ARMENIAN JUDOIST BEATS HIS AZERBAIJANI RIVAL IN BELGIUM
Tert.am
16.09.11
An Armenian judoist has beaten his Azerbaijani rival and paved his way
to the final at the European Youth Judo Championship held in Belgium.
According to the Russian-language Yerkramas daily, Gagik Harutyunyan
(55kg) won over Oruj Valizade from Azerbaijan on Friday.
Harutyunyan has yet to compete with Leri Chelidze from Georgia for
the gold medal.
KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NOT ON EAP AGENDA- EUROPEAN DIPLOMAT
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 16, 2011 – 16:45 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – EU’s non-involvement in Karabakh settlement mediation
activities in Eastern Partnership (EaP) project framework does not
exclude the Nagorno Karabakh Republic representatives’ participation
in European Movement conferences, according to the European Movement
International (EMI) Secretary General.
At news conference in Yerevan, Mr. Diogo Pinto expressed hope for
the effectiveness of the oncoming Yerevan-hosted conference.
On October 20-21, Yerevan will host a congress titled Increase of
Civil Society Role in Eastern Partnership Project, with EaP states
delegations participating.
BAGRATASHEN, BAVRA AND GOGAVAN STATE BORDER CROSSING POINTS TO BE MODERNIZED
armradio.am
16.09.2011 16:13
Today, Mr. Arthur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of the Armenian National
Security Council announced the launch of a project to modernize
Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan state border crossing points (BCPs) of
the Republic of Armenia. UNDP will be the implementing agency for this
project and a cost-sharing agreement will be signed with the Government
of Armenia. It is expected that the construction works in the three
border-crossing points will start in the first quarter of 2012.
The EU is already committed to contribute to the enhancement of the
Bavra BCP through the Eastern Partnership Border Management Programme.
Armenian authorities call on international organizations, interested
in a modern and secure border management system in Armenia, for
cooperation aimed at successful implementation of the above mentioned
project.
Armenia’s commitment to the EU standards and best practices implies
establishment of a modern border security system to ensure not only
the strengthening Armenia’s border security, but also the smooth
movement of people and goods across borders, noticeable increase
in regional and international trade and transit, and, ultimately,
establishment of atmosphere of security and development.
The Republic of Armenia has demonstrated its firm commitment to
advance the Integrated Border Management (IBM) system in the country,
which was attested by the signature of the Presidential Decree on
Adoption of the Strategy on Border Security and Integrated State
Border Management on 3 November 2010.
Since 2010 Armenia has benefited from the support provided by the
EU funded and UNDP implemented regional program entitled “Supporting
integrated border management systems in the South Caucasus”. Within the
framework of this program design documentation for the modernization
of Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan BCPs has been developed by an
independent international company and submitted to the NSC in August
2011.
UNE ROBE VIEILLE DE 5900 ANS DECOUVERTE EN ARMENIE
La Croix
15 Sept 2011
France
Les restes d’une robe de femme, datant d’environ 5900 ans, ont ete
decouverts par des archeologues dans des grottes du sud de l’Armenie.
Cette robe multicolore est “le seul exemplaire de vetement fabrique
a partir d’une matière aussi ancienne”, a declare Pavel Avetissian,
directeur de l’institut d’archeologie et d’ethnologie de l’Academie
armenienne des sciences.
Cette decouverte devrait permettre, une fois reunis tous les morceaux
de l’habit, d'”etablir comment s’habillaient les femmes au XXXIXe
siècle avant Jesus-Christ”, a ajoute Pavel Avetissian, qui s’attend
a d’autres decouvertes sur ce meme site.
Une chaussure en cuir presentee comme la plus vieille du monde
(5500 ans) et le plus ancien vignoble (remontant a 6100 ans) avaient
precedemment ete decouverts au meme endroit.
DEBATE OVER SELLING SHARES IN STRATEGIC ASSETS CONTINUES
The Messenger
Sept 15 2011
Georgia
By Ernest Petrosyan Thursday, September 15
“The Georgian government will not sell its controlling stake in
strategic companies,” stated PM Nika Gilauri at a government session
on September 14. On September 13, The Georgian parliament approved the
draft allowing the government to offer stakes of state enterprises on
international stock markets on its first reading. This initiative was
firstly announced by PM Nika Gilauri in August when he said that the
legislative amendment was to be prepared for an initial public offering
(IPO) of 15 – 25% stakes in state-owned enterprises. The range of
the IPO stake, however, has been increased from the initial 15-25%
to a 49% stake.
