Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN MP CLARIFIED HIS STATEMENT ON ‘MUMMIES’ IN PARLIAMENT

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Parliament of Armenia needs people who are actively
engaged in legislative process, said the deputy chairman of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia Razmik Zohrabyan to a press conference
on Tuesday, repeating the phrase stated days earlier.

“Our parliament and people do not need such MPs. Society looks upon
at the legislative body, which seems to be the face of society. People
should go to the parliament if they are ready to work, to be involved
in the legislative process. As for the mummies, this was just a joke.

There are no mummies in the parliament, they are too expensive and
are usually kept in pyramids. Nobody will allow us bring mummies into
the parliament,” he said.

Earlier in an interview to Armenian media Razmik Zohrabyan said that
parties include people that have the potential to become active MPs
rather than sitting like stone statues.

“If they know the laws and accept the program of our party, we will
lead them to the parliament. We do not need mummies,” he said.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for Spring 2012.

COMMISSION PROPOSES VISA TALKS WITH BAKU AND YEREVAN
By Joanna Sopinska

Europolitics.info
Sept 20 2011

The European Commission announced, on 20 September, a proposal to
open negotiations with Armenia and Azerbaijan on the facilitation of
procedures for issuing short-stay visas and on the readmission of
irregular migrants. Alongside Belarus, these two countries are the
only members of the Eastern Partnership initiative that have not
yet concluded such agreements. “Visa facilitation and readmission
agreements are very tangible results of the Eastern Partnership and
I know how much this means to the citizens of these countries”, Home
Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement. The exact
date for the launch of negotiations has not been set yet. A decision
to this end is expected to be taken “soon,” paving the way for the
talks to start in the coming months.

The Commission said that the agreements with both countries will
be based on reciprocity. The list of suggested visa facilitations
will include the simplification of documentary evidence to be
submitted in support of the visa application, the possibility
of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity,
the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories
of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as
well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders
of diplomatic passports. The negotiations of readmission agreements
will provide for the speedy return of nationals staying without
authorisation on the territory of the EU or any of the two countries.

Improving people-to-people contacts between the EU and the six Eastern
countries is one of the main priorities of the Eastern Partnership
initiative, launched in May 2009. Once in force, the agreements are
expected be followed by visa liberalisation talks. Ukraine and Moldova
– two other Eastern Partnership members – have already launched such
negotiations with the EU.

WERE ARMENIAN OPPOSITION’S MEETINGS AT LIBERTY SQUARE PERMITTED THANKS TO GERMANY?

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – One of the important results of Germany’s legislative
assistance to Armenia is the [opposition] Armenian National Congress’
(ANC) opportunity to hold meetings at Armenian capital Yerevan’s
Liberty Square, German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt
stated during a press conference on Tuesday.

“Germany has assisted Armenia in preparing the text of its
Constitution, of which the country today can truly be proud.

Assistance is also provided in preparing the Law “On Holding Meetings,
Rallies, Marches and Demonstrations.” And one of the results of the
assistance rendered is the ANC’s opportunity to gather at Liberty
Square,” the Ambassador stated.

Speaking about the media, the German Ambassador noted that the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will
monitor media access during Armenia’s parliamentary and presidential
election seasons.

And in terms of media professionalism in Armenia, the Ambassador
said journalistic research demands great preparedness and journalism
ethics. “And the latter needs serious perfecting in Armenia,” the
Ambassador concluded.

OFFICIAL OPENING UNDERWAY FOR ARMENIAN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM’S NEW BUILDING

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Official opening of Matenadaran’s (Armenian ancient
manuscript museum) new building is underway in Armenian capital
Yerevan. Armenia’s and Karabakh’s Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Bako
Sahakyan, Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin I, Catholicos of the Greater House of Cilicia
Aram I, and the new building’s architect Arthur Meschyan are on hand
at the event.

The Armenian President and the rest of the guests are currently
touring the Matenadaran’s new building.

The new building’s construction had begun in 1988, but it was not
completed because of the earthquake. Construction resumed in 2008,
and the new building occupies a total area of 11,358m2, which is 3
times larger than Matenadaran’s current building.

The new building is intended for conducting scientific research, and
preserving and digitalizing manuscript archives and library stock,
and it is equipped with all latest systems. The equipment was acquired
from several European countries, and the reconstruction project costs
$35,344,000 US.

