low of nearly 600 per U.S. dollar earlier
this week causing negative expectations among economic agents some
businesses suspended trade or raised retail prices in anticipation
of hard currency shortages. On Thursday, the dram rebounded just as
dramatically as it lost its ground earlier, but prices appear to be
lowering at a much slower pace.

Scores of citizens gathered near the government building today to
voice their discontent over what they see as excessively high prices
in stores. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan visited several supermarkets
on Thursday, warning retailers against unreasonable price hikes.

SHOCK OVER: ARMENIAN PM SIGNALS CURRENCY MARKET STABILITY AFTER DRAM REBOUND

ECONOMY | 19.12.14 | 10:41

RELATED NEWS

Ungrounded price increases will not be tolerated, says PM

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan warned against currency
market speculations and “groundless” price increases as he visited
some supermarkets in Yerevan on Thursday amid apparent stabilization
of the dollar-dram exchange rate.

“If the dollar exchange rate changes by 10-15 percent a product
cannot become 30 percent more expensive,” Abrahamyan told media at
one of the stores. “I am sure that people have realized that they
can’t play such games with our people.”

“People must not be tempted. They must not use such situations to
get more money from our people,” the prime minister stressed.

The dram that hit its historic low of nearly 600 on Wednesday began
to rally strongly the following day, reaching the level of 460-480
at most exchange offices by the end of the day.

Premier Abrahamyan suggested that the “shock is over”. “Yesterday the
dollar was overrated and the dram was underrated. But in the next
two days everything will be settled,” he stressed, adding that the
final market adjustment of the exchange rate is likely in the next
week or so.

The turmoil in the currency market observed in Armenia since Monday
raised negative expectations among economic agents some of whom
suspended trade or raised prices in anticipation of hard currency
shortages.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Prime Minister Abrahamyan gave
assurances that the Armenian banking system has the necessary financial
resources to deal with such situations.

ARFD: THE TURKISH-AZERBAIJANI TANDEM HAS SHARPLY ACTIVATED AT THE WORLD ARENA

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Friday, December 19, 13:30

The Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem has sharply activated at the world
arena for the last period of time. From now on, the Armenian lobby is
coming across counteraction of the strong Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem,
a representative of the ARF “Dashnaktiutyun”, Hrant Margaryan, said
during the event in Aleppo dedicated to the 124th anniversary of
the ARFD.

At the same time, he emphasized that the consolidated presentation of
the two Armenian republics to the world on the threshold of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey is enough to
reach success. He also added the Armenian people from the task of
recognition of the Armenian genocide made a step towards demanding
compensation for the consequences of the crime against humanity. In
this context, it is necessary to revise the tactics of the Armenian
Diaspora and Armenia, and jointly draw out new steps in this direction.

TEMOIGNAGES ACCABLANTS SUR LES TORTURES INFLIGEES AUX ARMENIENS EN AZERBAIDJAN

AZERBAÏDJAN

Le bureau de l’observatoire armenien des droits de l’homme, dirige
par l’ombudsman Karen Andreasian, a organise une projection privee
d’un film video temoignant des tortures et autres sevices corporels
infliges au conscrit armenien Hakob Injighulyan en Azerbaïdjan. Le
ministère armenien de la defense avait saisi ce document accablant
pour les autorites azeries, dont etait en possession l’un des membres
du commando de saboteurs azeris neutralise en juillet dernier par les
forces armeniennes alors qu’il s’etait inflitre dans le Haut Karabagh.

Le ministère armenien l’avait mis alors a la disposition des services
de l’ombudsman. Des representants de plusieurs missions diplomatiques
et d’organisations internationales en poste en Armenie – parmi
lesquels des Britanniques, des Allemands, des Francais, ainsi que
des representants de l’OSCE, du Counseil de l’Europe et des Nations
unites – assistaient a cette projection. Armen Grigorian, adjoint
de l’ombudsman en charge des questions militaires, a indique a cette
occasion qu’il etait profondement indigne par le traitement inhumain
inflige a Hakob Injighulyan ainsi qu’a d’autres prisonniers de guerre
armeniens en Azerbaïdjan.

jeudi 18 decembre 2014, Gari (c)armenews.com

DEAD SOLDIER’S PARENTS DEMAND OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL VERDICT SENT ONE MONTH LATE

12.19.2014 14:18 epress.am

The parents of military conscript Arman Muradyan, who served in NKR and
died in 2013 (official cause of death suicide), received a notice for
the verdict of their son’s case one month after it was released and
consequently do not have the opportunity to appeal, said Muradyan’s
family representative Tigran Muradyan in an interview with Epress.am.

