Author: Badalian Vardan

EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO MODERNIZE THE 143 NUCLEAR REACTORS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

ARMENPRESS
3 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: 143 nuclear reactors operating in
68 nuclear stations of 14 counties need to be modernized. Armenpress
reports referring to La Libre Belgique newspaper.

According to European Commission those 111 reactors which are situated
in inhabited areas need to be modernized, which will need investments
about 11-25 billions of dollars.

Earlier official representative of the European Commission Marlene
Holzner reported that European Commission will give the instructions
on each nuclear reactor, drafted a year before, to the heads of the
countries during the conference in Brussels on October 18-19.

Countries of UN and European Commission came to agreement to have a
stress-test on May, 2011 to verify the stability of NPP concerning
natural disasters, as well as a number of anthropogenic disasters
(planes, boats and marine vessels destruction and interruption of
electricity). This was decided on March, 2011 after the crash of
“Fukusima 1″nuclear station in Japan.

NPP assessments are carried out in several stages. After getting the
results of the stress-test some nuclear stations may even be closed.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: IN 2012 ECONOMIC GROWTH MAKES 7%

ARMENPRESS
3 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The year of 2011 was crucial for the
Republic of Armenia. It was announced at the session of the National
Assembly of Armenia on October 3 by the Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan during the state budget performance report 2011 of
the Republic of Armenia. He stated that there was a necessity to
provide for a continuous economic growth.

“After the deep collapse in 2009 we developed and implemented an
anti-crisis policy. In 2010 we recorded that it gave positive results,
particularly we had economic growth and improved the economic growth
indicators”, – stated the Prime Minister of Armenia.

He highlighted that the trends of that growth continue in 2012 as
well and at this moment it made about 7%.

Another peculiarity of the previous year, according to Tigran Sargsyan,
was the expectations for high inflation. Inflationary pressures were
conditioned both by the local and foreign factors.

“In 2009 we implemented expansionary policy adding to the state budget
deficit and attracting financial funds, which were in the first place
directed to the completion of social obligations of our country and
without reducing the social expenses we increased the pensions and
benefits”, – stated the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan.

Besides, the large-scale infrastructural programs and the strict
price policy emerged due to the more than 7% deficit of the state
budget would have had their impact on the inflationary developments
and pressures. Afterwards it became clear that we should pass to the
stage of reduced inflationary pressures.

According to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan, the new policy enabled to considerably reduce the
inflationary pressures. In 2010 instead of 2% of the economic growth
4,6% of growth was recorded in 2011. The Armenian Government kept the
improvement of the business environment in the center of attention
as well, in which there are still problems to be settled.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN: DECISION TO EXTRADITE SAFAROV HERALDED PERFECT FIASCO OF EUROPEAN VALUES

ARMENPRESS
3 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Recently it has become obvious why
Azerbaijan buys the European officials and deputies with its caviar
and oil dollars. The subject will be highlighted in the speech of the
member of the Armenian delegation Naira Zohrabyan at the Parliamentary
Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), intended for the discussion of
the shameful Hungarian-Azerbaijani deal of the Azerbaijani assassin
Ramil Safarov’s extradition.

“Some of those deputies are now in this hall, next to us, and
they absolutely do not feel uncomfortable because of the title
Azerbaijan’s caviar-corrupted”, – Naira Zohrabyan will state, as
reported by Armenpress.

According to her, what happened on August 31 might be considered
as one of the most shameful events of our times. The European Union
member Hungary extradited to Azerbaijan Ramil Safarov, who axe-murdered
the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while sleeping in Budapest and
sentenced to life imprisonment. Right at the Baku Airport the assassin
was pardoned, as in Azerbaijan the anti-Armenianism and Armenocide
is heroism.

“This disgraceful deal was implemented in front of the civilized world,
when the beast, who axe-murdered the Armenian on ethnic ground,
was met as a hero in his country. And among the welcoming people
there were deputies from this structure. The decision to extradite
Safarov heralded a perfect fiasco of the European values. Safarov
not only became the impartiality indicator of the European justice,
but also one of the biggest disgraces of Europe, adhering other human
values”, – says the speech of the member of the Armenian delegation
Naira Zohrabyan.

Hungary extradited Ramil Safarov, but if Europe, the European
authoritative structures, the Parliamentary Assembly do not make
definite actions towards Azerbaijan beside making announcements,
the European justice and European values will be seriously damaged.

“And I think that it must be clear and comprehensible for everybody
that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic cannot be a part of a country,
where the assassination on national ground is considered to be the
biggest heroism. Finally, maybe Azerbaijan can buy Olympic gold
medals or can give unprecedented ransom for a coward beast, who is
able only to axe-murder a sleeping man, one thing is beyond doubt,
a country with a degradated society, which give birth to Safarovs and
makes Safarovs heroes, should be condemned by the civilized world. We
should soberly evaluate the situation and ask ourselves a question:
does a country, the national hero of which is an assassin, have the
right to be in our family”, – states the PACE delegate Naira Zohrabyan.

