Author: Badalian Vardan

THE ENTIRE POPULATION IS INVOLVED IN CORRUPTION – SAYS ETHNOGRAPHER (VIDEO)

09:58 | December 10,2014 | Interview

Aram Abrahamyan has interviewed ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan,
who spoke about corruption and Armenians’ attitude to the phenomenon.

“Corruption is encouraged in Armenia as a basic principle of life and
it is encouraged by the authorities, hence the entire population is
involved in corruption,” she said adding that Armenians have a high
tolerance for corrupt practices.

Details are available in the video.

ARMENIANS MUST CALL FOR REPARATIONS AHEAD OF 2015 – DASHNAK POLITICIAN

13:36 * 10.12.14

Armenia’s greatest achievement ahead of the Genocide centennial would
be a pan-national call for reparations, says a senior representative
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun.

“Both Turkey and other countries understand this, but it is important
to fix that we have demands from Turkey. We have already launched
active measures towards the Genocide centennial to shape a political
mindset. And steps by Turkey to counteract to that are the proof of
that,” Head of the ARF-D bureau Giro Maniyan told a news conference.

Asked whether Armenia has the necessary resources to make 2015
unprecedented, the politician said that he really sees a progress. “We
have made such a progress in the past decades that it isn’t right to
anticipate a new blowout. It is common knowledge today that Turkey
committed genocide and now experiences hatred for the Armenians,”
he noted.

Asked to comment on the continuing calls for gathering together
Armenians in Istanbul in 2015 for commemorating the tragic centennial,
Manoyan said he knows that events of the kind will be held everywhere.

“Istanbul always hosted commemoration ceremonies. But conducting
ceremonies in Turkey next year will be of special importance; it is
important, however, to convey the right message to Turkey’s society,”
Manoyan said.

He added that the ARF-D asked a commission of specialists to elaborate
the demands back in 2007. “They published the first draft in 2010,
outlining five key demands: recognition, reparation and legislative
changes in Turkey to eliminate the anti-Armenian policies and raise the
problem of collective damage and territorial questions. To resolve
territorial issues it is necessary to recall the Armenia-Turkey
protocols,” he added.

LA DEPRECIATION DE LA MONNAIE LOCALE SE POURSUIT

ARMENIE

La > de la plupart des quotidiens est consacree a la
devaluation continue du dram, qui a encore perdu du terrain hier
par rapport au dollar (470, voire 500 drams pour un dollar). Les
journaux signalent de surcroît que les bureaux de change refuseraient
d’effectuer des transactions en dollar. Selon Haykakan Jamanak, le
President de la Banque centrale, Arthur Djavadian, aurait convoque
une reunion avec les responsables des banques commerciales. La Banque
centrale a par ailleurs diffuse un communique exhortant la population
et les entreprises a ne pas paniquer du fait de la fluctuation du
taux de change. Elle a impute cette dernière fluctuation de change
a >. Tout
en enumerant les raisons de la devaluation du dram (crise economique
en Russie, affaiblissement du rouble, baisse des transferts depuis
l’etranger), l’editorial estime que la panique causee par l’incertitude
est la principale raison de la chute du dram ces derniers jours. Le
quotidien Joghovourd se soucie du sort des petits magasins qui, si le
dram continue a se devaluer et si les prix des produits alimentaires
continuent a augmenter, seront contraints a la fermeture.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 3 decembre 2014

mercredi 10 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

L’AZERBAIDJAN EST UNE GRAVE MENACE POUR LA SECURITE ET LA STABILITE REGIONALE SELON EDOUARD NALBANDIAN

SUEDE

Les depenses militaires disproportionnees de l’Azerbaïdjan et
l’acquisition d’armements excedentaires constituent une menace serieuse
pour la stabilite et la securite regionale et internationale a declare
le ministre armenien des Affaires Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian a
l’Institut international de recherche de la paix de Stockholm dans
le cadre de sa visite officielle en Suède.

Les representants des agences d’Etat de la Suède, des missions
diplomatiques, des centres de recherche et des universites, et des
analystes politiques ont assiste a l’evenement. Le ministre Nalbandian
a repondu a de nombreuses questions posees par les participants en
ce qui concerne la politique etrangère de l’Armenie, les approches
de l’Armenie sur les questions regionales et internationales.

Se referant a la resolution de la question du Haut-Karabagh, le
ministre Nalbandian a mentionne que l’Armenie partage l’approche des
copresidents du Groupe Minsk de l’OSCE qu’il n’y a pas d’alternative
a un règlement pacifique.

Selon le bureau de presse du ministère armenien des Affaires etrangères
il a particulièrement declare :

LE MINISTRE EMMANUEL MACRON SUIT DE PRES LA DEMANDE D’>

TIMBRE DU CENTENAIRE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Le ministre de l’Economie, Emmanuel Macron, par l’intermediaire du
depute de la Drôme Patrick Labaune vient d’ecrire a >
au sujet du timbre-poste a l’occasion du 100ème anniversaire du
genocide armenien.