According to him, the verdict was not only handed out without the
presence of the victim’s legal successors, but was also not sent
to them.

After being informed of the court’s verdict, the conscript’s father
Hovsep Muradyan asked the court to send him the verdict, which the
court subsequently did.

“We received the verdict on the same day as the deadline to appeal the
verdict. Now we’ve appealed to the court to extend the deadline. If
the court does not accept the appeal, then it signifies that the
verdict was only for the defendant and the plaintiff has no right
whatsoever to appeal the verdict,” said Tigran Muradyan.

Recall, that the parents of NKR military conscript Arman Muradyan
demanded that their son’s case be transferred to Armenia from the
capital of the unrecognized Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Stepanakert.

This demand was rejected.

Hovsep Muradyan does not believe the preliminary investigation’s stance
on his son’s suicide, which the military expert Ruben Martirosyan also
rejects. Note, that according to the verdict, major Emil Avetisyan
was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for violent actions against a
commander, abuse of powers, and insulting a serviceman.

CONFLICT MATURING IN FIEOLOTOVO VILLAGE CONNECTED WITH FIEOLOTOVO GOLD MINING

15:34 December 18, 2014

EcoLur

Pressures are exercised on the residents of Fieolotovo village so as
the villagers give their consent to Fieolotovo gold mining project:
an alarm signal has been posted on Facebook social network. By the
way, the mine is located only in a distance of 300 meters from the
houses in the village.

Reminder: Fieoletovo gold mining project is planned to be implemented
by “GradeRedMet” LLC. The project is still undergoing the environmental
expertise stage. The public hearings of this project will be held on
23 December at 23/100 Sundukyan Street, Yerevan.

Under the project, Fioletovo gold mine demonstration is located in
the administrative area of Fioletovo community, Lori Region. The
gold concentration in the mines varies from 2.5-5.5 g/ton. The open
pit will occupy an area of 5.2 ha. The landfill site will be located
in a distance of 1.3 km from the open pit, its capacity is about 3
million cubic meters, total area – around 4 ha.

The mine will be developed for 5 years, it will annually mine 37,000
tons of ore. The ore will be transferred either to Armanis or Ararat
dressing factory. Project affected communities are three ones:
Fioletovo (2.7 km far from the mine), Margahovit (11.1 km far from
the mine) and Lermontovo (7 km far from the mine).

It should be mentioned that the mass media connects the name of “Grade
Redmet” LLC with ex Nature Protection Minister Vardan Ayvazyan, who
currently holds the office of the Chairman of the Standing Committee
on Economic Issues of the National Assembly.

NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT- SAYS OUTGOING US AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, December 19. / ARKA /. The outgoing US ambassador to Armenia
John Heffern reiterated today that there is no military solution to the
long-running Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Speaking at a farewell news
conference in Yerevan he said he had to repeat the statements by the
OSCE Minsk Group that the Karabakh conflict has no military solution,
and there is only one way to settle it – it is through peace talks.

However, he stressed that the OSCE Ming Group is acting as a peace
broker and can not impose a solution option on the parties to the
conflict.

“By and large, it all depends on the conflict parties themselves,”
said the diplomat.

According to him, the US hopes that the strategic South Caucasus region
will sooner or later become open, and that Washington, for its part,
is ready to help resolve the conflict and open borders.

He said the US wants to help Armenia to become a strategically
important country with new possibilities and alternatives. According
to him, the US and EU are willing to deepen cooperation with Armenia
in any sphere where Armenia will demonstrate political will.

According to him, even though Armenia is a member of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), it also effectively cooperates
with NATO and is willing to continue cooperation with the West on
mutually beneficial terms, which is natural, “because there are no
winners and losers.”

He stressed that Washington will continue helping Armenia to build
up democracy and strengthen human rights, rule of law and free media.

He said cooperation between Washington and Yerevan is strong and is
based on real values. According to him, Washington wants to have deep
ties with Armenia; to help it develop the skills of young people,
in particular, IT innovators, because the US believes that the future
of Armenia is in knowledge-based economy.-0-

BAKO SAHAKYAN PARTOOK IN A SOLEMN EVENT DEVOTED TO THE DAY OF THE NSS SERVICEMAN

December 19, 2014 12:18

On 19 December President Bako Sahakyan visited central headquarter
of the NKR National Security Service and partook in a solemn event
devoted to the Day of the National Security Service Serviceman,
as Central Information Department of President Office informs.