According to her, with this disgraceful deal Azerbaijan has proved once
again that in its foreign policy agenda the human rights are nothing.

“Certainly, I understand that next to the totalitar Azerbaijan
it would be wrong to sound the name of Hungary, but when the Prime
Minister of Hungary, in response to the protest of the entire civilized
world as well as his country, announced that he did everything right,
notwithstanding the deepest regard to the Hungarian people, I should
doubt about the real values system of the current political power of
the country”, – will be stated by the member of the Armenian delegation
Naira Zohrabyan at the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

NO DOUBT ABOUT POLITICAL MOTIVES BEHIND OSKANYAN CASE – EXPERT

tert.am
03.10.12

It is impossible to persuade anyone that the decision to strip Vartan
Oskanyan of his parliamentary immunity was not motivated by a political
order, political analyst Levon Shirinyan has told reporters

According to him, none of the members of Armenia’s National Assembly
knows who will be the next.

“We do not have a trust in the legal system and are aware that no
justice is exercised in Armenia. Had this happened two years ago, I
wouldn’t link it to the elections. But today, we have what we have,”
he said.

Noting that Oskanyan maintains close ties with second president Robert
Kocharyan, Shirinyan expressed doubts as to what extent that factor
might affect the current developments.

“It is often said that all this is a show by the Prosperous Armenia
and the Republican parties, though I do not believe in any internal
cooperation between them. But that doesn’t prevent a dialogue. It is
possible, with such a conduct, to condemn any initiative and struggle,”
he added.

The expert said further that the decision to unseat the former foreign
minister definitely marks the start of the pre-election period. He said
the Prosperous Armenia party (PAP), of which Oskanyan is a member,
will be carried away over the case for a long time, not having a
moment to wink an eye till the presidential election is over.

As for the opposition, Shirinyan noted it is not united and has
absolutely no figure who could guide everybody. For that purpose,
he called for promoting favorites who would share equal resources
with the government and do even more.

ARMENIAN OFFICIALS NOT IMMUNE FROM JAIL, BETTER FIX THEM – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 3, 2012 – 14:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Political expert Levon Shirinyan commented on
stripping ex-Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian of deputy immunity over
fund misuse case, urging to improve the justice system in Armenia.

“Armenian officials would be well advised to fix the prisons and
properly execute justice – practice proves even they are not immune
from jail,” the expert said ironically.

The expert further characterized interactions between the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Oskanian’s Prosperous Armenia
as “the war of nerves.” Also, Shirinyan did not rule out that a
high-ranking RPA official may soon be taken to court “to retain
symmetry.”

On October 2, Armenian National Assembly resolved to strip Prosperous
Armenia member, former Foreign Minister Oskanian of deputy immunity
with 64 votes for, 6 against and 1 invalid, following two-day
discussions over Civilitas Foundation fund misuse charges.

SAFAROV’S CASE GREATLY DAMAGES AZERBAIJAN’S IMAGE – GERMAN AMBASSADOR

news.am
October 03, 2012 | 12:47

YEREVAN.- Glorification of Ramil Safarov is beyond the European
values, Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Reiner Morell told reporters
on Wednesday.

“Safarov’s case contradicts international standards,” he said
expressing regret that the position of Germany and the EU did not
focus on the fact that a gross violation of international law took
place as “regional stability and peace is very important for us,
and the EU first of all.”

He stressed that Germany realizes the importance of the issue. The
reason for EU’s wordings lays in aspiration not to lead to further
deterioration of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ambassador stressed there may be an impression that the incident is
not important for Germany but it is not so.

Reiner Morell noted that the incident will greatly damage the image
of Azerbaijan and Baku’s further actions must be assessed taking into
account the recent developments.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant
in the Azerbaijani military, was extradited on August 31 from Hungary,
where he was serving a life sentence-and with no expression of
either regret or remorse-for the premeditated axe murder of Armenian
lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership
for Peace program in Budapest back in 2004.

As expected, Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was
his act of murder, by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s
government and much of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani
president immediately granted him a pardon.

And Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31 that
Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Ramil Safarov’s pardoning is condemned by virtually all international
organizations.

SWISS MP: “PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ASPIRATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF LEGAL STATE IS RESPECTWORTHY”

arminfo
Wednesday, October 3, 13:21

The visit by the Swiss-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group led by
Co-Chairs Ueli Leuenberger and Dominique de Buman to Nagorno Karabakh
is over, ArmInfo’s correspondent to Stepanakert reports.

