Author: Badalian Vardan

Abrahamyan’s `tires’ and Torosyan’s `underwear’

2012-11-03 12:51:18

Yesterday Hovik Abrahamyan made a sensational discovery. The NA
speaker stated that there is no corruption in the legislative body of
Armenia and it can’t be so, `there is corruption in Armenian executive
and judicial bodies but never in the legislative’.
If the Parliament Speaker says this kind of things than obviously he
knows something. Only simple people don’t know the most primitive
things and represent everything wrongly. For example, when last year
the same Hovik Abrahamyan resigned and took with him five armored
tires bought during his tenure, people started slandering like `aha he
abused his official position, bought armored tires each with AMD 1,2
million, now when the NA speaker is Samvel Nikolyan he took them and
snatched away’. And everyone qualified that nothing but corruption. In
fact, it is not corruption at all but charity done with all honesty
and open heart: from time to time it’s worth paying attention to you,
do charity; it is not only helping others, isn’t it?
However, that is special only few people, the `chosen’ ones who are
inspired with the noble idea of charity to such an extent that
sometimes are in confusion and instead of helping others help only
themselves. Some years ago Tigran Torosyan, the NA former speaker, was
also inspired with similar noble ideas. Torosyan’s charity has even
infected his wife. Thus, wife of the ex-speaker once visited an
expensive underclothes shop and being not able to resist temptation
bought underwear of several millions and urged to receive the check
from the NA budget. And this, simple people and the ones who are not
able to understand `chosen’ ones, qualified it as corruption –
official position abuse and only now, only with virtue of Hovik
Abrahamyan, the current NA speaker, everything was clarified and put
in its place.

Lusine Kesoyan

War between Armenia and Azerbaijan impossible to prevent completely, expert says

tert.am
17:43 – 03.11.12

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan thinks it is impossible to
completely prevent war with Azerbaijan. `There are no factors today on
the basis of which it is possible to start or not start the war,’ the
political analyst said, speaking to reporters today.

`The unexpected resumption is a crucial issue. I am convinced that all
the parties are not interested in resuming the war understanding its
destructive consequences,’ Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

According to the analyst three important factors have changed in
Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. The first is that after Safarov’s
case the international community understood that Karabagh can never be
part of Azerbaijan.

`The second was the statement of Armenia’s president that the security
in the region is kept thanks to the potential of Armenian military
forces,’ he said.

The third factor, he said, is the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh by
Australia’s largest state. `Of course it is not an act of state
recognition but it made Turkey and Azerbaijan be seriously concerned,’
Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

He said recognition of South Sudan by Azerbaijan was an important
factor as it was the first case when Azerbaijan recognized the right
of people to self-determination.

He said each party has its expectations. If for the Minsk group it is
maintenance of the created situation, the status-quo impedes
Azerbaijan and the latter wants to do everything for the negotiations
to fail, be moved to other format and pave way for Turkey to
participate in the political processes.

`These negotiations give Armenia an opportunity to strengthen the
liberated territories and the defense line. It is impossible to
prevent the war. I have always been against Armenia’s withdrawal from
negotiations. I am for joining Karabakh to Armenia,’ he said.

Water resources reduce in Armenia

tert.am
20:40 – 03.11.12

The Public Council reported Saturday to the Armenia’s President Serzh
Sargsyan about the necessity of passing from traditional stream fish
breeding systems of Ararat valley to partially closed water usage
system.

Public Council member Yuri Javadyan, chairman of the Agricultural and
Nature Protection Affairs Commission, told the reporters that at the
meeting with the president they briefed on the issue of usage of
Ararat valley’s water resources.

`The permitted volume of usage is 1 billion 226 million cubic meters
while today more resources are being used for fish breeding and
irrigation purposes in particular,’ he said.

`We have stream resources reaching 6.3 billion cubic meters, while we
manage to use just 2.5 billion in all the branches, losing the 3.7,’
Javadyan stressed.

`The main problem is the speedy consumption of water. We propose
creation of automatical management systems to reduce the risks and
getting an opportunity to conduct right water management,’ he said.

Referring to the fish economies, Javadyan said the 70% of water return
principal should be applied here. `The proposals were discussed and
will be presented to the government. A special program will be worked
out. All this should be done in a year as today the consumption of the
resources is very speedy causing complications for us and the fish
economies as well. They will be deprived of water,’ he said.

Javadyan said 122 wells out of 300 near Metsamor have been dried out
while the water generation in 17 wells in Masis has reduced 5.5 times.

`It would have been possible to prevent all this on time in case of
having right management,’ Javadyan said.

British MI6 role in Russian spy Litvinenko’s death to be probed

November 3, 2012 – 18:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The inquest into the death of murdered Russian
former spy Alexander Litvinenko could examine the possible role of
British spies in his death, according to BBC News.