18 thousand manuscripts are currently kept at the Matenadaran.

AZERBAIJANI MEDIA: THAT DRONE WASN’T OURS — IT WAS ISRAEL’S!

EurasiaNet.org
Sept 20 2011
NY

After the Armenian government in Nagorno Karabakh said they shot down
an unmanned Azerbaijani drone last week, Baku quickly denied that
it was theirs, but didn’t provide any additional information. But
then the state news agency APA came out with an explanation that,
to be charitable, we can call “elaborate.” Approvingly citing a
Turkish tabloid report, APA suggests that the drone may have in fact
been Israeli:

The anonymous sources close to Turkish diplomacy claim that the
pilotless jet belongs to Israel.

The newspaper says that according to the diplomatic office, the
pilotless jet belongs to the Israeli air forces: “The jet ascended
from the military base located in Armenia or occupied Karabakh to
make the reconnaissance flight related to Iran. Thus, the occupied
lands of Azerbaijan are used not for the drug transit and as a terror
base but turned into a military base for the secret operations and
military reconnaissance”. The source also said that Israel currently
holds reconnaissance operations by means of pilotless jets over Middle
Eastern countries.

If Armenia really were allowing Israeli UAVs to spy on Iran from
its territory, why would they be based in the disputed territory of
Karabakh, rather than closer to the Iranian border in Armenia proper?

And why would Armenia — which has good relations with Iran — allow
such a thing in the first place? As this fascinating Wikileaked cable
describes, it’s in fact Azerbaijan that has a close relationship with
Israel — based in part on their similar perception of the threat
from Iran:

Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel are discreet but close. Each country
finds it easy to identify with the other’s geopolitical difficulties
and both rank Iran as an existential security threat.

Israel’s world-class defense industry with its relaxed attitude about
its customer base is a perfect match for Azerbaijan’s substantial
defense needs that are largely left unmet by the United States, Europe
and Russia for various reasons tied to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aptly described by Azerbaijani President Aliyev as being like an
iceberg, nine-tenths of it is below the surface…

The APA/Turkish tabloid report goes on to note a couple of technical
details that it says disprove the Armenian version of events: that
the photos of the wreckage suggest a crash, rather than shootdown,
and that a part identified in the wreckage suggests that it’s a
different model of UAV than the Armenians claim. I’ve asked a few
military aviation experts to weigh in on those claims, and no one
has, perhaps wisely not wanting to get involved with such an unlikely
conspiracy theory. So I can’t speak to that. But if this is the last
word from Baku on this incident, it will certainly be a curious one.

SAMVEL KARAPETYAN AND ARTHUR MESCHIAN AWARDED ST. MESROP MASHTOTS MEDALS

Panorama
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

After the official opening ceremony of the newly built complex of
Matenadaran, President Serzh Sargsyan has awarded Samvel Karapetyan
and Arthur Meschian, the architect of the new complex, with St. Mesrop
Mashtots medal.

President Serzh Sargsyan has stressed that Samvel Karapetyan doesn’t
have any direct connection with the new complex, but “I found it
important to award him in this building and now, because he is
doing a great stuff.” The President stated that Samvel Karapetyan
has made millions of dollars charity and more investments in Armenia
and Artsakh.

President Serzh Sargsyan has highly estimated Meschian’s role and
called him Mark Grigoryan’s worthy successor and colleague. Mark
Grigoryan is the chief architect of Matenadaran’s head building.

BARACK OBAMA CONGRATULATES SERZH SARGSYAN ON OCCASION OF 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE

Panorama
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence,
President Serzh Sargsyan has been receiving congratulations from
the leaders of other states, reputable international organizations,
and individuals.

Press service of President’s Cabinet reported that Barack Obama
of U.S. has sent congratulatory remarks, which particularly says:
“Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the people of the United States, I congratulate you and
the people of Armenia on your National Day on September 21.

As you celebrate this twentieth anniversary, we pay tribute to
the historic bonds between our two countries that began long before
Armenia achieved its independence. As a nation that has been enriched
by the contributions of generations of Americans of Armenian ancestry,
the United States is proud to walk along the path with you toward
further democratization, prosperity and peace.

The partnership between the United States and Armenia is strong and
the friendship between our peoples is enduring. Please accept my best
wishes as you celebrate your national day.”

