Author: Badalian Vardan

ARFD PARLIAMENTARIAN WELCOMES COALITION’S INITIATIVE TO SET UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GAS PROBLEMS

by David Stepanyan

Wednesday, February 19, 14:43

ARFD Party Faction in the Armenian Parliament supports the ruling
coalition’s initiative to set up an ad hoc committee to study gas
problems, ARFD representative Artsvik Minasyan told ArmInfo.

He said that the coalition-suggested project resembles the one ARFD
submitted yet in 2010 but contains some more issues connected with
the latest sale of the Government’s share in ArmRusgasprom to Gazprom,
Russia.

At the same time, Minasyan was bewildered as earlier the parliament
majority rejected the similar project suggested by 4 factions of the
ARFD, ANC, Prosperous Armenia and Heritage parties.

“It has become something usual for the authorities to reject the
opposition’s suggestions and then make similar ones. Nevertheless,
we care for settlement of the gas problems rather than our copyright,”
he said. Artak Zurabyan, a representative of the Republican Party of
Armenia, in turn, claims that the Republican’s stance on an ad hoc
committee on the gas issue has not changed.

“We have always been ready to study the gas issue in any format.

However, we had to reject the initiative by the 4 factions to prevent
speculations on the topic by the coalition,” he said. The latest gas
agreement with Russia under which 100% shares of ArmRusgasprom were
transferred to Russia has sparked public in Armenia.

FOUR KILLED IN BEIRUT BLAST NEAR IRAN CULTURE CENTER

12:48 * 19.02.14

A large explosion near an Iranian cultural center in the southern
suburbs of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Wednesday killed at least four
people and wounded 19, Reuters reported, citing security sources.

The explosion appeared to have been caused by a car bomb and a
motorcycle laden with explosives.

The area is controlled by the Shi’ite political and militant movement
Hezbollah. Iran’s embassy in the same area was targeted by a bomb
attack in November, one a series of car bombs in southern Beirut
since July.

The Kuwaiti embassy is also located in the same area.

Lebanese television footage showed fire trucks and Lebanese soldiers
standing in the streets. A wounded man was carried away on a stretcher
and a young girl was being evacuated by two men. Glass covered the
road and nearby buildings were damaged.

Radical Sunni Islamists have pledged to attack Hezbollah on Lebanese
soil for its intervention in Syria to help Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, a member of the Alawite offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, in his
war against majority Sunni rebels.

Armenian News – Tert.am

NEW RUTGERS COURSE ON CONCENTRATION CAMPS EXAMINES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

Armenian Weekly editor and Ph.D. candidate Khatchig Mouradian will
instruct the course at Rutgers University

NEWARK, N.J.–A new course examining concentration camps used during
five different wars is being offered at Rutgers University this
spring. Armenian Weekly editor and Ph.D. candidate Khatchig Mouradian
instructs the course, “Sociology and History of Concentration Camps”
at the university’s Newark, New Jersey campus.

The course traces the evolution of the concentration camp from a
counter-insurgency strategy in wartime to a weapon of mass murder.

Cases being studied include the Spanish-Cuban war, the Second
Anglo-Boer War, the Philippines-American War, the Armenian Genocide,
and the Holocaust.

“The course provides an overview of the history of the concentration
camp as a means to control, suppress, and destroy populations,” said
Mouradian. “We look at the historical context, the decision-making
process, and the interaction between central and local authorities,
yet we focus on the agency of the victims and survival in the camps,
with particular attention to power dynamics, race, gender, and class.”

The course and a series of lectures and events are being sponsored by
the Armenian Genocide Program of the university’s Center for the Study
of Genocide and Human Rights (CGHR) in collaboration with The Genocide
Education Project – Higher Education Division (GenEd-HigherEd).

CGHR promotes research and scholarship on issues including genocide,
conflict resolution, sustainability, justice, global health, and
human rights. In the few years since its inception, CGHR has already
sponsored numerous courses, lectures, conferences and cultural
activities directed at its mission “to enhance our understanding
of and find solutions to the most pressing 21st century challenges
related to peace and conflict.”

CGHR has also hosted several programs through its Armenian Genocide
Program. Mouradian has been the Program Coordinator since 2011 and also
teaches a course in conflict resolution at Worcester State University
as adjunct professor. His PhD dissertation at the Strassler Center
for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University, examines the
second phase of the Armenian Genocide.

The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit organization that
assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide,
particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing
instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and
organizing educational workshops. It seeks to broaden the general
understanding of the Armenian Genocide, in the context of the history
of World War I and as a predecessor of the pattern of genocides that
followed. GenEd-HigherEd is focused on facilitating courses and other
programming at colleges and universities.