MI6 and the Russian secret service, the FSB, may become “interested
parties”, a pre-inquest review has heard.

The inquest is set to be held as soon as possible next year.

Mr Litvinenko, 43, is thought to have been poisoned with polonium-210
after meeting two Russians for tea at a central London hotel in
November 2006.

The pre-inquest review was held on Friday at Camden Town Hall, in north London.

Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest, said it could extend to include
“the possible culpability of the Russian state”, as well as “the
possible culpability of the British state in the death of Alexander
Litvinenko either: one, in carrying out by itself or its agents the
poisoning; or two, failing to take reasonable steps to protect Mr
Litvinenko from a real and immediate risk to his life”.

He said the Russian state has been invited since January to become an
interested party in the inquest, although the offer had not yet been
taken up.

The BBC’s Gordon Corera said interested party status would mean its
representatives would be able to cross-examine witnesses and examine
documents.

Mr Davies told the hearing there were a “number of competing and
increasingly controversial theories” surrounding Mr Litvinenko’s
death.

He said the inquest’s scope could include involvement of other
parties, including his friend, a fugitive Russian tycoon Boris
Berezovsky, Chechen-related groups and the Spanish mafia.

Hasmik Poghosyan hosted the delegation of the Iranian playwrights

17:02, 3 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Culture of the
Republic of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan hosted the delegation under the
leadership of the Chairman of the Playwrights Union of Iran Mohammad
Amir Yarahmadi, where writers, critics, playwrights, journalist and
translators have been included. The Ministry of Culture of the
Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” about this. The Chairman of
the Writers Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan and other members of the
union also participated in the meeting.

The Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan greeted the guests and said
that Armenian-Iranian cultural relations are on a high level. Among
other things Hasmik Poghosyan spoke about the realization of joint
literary and cultural programs and the projects regarding the literary
translations, that encouraged the creation of the program
“Armenia-Iran: Literary Bridges” and providing steadfast arena for the
reciprocal visits of writers and playwrights and the realization of
literary programs. The cooperation between the Armenian and Iranian
literary circles resulted the publishing of four dozens of books and
translation of a number of plays.

In this respect by the order of the Armenian side the book “Modern
Iranian Drama” has been published in 2012 and the works of ten modern
playwrights were included where.

In the end of the meeting the Chairman of the Playwrights Union of
Iran Mohammad Amir Yarahmadi expressed his gratification to the
Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan for
warm reception and the support of the Armenian-Iranian cultural
relations.

The Meskhetian Turks will not inhabit in the Armenian regions of Georgia

16:32, 3 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The inhabitation of the Meskhetian
Turks is not dangerous for the Georgian-Armenians. The head of
“Multinational Georgia” organization Arnold Stepanyan spoke about this
in a conversation with “Armenpress” adding that in accordance with the
present law of Georgia it’s not necessary for them to return to live
in those territories, where they used to live once.

Arnold Stepanyan stated: “In accordance with the law the deadline for
the applications for the status of a repatriate ended on July 1, 2010,
hence nobody else can submit application to return now. The number of
the applicants is about 8, 900, which is a small number. They will
inhabit in different regions of Georgia.” Stepanyan also mentioned
that the Meskhetian Turks will not inhabit in the Armenian regions of
Georgia.

Speaking about the return of the Meskhetian Turks Arnold Stepanyan
said that it’s their own right, notwithstanding this procedure was
encouraged by the provocations of some powers.

Paper: ex-FM Oskanian dismissed from Ameriabank board

November 3, 2012 – 10:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Zhoghovurd daily, Prosperous Armenia
party representative, former foreign minister of Armenia Vartan
Oskanian was Ameriabank CJSC board member in 2009, however was later
dismissed from the staff `under the pressure’ of the Central Bank.

Civilitas Foundation issued a statement yesterday, November 2,
claiming the persecution against the former foreign minister was
initiated back in 2009.

Oskanian was elected a board member of one of Armenia’s commercial
banks in 2009, however he was later forced to leave the post over the
threat of the bank shareholders’ bankruptcy, the daily says.

The paper tried to clarify the information from the head of
Ameriabank’s public relations and communication department Elmira
Adamyan, the latter denying the reports.

Georgia to restore ties with Russia
Tbilisi needs relations with Russia no less than with the West,
particularly in view of the latter’s stance during the August 2008
hostilities

The new Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili established a
new position for relations with Russia. Zurab Abashidze, well-known
diplomat and former Georgian ambassador to Russia was appointed
special envoy of the Georgian PM on Russian affairs. Paata
Zakareishvili, Georgian Minister for Reintegration told this news
during a press conference organized on Public Dialogues website.
November 3, 2012
PanARMENIAN.Net – `Georgia and Russia, Georgian and Abkhaz, and
Georgian and Ossetian sides can’t but have issues that can be settled
through joint efforts. Still, we always concentrate on problems we
can’t tackle today, and keep knocking our heads against this wall,’
Zakareishvili said.