“Our aim is to place small 20-25-30% packages the strategic companies
on international markets. The government will own 51% or more and
accordingly will maintain its control over these companies. On no
account will more than 49% of the shares be sold,” stated Gilauri.
According to the prime minister, if these transactions are implemented
within the next few months, more than USD 500 million inflows are
expected, which, Gilauri assumes, will bolster employment and will
enable additional projects.
Gilauri’s proposal, as expected, created a reaction among parliamentary
and non-parliamentary opposition parties as well as heated discussions
among political and economic analysts. The opposition criticized the
proposal claiming that there was no reason to trust the government’s
“verbal assurances” that it was considering an IPO of only minority
stakes.
“It amounts to enmity to the country’s interests and the undermining of
the economic interests of our country and its geopolitical function,”
MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of Christian-Democratic Movement a
parliamentary minority group, said during the debates.
“The controlling stake of these assets will always and forever be
under state ownership,” said ruling party lawmaker Zurab Melikishvili,
who chairs the parliamentary committee on finances and budget. Last
month Irakli Alasania, leader of the Free Democrats, said that the
initiative posed “serious risks” and that any final decision on the
matter should be preceded by broad public discussions.
At first glance, it might seem a good economic deal aimed at attracting
investment, despite the possible political threats related to these
companies, which are of strategic importance. Among these enterprises
are the Georgian Railway and the Georgian State Electric System,
which is in charge of power transmission throughout the country,
the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation [GOGC], which operates the
North-South Gas Pipeline, transporting gas from Russia to Armenia
via Georgia. As for the last one GOGC, the government is considering
an amendment which will reduce the government’s ownership from 75%
to 50%, nonetheless maintaining the controlling stake. Currently,
about 75% of Telasi (the Tbilisi electricity supplier) is owned by
the Netherlands-registered Silk Road Holdings B.V., which is wholly
owned by Russia’s state-controlled power trader, Inter RAO.
Speaking to The Messenger economic analyst Shota Murghulia expressed
his concern about floating the increased stake. “Firstly, there are
no political guarantees that in a couple of years another government
will not sell additional shares, thereby losing control over these
companies. Secondly, it is nonsense to sell the natural gas pipeline
[through which Russia supplies Armenia] since it will definitely have
negative consequences for Georgia, namely the country will lose its
geopolitical advantage, to some degree.” Murghulia noted that a few
years ago, when this pipeline was first supposed to be sold, Russia’s
GAZPROM, an Armenian company, and Azeri Socar, all expressed an
interest in acquisition. Socar finally offered the highest price since
for Azerbaijan possession of the pipeline is politically beneficial
due to its ongoing conflict with Armenia. As for Georgian Railway,
Murghulia said that it might be reasonable to sell, since it has to
be modernized and needs additional investments.
ELECTRICITY GRIDS ARMENIA SEES OWNERSHIP CHANGE BETWEEN INTER RAO SUBSIDIARIES
Interfax
Sept 15 2011
Russia
The Armenian government approved the transfer of 100% of the shares
in CJSC Electricity Grids Armenia on Thursday from Interenergo B.V. to
INTER RAO Holding B.V., Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister
Armen Movsisyan said at a government meeting.
“The proposal for the transaction was received from OJSC Inter RAO UES
(RTS: IRAO),” he said.
“OJSC Inter RAO UES is the 100% owner in INTER RAO Holding B.V. In
turn, the holding is the 100%-owner of Interenergo. Therefore, the
ownership rights for the Armenian company are being transferred from
Inter RAO’s ‘granddaughter subsidiary’ to its ‘daughter subsidiary’.
This decision has not raised any divisive issues and doesn’t foresee
changes in CJSC Electricity Armenia’s operations,” the ministry said.
CHSC Electricity Grids Armenia is the sole seller of electricity in
Armenia. The company owns 323 substations, providing services to over
830,000 customers.
It was earlier reported that Inter RAO UES has pans to restructure
its foreign assets in order make its corporate structure clearer for
investors. For instance, assets engaged in the export and import sale
of electricity will be moved to the balance sheet of the Inter RAO
subsidiary registered in the Netherlands.