James Sahagian, director of GenEd-HigherEd worked closely with
the Rutgers CGHR to establish this course. “We are pleased to offer
students a course that introduces key aspects of the Armenian Genocide
in relation to other genocides and historical conflicts. We look
forward to increasing our collaboration with CGHR in the future.”

Further information on this course and the Armenian Genocide Program
at Rutgers can be obtained by calling (201) 739-0901 or by emailing
[email protected].

The Genocide Education Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational organization that assists educators
in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian
Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials,
providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational
workshops. For more information about The Genocide Education Project,
go to

RUSSIA’S TOUGHENED MIGRATION POLICY TO BOOST UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY IN ARMENIA

by Arthur Yernjakyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 19, 16:09

Russia’s toughened migration policy will boost unemployment and poverty
in Armenia, Gagik Makaryan, Head of the Republican Union of Employers,
told reporters, Wednesday.

He said that in Russia there are nearly 170,000 migrant workers from
Armenia, who transfer nearly $180 million to their families in Armenia
every year. Labor migrants from Armenia are reluctant to return now.

“If at least 70,000 migrants return from Russia, this will boost
unemployment, poverty and social tension in the country. The citizens
of Armenia enjoy no preferences,” Makaryan said. He said that private
transfers from Russia to Armenia make up nearly 85% of total private
money transfers. Reduction of this indicator will generally affect
the economy of Armenia.

Following the amendments into the migration legislation of the Russian
Federation which came into effect on 1 Jan 2014, the citizens of
Armenia are permitted to stay in Russia for 90 days out of 180.

INVESTIGATION INTO BEATING AND DEATHS OF SOLDIERS COMPLETED: REPRIMANDS ALL AROUND

02.19.2014 16:51 epress.am

The official investigation into the beating of military conscript
Mher Khlghatyan is now completed. According to local daily Haykakan
Zhamanak, upon RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan’s orders, based
on the results of the investigation, the commander of the military
unit was reprimanded, while the deputy commander for combat readiness
of the military unit was severely reprimanded.

According to further orders by Armenia’s defense minister, dismissed
from his post was chief of the military unit’s medical service,
Capitain Arman Tadevosyan, who is arrested and accused of beating
Khlghatyan.

Also completed is the investigation into the Jan. 20 death of Edik
Shahnazaryan from meningitis. According to the newspaper’s source,
the military unit’s commander and deputy commander for working with
the staff were reprimanded. Under Ohanyan’s orders, the military
unit’s chief of staff, the assistant to the commander for social and
legal matters, and the regimental commander were severely reprimanded,
while the chief of the medical service was demoted, and the chief of
the military unit’s infirmary was fired from his job.

Based on the results of the investigation into the death of military
conscript Hayk Makaryan also from illness, chief of the military
unit’s medical service was reprimanded.

“IT’S JUST A SHAME THAT THE “CARREFOUR” IN ARMENIA CAN NOT OPEN ITS CHAIN OF STORES.” POLITICAL SCIENTIST

February 18 2014

In the conversation with Aravot.am, political scientist Gagik
Hambaryan, referring to the assessments made by the President of
Armenia at the VHD Union Board session regarding the economy, expressed
the opinion that the development of our economy is more hampered by
subjective reasons. “I’m not an economist, I do not want to turn to
the numbers voiced by the President, but being an ordinary citizen of
the Republic of Armenia, I must say that our economic problems today
are more subjective in nature than objective. Just the fact that we
have oligarchic, and monopolistic economy in Armenia, it is enough
for the level of our economic development be quite low.

Secondly, it is very strange that the leadership of our country does
not refer to the shameful situation existing in the banking system,
when in not any normal country of the world, developed or developing,
there is no 18-24 percent annual interest rate. I ask you, where
do you take these figures from? The authorities in Europe, Russia
and in majority of the former Republics of the Soviet Union, or the
businessmen sponsored by thereof take money from European largest
banks at 0.8 to 2 percent annual interest and give it to banks at 5-6
percent. The banks give the money to citizens at 2 times more, i.e.,
10-14 percent. The situation in the Republic of Armenia is completely
different, the banks receive up to 10 percent and give out to the
population at 18-24 percent annual interest. It goes without saying
that 60-70 percent of the people should not be able to pay these
loans. As a result, they lose their property placed as a collateral
to the bank, which we see now. It also brings out the fact that most
of the money does not serve the goal of economic development. There is
such a thing. It would be good for the President of the Armenia to pay
attention to the banking sector and monopolies,” says the political
scientist. According to him, it is just a shame that one of the world
famous French “Carrefour” hypermarket chain is not allowed to open
a store in Armenia. “There is no even “McDonalds” in the Republic of
Armenia. It is really a shame. And do you know why it is a shame?