According to Zakareishvili, lack of a dialogue between Georgia and
Russia harms not only Georgia but also Russia which has its own
interests in Georgia. In addition, the minister believes that the new
political force coming to power in Georgia gives Russia a chance to
normalize the ties with its southern neighbour.

`I think the new Georgian authorities are a chance for Russia to
normalize its relations with Georgia. Much depends now on Russia’s
further moves. Russia declared it would not speak to Saakashvili; now,
with Saakashvili no longer at the power, how will Russia speak to
Georgia, I wonder?’ Zakareishvili said.

For his part, the Georgian PM Ivanishvili said restoration of
diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation is closely linked
with the issue of Georgia’s territorial integrity within the
internationally recognized borders of the country. `The fact of
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics by
Russia is the main reason hampering the restoration of diplomatic
relations between Georgia and Russia, given the existence of Russian
embassies in Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. After trade and cultural
relations between the two countries are resumed, a lot of work needs
to be done to provide conditions for diplomatic relations and further
move of these ties to friendly ones, taking into account the great
history between Georgia and Russia,’ Ivanishvili stressed.

Statements of this kind were expected to be voiced sooner or later;
whatever they may say, Tbilisi needs relations with Russia no less
than with the West, particularly in view of the latter’s stance during
the August 2008 hostilities. Only one like Saakashvili could turn a
blind eye on the increasingly deteriorating attitude of the West to
Georgia and himself. Anyway, the Georgian Dream has won the elections
and started to amend, to some extent, Saakashvili’s foreign policy
doctrine, if one existed at all. Appointment of Zurab Abashidze as
PM’s personal envoy on Russian affairs did not come all of a sudden.

However, the key problem lies not in Georgia, but rather in Russia –
whether Moscow would like to talk to Tbilisi and recall its signature
from the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s independence?
Most likely, it would not; this is a too suitable springboard for
building up Russian military presence in Caucasus, and abandoning it
to favour Tbilisi would mean to finally give up the Russian presence
in Caucasus.

Well, the Russian authorities refused to communicate with Mikheil
Saakashvili; Ivanishvili may appear to be luckier in this regard.
However, to much discontent on Tbilisi’s part, Moscow will be the one
to dictate the conditions for `reconciliation’. However hard
Saakashvili had tried, he failed to make his country a serious
regional player. Ivanishvili may try as well, but he too may fail.
Vowing to `pursue a course on integration with European structures’
and continuing the course while trying to reconcile with Moscow are
quite different things.

Karine Ter-Sahakian

Prosperous Armenia party not to attend anti-corruption council’s
sitting, party’s rep says

tert.am
15:00 – 03.11.12

Prosperous Armenia party will not participate in the sittings of
anti-corruption council initiated by the Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan as the government has refused to put the issue offered
by the party for discussion.

Speaking to Tert.am, Naira Zohrabyan, PAP party’s faction secretary,
said a cabinet representative told her they cannot accept the agenda
offered by the PAP to discuss the issue on 16.6 million USD provided
for lectures for rural population with the Millennium Challenges
Corporation Armenia program.

`If they refuse to discuss this important issue, naturally the PAP
refuses to participate in the sittings, the goal of which we have
already understood,’ she said.

November 2 the PAP offered to put the issue on the agenda, to clear
out what lectures have been read that demanded 16.6 million US
dollars.

Heritage and Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D)
stated they will attend the sitting, while the Armenian National
Congress opposition bloc stated that corrupted people cannot fight
against themselves.

Armenian Parliament is millionaires’ club – newspaper

news.am
November 03, 2012 | 08:34

YEREVAN. – In line with the income declarations which the MPs of
Armenia’s National Assembly have filled, all of their combined
monetary means have constituted more than $138 million as of March 3,
2012, 168 Zham daily reports.

`That is, each MP’s average wealth is a bit more than $1 million.
This, of course, is a ridiculous figure because this number is several
dozens – if not, a hundred – times less than the real wealth of some of
the MPs. This is proved by the fact that twelve MPs from the ruling
party did not at all declared monetary means. And it has become
apparent that some others have lived solely on the MP’s salary for the
past one year, but they drive a Porsche Cayenne [jeep], a Hummer, or,
at the very least, a G-Class Mercedes [jeep].

So, we may record that aside from being a legislative body, or [even]
before that, Armenia’s National Assembly is a millionaires’ club
which, for example, this year voted in favor of the bill on raising
the [monthly] minimum wage by a whole AMD 2,500 [approx. $6],’ 168
Zham writes.