AZERI POLITICIAN: AZERI OFFICER WHO KILLING ANOTHER OFFICER IN HIS SLEEP IS A FAKE HERO
Panorama
Sept 15 2011
Armenia
Azerbaijani politician Jumshud Nuriev says Ramil Safarov, who killed
Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest, is a fake hero.
In an interview with “Bizim Yol” the politician said an Azeri officer
who had killed a sleeping officer cannot be a hero, and that he feels
pity towards Safarov, who is sentenced to pass his life in prison.
SERZH SARGSYAN HOSTED A RECEPTION DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE
AZG DAILY
16-09-2011
Presidential Update: 2011-09-16 00:33:17 (GMT +04:00)
President Serzh Sargsyan hosted a reception on September 14 dedicated
to the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Independence at the Sartarabat
Battle Memorial, presidential press service reported. The reception
was attended by the representatives of the RA Justice system, law
enforcement bodies and diplomats. The President congratulated the
invitees on Independence Day and wished them success.
“I congratulate us all on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
independence of the Republic of Armenia. It’s a magnificent holiday.
It is also a solemn occasion to reckon over our twenty-year long
journey, tasks before us and our vision of the future. The gist of
the day is our ability to pass on to the generations values and legacy
which were left to us by those who had created, defended and nurtured
a free and independent Armenia with their sweat and blood. This is
a home to over three millions Armenian citizens. This is a home to
the millions of Armenians spread all over the world. This is a home
where our children will live and enjoy their share of happiness. This
is a land which will prosper, thrive and advance toward eternity
through their hard work. An independence, which we got not by a
whim of fortune but first of all by rekindling the undying fire
of our forefathers’ dream of a free and independent Armenia. We
got it through our confidence that justice would prevail. We got it
through the irresistible call of endurance and self-sacrifice of our
grandfathers and fathers, which reached us through the everlasting
witnesses of heroism and dream – every bit of our land and every drop
of our water, every piece of our sky and every beam of light which
warms us. We earned our independence and proved to us and to the world
that we have the right to live on our own land as we deem right, with
our values. We proved it first of all by the victories of our army.
The army which was born on the battlefield and passing through the
crucible of war has become a sturdy shield and steadfast pillar of our
statehood. Becoming even more powerful and more potent, the Armenian
Army today has not only become a safeguard of the safe and creative
life for the citizens of Armenia, but also a watchful guarantor of
the regional peace and security. The Army is ready to rise against
any external threat to our independence – on our borders, on the
agressor’s territory, or anywhere else. That’s our Army today.
Armenian Soldiers and Commanders! Officers!
This is an army whose soldier on the battlefield not only defends
but also becomes a citizen of the country. “Soldier is a soldier only
when he thinks in terms of state,” – that’s the lesson of the knight
of the late last century, the National Hero of Armenia and Artsakh
Monte, who preferred the title of a soldier to all others.
A soldier, who thinks in terms of state, who is well-educated and
disciplined and his high morale is the earnest of the combat readiness
of our Army.
The Armenian soldier is rightfully the safeguard of our freedom and
our independence.
However, the life and safety of our troops greatly depend also on
the efficient work of our diplomats.
We are ready to pay for the regional peace and stability with the
efforts of our diplomats, preserving life and health of each and
every of our border troops.
Thousands of troops have returned safe and sound to their families
thanks to many sleepless nights and hard work of our diplomats abroad.
We value diplomatic victories as much as we value victories on the
battlefield.
We also highly value the work of the National security bodies in
conquering challenges that face our country. The people, who are
seemingly far from the front lines, nevertheless are doing a difficult
and singular work. Their services are an important and dependable
component of the safety of the people, security of the state and
normal life of our society.
On this momentous day in the Armenian history, I would like to
highlight the significance of the formation of the rule of law.
And now when in the spring of its life, our state celebrates its 20th
independent fall, I would like to put on record an achievement which
is unprecedented and not of human making.
That achievement is the citizen of the Republic of Armenia.
The citizen of Armenia does not only enjoy the right to live by his
own law but he himself creates and adopts these laws, he himself
defines the borders of his rights.
Today, in the Motherland of all Armenians we tell each and every one
of our compatriots, “Armenia – it is also you”. You have earned that
right not only by your blood, but also by your love for Armenia,
your dedication and sense of responsibility”, the President said.