These are global brands, the activities of which in the Republic
of Armenia can be an incentive for other investors to make their
investments in our country, too. I am certainly not saying that our
fast food industry is on a very low level. No, it is in very good
condition, but let this “McDonalds” also be, why not? Why should
“Pepsi” be, why should “Coca-Cola” be, but not “McDonalds”. Or, they
do everything for Carrefour to abandon the idea of opining its chain
of stores in the Republic of Armenia, it would be just a shame for our
country. You see, even the Ambassador of France to Armenia interferes
in this issue, as I see from the side, the Ambassadors of other
countries to Armenia are getting involved in the matter. It’s a shame,
isn’t it? To open a store, we allow the issue be settled at the level
of European ambassadors. Is it something new?” says Gagik Hambaryan.

Nune AREVSHATYAN

Read more at:

NEW FILM ON GAGKASHEN CHURCH WILL INTRODUCE TO SOCIETY

16:51, 19 February, 2014

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The premiere of a new film entitled
“Gagkashen Church” on St. Gregory the Enlightener or Gagkashen church
built by King Gagik in Ani on Zvartnots temple duplicate will be
introduced to the society. The film is made by “The fund studying
Armenian architecture”. The premier of “Gagkashen Church” film will
be held in the hall of Armenia’s Architects Union on February 20. The
Chairman of the fund Samvel Karapetyan introducing the idea of creating
the film at the course of the press conference convoked on February
19 told that Gagkashen was built in the capital of Ani in 1000-1020.

“When King Gagik decided to raise the church construction by one step
on the world level, he stopped on the creature of Zvartnots temple
wishing to have the copy of the temple in the capital as well,”
Karapetyan noted as reported by “Armenpress”.

According to him, the architect of Gagkashen applied innovation while
constructing the church. “The architect was in Constantinople at that
time. And inspired by the architecture of the place he tried to apply
new elements in this building,” the architect clarified.

WE’LL BE CONSISTENT IN RESTORING FULL NEGOTIATION FORMAT, NKR PRESIDENT SAYS

Wednesday 19 February 2014 14:51
Photo: Photolure

President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan

Yerevan/Mediamax/. President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan said that the NKR will be consistent in restoring full
negotiation format.

At a meeting held in the NKR Foreign Ministry, Bako Sahakyan noted that
the Karabakh side will go on voicing the argument in the interested
structures that comprehensive settlement of Azerbaijan-Karabakh
conflict will be impossible at all the negotiation rounds without
full participation of official Stepanakert, Mediamax reports.

According to Bako Sahakyan, Baku’s destructive policy is the biggest
hindrance to the settlement which poses a threat to maintaining peace
and stability in the region.

The NKR President noted that the process of international recognition
of Republic of Artsakh is moving forward and indicates that it’s an
established democratic state.

ARMENIA DEFENSE MINISTER PRESENTS COUNTRY’S SECURITY POLICY TO BRITISH MPS

February 19, 2014 | 10:24

YEREVAN. – Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan on Tuesday
received a delegation from the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The interlocutors discussed Armenian-British military cooperation and
the avenues for its expansion, informs the Armenian MOD press service.

They also conferred on the matter of ensuring security in the region,
andArmenia’s security policy, specifically in the context of the
country’s future accession to the Customs Union, relations with the
CSTO and NATO, the Russian military presence in Armenia, and relations
with neighbors.

At the request of the guests, the dynamics and the causes were
presented for the border incidents, the military diversionary
operations unleashed by Azerbaijan, and the firing of targeted shots.

The parties also discussed several other matters of mutual interest.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

REMEMBERING GURGEN MARGARYAN: 10 YEARS AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDER – VIDEO

13:45 19.02.2014

Armenian Officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered in Hungary on this
day ten years ago. On this occasion the “Azerbaijan: Crime and Racism
without Borders” video-footage in Russian and English has been released
as part of the “Common Genocide” project.”

The film presents the story of the brutal murder, the axe-killer’s
extradition to Azerbaijan and his glorification. The Hungarian
version of the video will be posted on the web in the near future. The
“Common Genocide” project is being realized by the Public Relations
and Information Department of the President’s Staff.

On February 19, 2004 Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen
Margaryan was hacked to death, while asleep, by a fellow Azerbaijani
participant, Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month
English language course in the framework of NATO-sponsored Partnership
for Peace program.

In 2006, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary with a
minimum incarceration period of 30 years. He was extradited on August
31, 2012 to Azerbaijan where he was greeted as a hero, pardoned by
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev despite contrary assurances made
to Hungary, promoted to the rank of major and given an apartment and
over eight years of back pay.

Following Safarov’s pardon, Armenia severed diplomatic relations
with Hungary.