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS: The President congratulated
the servicemen of the structure on the professional holiday, conferred
military rank and handed in valuable gifts to a group of the system’s
workers.

Bako Sahakyan highlighted in his speech the role of the structure
in the process of maintaining security of our country and nation,
adding that the state would continue to keep in the spotlight the
solution of problems the structure faced.

‘US GOT ISOLATED TRYING TO ISOLATE CUBA’ – RENE GONZALEZ OF THE CUBAN FIVE

Published time: December 18, 2014 23:43

Reuters/Enrique De La Osa

A step of reconciliation with Cuba was inevitable, as the US was
becoming increasingly isolated in its failed attempts to isolate Cuba
while their competitors were building closer ties with the island,
Cuban intelligence agent Rene Gonzalez told RT.

Gonzalez was arrested in 1998 with four other members of the Wasp
Network, secretly deployed by Cuba in Miami to monitor the expat
community. After spending 13 years behind bars on charges of espionage,
he was released in 2011, and has now been reunited with three other
members of the group, exchanged this week for US intelligence agent
Alan Gross, and another unnamed spy.

READ MORE: Obama announces US will establish embassy in Cuba,
lift sanctions

“I found the returnees in good spirits and happy,” Gonzalez told RT,
refusing to be drawn on the particulars of the surprise prisoner
exchange, which came alongside news that Washington was to open an
embassy in Havana, and “normalize” relations with Cuba

“In terms of its attitude towards Cuba the United States gradually
found itself in isolation, while their goal was to isolate Cuba,”
Gonzalez said.

Rene Gonzalez (screenshot from RT video)

But not only the world community was changing its attitude towards
Cuba and demanding similar policy change from Washington, but business
circles within the US itself did not want to miss opportunities to
their competitors, Gonzalez believes.

“They saw their economic competitors increasingly converging with Cuba
while they could not do that. In the end, this process has led to a
lot of people, those who are in power, coming to a conclusion that
the situation in the relations between Cuba and the United States
cannot remain the same.”

Lifting an embargo will take time but the first step has already been
made and there is no turning back, believes Gonzalez, choosing to focus
on events that eventually “will bring happiness to millions”besides
the four families already reunited with their loved ones.

Alan Gross embraces an entourage of family and friends who were
awaiting his return from five years of captivity in Cuba to Joint
Base Andrews, Maryland, December 17, 2014. (Reuters/Master Sgt. Kevin
Wallace/U.S. Air Force)

“All four of them worked for their government in another country,
protecting national interests. I don’t care who got paid what,
or what they did [during their intelligence work]. I want to think
about the four families that will be happy at New Year’s. I even
prefer thinking of Alan Gross being reunited with his, as well as my
comrades,” explained Gonzalez.

“The five of us set an aim for ourselves – to come out better people
than we went in, and we have achieved it… All the burdens of the
trial, and all the mud-slinging from the US has not broken us,”
he said. “Now they can share their joy and happiness, and thus help
make Cuba a place we all want it to be.”

BELARUS’ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RATIFIES TREATY ON ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO EEU

15:54, 19 Dec 2014

The House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly
ratified the Treaty on the Accession of Armenia to the Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU), BelTA reports.

The treaty was signed in Minsk by the Presidents of Belarus, Russia,
Kazakhstan and Armenia on 10 October 2014. The three countries agreed
to a transition period for Armenia during which the Armenian goods
will be subject to certain import duties. Their rates will differ
from the common customs tariff in the EEU.

“Today is a historic day. Once again we have reiterated our position,
our vector of development. After the ratification we are becoming a
member of the EEU and this opens up great opportunities,” Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Belarus Armen
Khachatryan told Belarusian reporters.

He explained that Armenia can supply the EEU partners with
high-technology services, and also with vegetables and fruits. We have
the best cognac. We have the best mineral waters. We have a lot of
things to offer, added the Ambassador. As regards the ways of delivery,
the goods will go through Georgia.

“I sincerely salute all Belarusians. I wish happiness and joy to
the most beautiful people, the kindest nation as all Armenians say,”
the diplomat said.

For his part, Belarus’ First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander
Mikhnevich informed that Russia has completed the process of
ratification of the Treaty of Armenia’s Accession to the EEU, and
Kazakhstan is completing this process.

The House of Representatives also ratified the Treaty to terminate
the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).