READINESS FOR MUTUAL CONCESSIONS ON KARABAKH MAY LEAD TO POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES – AMBASSADOR

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – One of the problems in Karabakh peace process is possible
political consequences for those who take the initiative for mutual
concessions, said Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt.

“Back in 1997 Levon Ter-Petrosyan was most likely ready to resolve
the conflict based on mutual concessions but this apparently led to
some political implications,” he said.

According to him, if one side is ready for compromises, it is important
that country’s leadership should be supported by the society.

“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently followed our response
to declaration of independence of Kosovo or Russia’s recognition of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As regards Kosovo, recognition of the new
state was based on self-determination of people. Russia considers
this principle applicable to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However,
we believe that the case of Kosovo differs significantly,” he said.

Ambassador stressed Germany supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk
Group. As to principles of international law, they must be viewed
equally in all the cases, he added. Prioritization of one of the
principles will call into question neutrality of the Minsk Group as
a mediator, Schmidt stressed.

“Over the last decades, the issue of self-determination was realized in
many cases starting from decolonization of Africa and up to East Timor,
Kosovo and Southern Sudan. However, the experts must make assessment
of these processes. In the peace process confidence in neutrality of
the Minsk Group depends on maintenance of parity,” he concluded.

‘ARMENIA PURCHASED 60 TONES OF ARMAMENT,’ CLAIMS MOLDOVAN AGENCY

Tert.am
22:54 20.09.11

Armenia acquired 60 tones of armament from Moldova under a fake
Latvian company last week, the Moldovan news agency OMEGA reported.

The purported armaments were shipped through two flights by an Armenian
Il-76 plane – one that took place on September 12 and the other on
the following day.

According to the Moldovan Defense Ministry, the shipment consisted
of artillery and anti-tank systems.

“The plane belonged to Armenia. The consignment of the used armament
was acquired by Latvia and according to the invoice of the recipient,
the shipment is to go to Armenia,” Moldova’s Minister of Economy
Valery Lazer was quoted as saying.

The news agency also said that Armenia’s civil aviation has dismissed
the report.

“AMERIA” (ARMENIA) AND BRECKENHILL (CANADA) ACTED AS CONSULTANTS OF THE MONITORING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA

ARKA
Sep 20, 2011

YEREVAN, September 20. /ARKA/. CJSC “Ameria” jointly with the Canadian
company Breckenhill acted as consultants of the Armenian government in
the implementation of the program “Development of monitoring skills
and working processes of the results of the Government of Armenia”,
press-service of the group of companies “Ameria” informed “ARKA”.

This program, funded by the fund of institutional development of the
World Bank is successfully finished”, states the press-release.

The goal of the program is the development of effective system of
state management through the introduction of reliable, operating and
objective assessment system of work implementation.

“The program consisted of 6 thematic phases. In the process of its
implementation the consultants have developed two main methodologies:
methodology of analysis of working processes and methodology of
development of working processes. On the basis of these methodologies
working processes of 7 state organizations were analyzed and models
of working processes of these organizations were developed”, states
the message.

Results of the program were introduced in the staff of the Government
of Armenia, as well as six ministries selected for the probation period
of the program (finance, economy, healthcare, culture, territorial
administration, transport and communication ministries).

In the process of program implementation the consultants adapted the
best international experience, taking into account the requirements and
peculiarities of state systems of Armenia. In the result of experience
exchange the interested agencies can independently implement such
work in future.

Group of companies of Ameria are one of the first and more actively
developing investment-banking groups in Armenia providing financial
services. The list of consulting and financial services provided
by the companies of the group, creates a platform for fundamental
financial and managerial support to corporate clients.

America was established in 1998 which is one of the leading companies
in the Armenian market of consulting services. It offers professional
services by three main directions: managerial, financial and legal
consulting. The company acts as a financial, legal and strategic
consultant and a partner for the clients in public and private
sectors, as well as international organizations in Armenia and in
the South Caucasus.

Breckenhill Inc. was established in 2002 and is specialized in the
sphere of consulting providing services in the sphere of research,
audit and assessment of confidentiality of information, as well as
internal audit, audit of the results of activity and IT security.

The company also offers relevant strategic and educational products
by these directions. International database of clients includes
representatives of public and private sectors of different countries.

The network of partners being at the same time the co-owners, covers
Canada, USA, Norway, Asian countries and Australia.