CONGRESS MARKS KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Tert.am
15.09.11
Members of US Congress joined Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh)
Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan and Parliament Member Zoya Lazaryan
at the Capitol Hill commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
Republic’s independence, the Asbarez.com reported.
The September 13 event, co-hosted by the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic office in Washington, and Armenian American
groups was held at the historic Rayburn House Office Building’s Gold
Room, with the participation of a broad cross-section of the Armenian
American community and Congressional staff.
Throughout the evening, Members of Congress, including Congressional
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ed Royce (R-CA), as well as
Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Robert Dold
(R-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jackie Speier
(D-CA) spoke forcefully and eloquently about Karabakh’s robust
democracy and commitment to a lasting peace which respects the right
to self-determination of its people.
Representatives Pallone and Cicilline envisioned a future where
Karabakh’s independence would be internationally recognized or reunited
with neighboring Armenia.
Eastern Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan offered a moving invocation
during the program. He was joined at the observance by Rev.
Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church
of Bethesda, Maryland and Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St. Mary’s
Armenian Church in Washington.
In his keynote remarks, Speaker Ghulyan stressed that clear security
guarantees must be included in any peace settlement, given Azerbaijan’s
ongoing aggression against the people of Karabakh.
“We realize that the status quo is not what we had hoped for when we
embarked on our struggle. Yet, particularly considering Azerbaijan’s
openly and repeatedly stated threat of military action, the current
situation with all its components represents the system of our
security. Any changes to this arrangement without real guarantees and
real definition of what peace and our sovereignty will look like are
unacceptable for us.”
Chairwoman Lazaryan thanked Members of Congress for their ongoing
commitment to sending US aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
“20 years of independence have proved that Artsakh can address its
own economic and social challenges. And this has been possible in
significant extent due to the assistance provided by the United
States. We appreciate this. I am confident that when adopting this
decision, US Congress knows these resources will contribute to peace
in the South Caucasus.”
Armenia’s Ambassador to US Tatoul Markaryan offered a moving defense
of liberty for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Ghoulyan and Parliament Member Lazaryan
met with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and former ANCA
Chairman Garo Armenian, where they were awarded medals for their
ongoing commitment to the cause of Karabakh’s freedom.
OMBUDSMAN ASKS JUSTICE MINISTER TO COMBAT INJUSTICE IN THE JUDICIARY
Tert.am
15.09.11
Armenia’s human rights defender, Karen Andreasyan, has called upon
the justice minister to take active measures to combat injustice in
the judiciary.
In a letter addressed to Hrayr Tovmasyan, the ombudsman asks for
launching a disciplinary proceeding against three judges who were
earlier reported to have issued unfair rulings.
It comes three citizens lodged claims with the Ombudsman’s Office,
complaining that judges had been unfair in relation to them. Having
reviewed scores of similar appeals, the Ombudsman selected those
three, considering the judges involved in those proceedings in gross
and blatant violation of the law.
“The ombudsman had submitted to the Justice Ministry’s Disciplinary
Board reports on each of the three judges and informed the society
about that. But he immediately came under public attack after
statements containing disinformation, deluding quotations from legal
acts, unlawful calls and illiterate accusations were made on behalf
of different judiciary organs,” reads a statement by the Ombudsman’s
Office.
It says that the Ministry of Justice rejected all the three reports,
considering that there were not sufficient grounds for filing a
proceeding.
Arguing the decision, the Ombudsman’s Office says that evidence of a
blatant and gross violation of one single legal norm is enough for
filing a disciplinary proceeding , while the committee’s response
saying “there were not sufficient grounds” implies that there was at
least one ground in each case. In the meantime, it says the Judicial
Code of Armenia does not clearly specify how many grounds are necessary
for launching a proceeding.
In response to the Ombudsman’s notice on the above mentioned, the
committee said it had given an exhaustive answer.
Not considering the process exhausted, the Ombudsman has now submitted
his claim to the Justice Ministry, another body responsible for filing
proceeding against judges.
It particularly calls for taking appropriate measures to restore
the claimants’ trust in the judiciary, protect the society from
unlawfulness by holding judges accountable, and reduce monopolistic
and clannish approaches in the system, relieving law-abiding judges
of unnecessary disciplinary pressures.