Dans sa lettre, le ministre ecrit >. Krikor
Amirzayan a presente a son bureau la lettre d’Emmanuel Macron. > dit Krikor Amirzayan qui se
declare > sur la suite de ce dossier.

Les membres d’> constants dans leur demarche affirment
>.

Le Dauphine Libere (edition de Valence et region), dimanche 7
decembre 2014

Autour du president Krikor Amirzayan, Georges Eretzian, Alain
Euksuzian, Christian Charrère, Vartkes Simonian, Gerard Jassoud,
Edouard Tchokaklian et Sonia Sarkissian savent que leur tenacite
paiera.

mercredi 10 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

“ANAPAT-1” SHHP TO INCREASE AGHANDZI RIVER LOAD BY25.46%

18:30 December 08, 2014

EcoLur

On 12 December, at 14:00, the public hearings of the EIA of the working
project on “Anapat-1” SHPP owned by “Tatev Anapat” LLC reconstruction
works will be held at Tandzatap Rural Municipality, Syunik Region.

The SHHP will be constructed in the administrative area of Tatev and
Tandzatap communities, Goris area, in a 9-magnitude seismic zone. The
SHHP will use the right-bank tributaries of the Vorotan River –
the flow of Qarahuntc and Aghandzu brooklets.

The length of the Aghandzu brooklet is 13 km, while the SHPP to be
constructed on this brooklet will pipe 25.46% of the river, which,
under EcoLur’s Ecological Risk Model, will create a crisis state for
the brooklet.

PRESS RELEASE
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
28, Chovelidze street
Tbilisi, 380008, GEORGIA
Tel: ++ 995 32 99 63 28, 995 99 57 77 22
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Web:

CNF Vacancy Announcement: Consultant, Support to Budget Planning &
Procurement, Armenia

Consultancy details:

Position full title: Consultant to support strengthening of
budget planning and procurement practices for CNF-supported Protected Areas
(PAs) in Armenia

Organization: CNF Caucasus Nature Fund

Location: Home-based and/or CNF office in Yerevan,
with frequent travel

Submission deadline: COB Tbilisi, Georgia (UTC/GMT +4h)
on 26 December 2014

Summary scope of work:

– Guide PAs in describing their overall and detailed prioritized
budget plans.

– Prepare harmonized budget planning and procurement guidelines for
PAs.

– Provide consultancy support for conducting procurement.

– Serve as “helpdesk consultant” for PA authorities in budget planning
and procurement.

– Harmonize budget planning and procurement among PAs in Armenia.

Required qualifications:

– Bachelor Degree in a discipline relevant to the consultancy. Master
Degree is an advantage.

– At least 5 years relevant experience in staff/team supervision,
including in public authorities.

– At least 5 years practical experience in budget planning,
procurement and auditing.

– Demonstrated knowledge of or experience with relevant issues of
systemic and individual PA management, preferably in Armenia or other South
Caucasus country/ies.

– Excellent knowledge of / fluent in Armenian, good knowledge of
English and/or Russian in speaking and writing.

Application procedure:

A Letter of Motivation, including a summary description of proposed approach
(max. 3 pages), and a Curriculum Vitae should be send to

[email protected], citing reference number CNF/2014/AM-001

The detailed Terms of References is attached to this announcement.

More information on CNF can be found at:

More information on the announcement can be obtained from Mr. Harald J.L.
Leummens, CNF Project Manager Consultancies at
[email protected]

Due to the large number of applications received for each of our positions,
we regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia (ARPA) Foundation
P.O.Box 33603
Granada Hills, CA 91394
Tel: 818-586-9660
Fax: 818-881-0010
Email: [email protected]

ARPA Institute Presentation
Co-Sponsored by: Ararat-Eskijian Museum, Pan-Armenian Environmental Front &
Armenian Renaissance- Los Angeles Chapter

by Dr. Maria D’Orsogna A One Woman Story as She Fights Big Oil in Italy
Lessons for Armenia

JOIN US
Thursday, December 11, 2014 @ 7:30PM,
In the Aram and Anahis D. Boolghoorjian Hall of the Merdinian School:

Address: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Abstract: Dr. Maria D’Orsogna is a physicist and math professor at
California State University Northridge. She is also a hands-on activist
fighting to protect the Italian countryside and seas from Big Oil.

It was 2007 when she first learned of proposed oil activities in Abruzzo,
Italy, where she spent her childhood. The oil company ENI planned to uproot
century-old wineries to build oil wells, a refinery and a 7km pipeline to
the sea. She travelled from town to town in Italy educating local citizens
about environmental and health effects and used social networks to
encourage civic participation and to expose corrupt politicians. It was a
resounding success: thanks to public uproar and opposition, ENI was forced
to abandon what it had once announced as one of its most prominent Italian
projects. As the number of oil permits mushroomed across Italy, Maria has
been involved in several other anti-drilling campaigns, both onshore and
offshore. She endured and prevailed in a lawsuit from oil and gas, gave
more than 300 presentations all over the country and writes an
environmental column for one of Italy’s largest online news publications.
She has won numerous environmental awards and served as the main scientific
consultant for a proposed law to better regulate oil and gas drilling in
Italy. To date, thanks to her efforts, no drilling project has been
completed in Abruzzo, earning her the nickname `Erin Brockovich of
Abruzzo.’ Her story is an example of how, in an interconnected world,
passionate activism can bring change even an ocean away. Following Maria’s
presentation, we will have a discussion on common points and themes and on
how the Armenian diaspora can get engaged to stop the irresponsible mining
practices in Armenia.

Dr. Maria D’Orsogna has a Ph.D. from UCLA, an M.S. from the University of
Maryland in College Park and a baccalaureate from the University of Padova,
Italy, all in physics. She is an Associate Professor in Mathematics at the
California State University in Northridge and a visiting professor of
biomathematics at UCLA. Maria has served as Research Associate in UCLA and
Caltech, has co-authored a book and has over 40 technical publications. Dr.
D’Orsogna has served as reviewer for numerous journals, has participated in
a host of conferences, seminars and colloquia and has been awarded many
awards and grants. She is a member of several technical/professional
societies and is a devout activist.

Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF)
Website:
YouTube channel:
Facebook page:
Facebook group:

Ô¼Ö=87Õ¸Õ¶ Ô³Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / Levon Galstyan – Õ°Õ¥Õ¼./tel. (+374) 91 – 53 49 59, (+374) 93
– 53 49 59
Ô±Õ¶Õ¶Õ¡ Ô±Õ²Õ¬Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¦ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / Anna Aghlamazyan – Õ°Õ¥Õ¼./tel. (+374) 55 – 17 08 87

Õ=80Õ¡Õ½Ö=81Õ¥` ÔµÖ=80Ö=87Õ¡Õ¶, Õ=8DÕºÕ¥Õ¶Õ¤Õ«Õ¡Ö=80ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ 5, Õ¢Õ¶.
24
Address: 5 Spendiaryan str. apt. 24, Yerevan, Armenia

RUSSIAN MP DESCRIBES ESTABLISHMENT OF CUSTOMS CHECK POINTS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH INAPPROPRIATE

YEREVAN, December 9. / ARKA /. First deputy chairman of a
Russian parliament’s lower chamber’s committee on CIS affairs,
Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Oleg Lebedev
said establishing customs check points on Armenia’s border with
Nagorno-Karabakh is inappropriate, Novosti-Armenia reported.

“In my personal opinion, no,” said Lebedev, when asked by journalists
whether customs check points must be set up on Armenian-Karabakh
border.

He said this issue is likely to be discussed by the heads of
governments of the Eurasian Economic Union’s member countries and
their foreign ministers in 2015.

Earlier, Armenian economy minister Karen Chshmarityan said the
agreement on Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union
does not provide for the establishment of customs check points on
the Armenian-Karabakh border. -0-

ARMENIA’S ECONOMY COULD BENEFIT DUE TO PRACTICAL STEPS – ARTSVIK MINASYAN

21:16 * 09.12.14

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary
group member Artsvik Minasyan believes that the price rise is unlikely
to exceed 5% by the end of the year.

However, the government must interfere.

“We need a law on wages, which would envisage adjustment – wages and
benefits – to cushion the price rise because it cannot be neutralized,”
Mr Minasyan told Tert.am.

With respect to the Armenian premier’s statement on a 5% price rise,
he said:

“We import most products, which implies high-level dollarization in
Armenia. The second reason is that even home-made products are linked
to the prices for imported products, which has its impact on prices.

My analyses show that the targeted price rise will be within 5%-5.5%.

However, the government must interfere. We need a law on wages,
which would envisage adjustment – wages and benefits – to cushion
the price rise because it cannot be neutralized. The Central Bank
must implement a mid- and long-term policy and be ready to continue
its intervention policy if needed.”

One more factor is that AMD depreciation must be accompanied by
structural economic changes, promotion of investments. Otherwise,
it cannot promote economic growth.

Economic entities must be sure of protection of reinvestments.

Finally, export should dominate Armenia’s trade balance.

With respect to exports, Mr Minasyan said that numerous programs are
on the agenda, and Armenia’s government is taking steps to ensure
the export of Armenian products to foreign markets.

“Secondly, many of our producers import raw materials, but foreign
exchange rates have their impact on import. And a decline in money
transfers has its negative impact.”