It was a fact-finding visit. The Swiss MPs had meetings with NKR
president and parliament speaker. They came out for peaceful resolution
of the Karabakh conflict and the necessity to restore the full format
of the negotiations with participation of NKR.

NKR Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan said at the meeting with the
delegates that Swiss experience in democracy is very important for
NKR because Switzerland is one of the pillars of the European value
system. The delegation comprised parliamentarians from the Party of
Greens, Christian Democrat, Socialist, and Labor parties.

The Swiss delegation also met with the students and the teaching
staff of the Artsakh State University. Dominique de Buman, who is Vice
Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party of Switzerland, said that a
people’s right to self-determination and aspiration for establishment
of legal state is respectworthy. The parliamentarian said he is
not afraid of finding himself in the black list of Azerbaijan. “As
parliamentarians we have a right to visit various counties and we
act exclusively in line with our powers. Our goal is to get as much
information as possible,” Dominique de Buman said.

EUROPEAN EXPERT: IN BRUSSELS THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE A BUSINESSMEN REPLACING THE STRANGE AND UNPREDICTABLE GEORGIAN LEADER

arminfo
Wednesday, October 3, 13:25

Washington very easily finds common language with new political
leaders in many countries, and Mubarak and other victims to the
so-called Arab spring are best evidence of that. In addition, U.S.

Ambassador to Tbilisi Richard Norland was among the first diplomats
to recognize the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Director of the
European Center on the Geopolitical Analysis Matteus Piskorski made
such statement in an interview with ArmInfo.

“USA’s role in Georgia will not change at least because Georgia is
still an important transport route of energy products. Now Mikheil
Saakashvili’s supports will surely try to persuade the U.S. that the
winner in the parliamentary elections is not a reliable partner.

However, everything depends on Washington’s plans,” the expert said.

As for the perspectives of Georgia’s European integration after
change of power in hat country, Piskorski said he see no chance for
Georgia to be involved in the European integration process due to
some reasons. Georgia, he said, may hope just for some insignificant
funds as part of the Eastern Partnership Project and implementation
of some infrastructure projects. Ivanishvili’s coming to power will
hardly change much in that area. “Georgia is not a priority for the
EU. After the information campaign about violation of human rights
by the Georgian authorities, in Brussels they will be happy to see a
businessman replacing the strange and unpredictable Geporgian leader,”
the expert said for conclusion.

To recall, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coalition Georgian Dream that
won the parliamentary elections in Armenia on October 1 will start
consultations for the candidature of the new parliament speaker and the
Cabinet. The bloc received 55% of total votes on party tickets, while
Saakashvili’s party received 40.27%. Ivanishvili’s bloc received 38
single-mandate seats in the parliament, Saakashvili’s party – 35 seats.

EU TO ANNOUNCE ITS OPINION ON STEPANAKERT AIRPORT EXPLOITATION

ARMENPRESS
3 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The European Union keeps in the center
of attention the opening issue of the Stepanakert Airport. As reported
by Armenpress, it was announced by the EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus and Georgia Crisis Philippe Lefort in the
response to the Azerbaijani mass media questions. According to him,
the United Union studied the issue and would announce about its
opinion on the matter.

“Nevertheless, our stand remains the assistance to the OSCE Minsk
Group. Besides, we make an appeal to the both sides not to commit
actions, which would deepen the available problems around the Karabakh
conflict issue”, – said the EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus and Georgia Crisis Philippe Lefort.

The Airport of Stepanakert was built in 1974 and received flights
mainly from Yerevan and Baku. From 1992 the Airport was idle. In 2008
the construction of the new main building of the Airport was launched,
which is analogous to an eagle with opened wings. Within this period
of time the runway as well has been widened and the peaks of some
hills adjacent to the runway have been evened, so that the reception
of the modern large aircrafts has become possible.

>From the very beginning of the reconstruction and re-equipment works of
the Airport of Stepanakert the Azerbaijani authorities have threatened
that in case of the Airport’s functioning, they would shoot down the
civil airplanes. These announcements made by Azerbaijanis have been
condemned as well by the international community. On October 1 the
Stepanakert Airport got an official operation certificate.

SERZH SARGSYAN HAD NO OTHER WAY
Siranuysh Papyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:24:36 – 03/10/2012

Interview with Stepan Danielyan, chairperson of the Collaboration
for Democracy Centre NGO

Stepan, the parliament approved the motion of the prosecutor general to
strip Vartan Oskanian of immunity which was followed by a statement of
the U.S. embassy expressing concerns over this. Is this a miscalculated
political game?

I think Serzh Sargsyan had no other way. The government~Rs propaganda
machine wanted to instill several ideas in the public. The first is
that they are pro-Western, while Prosperous Armenia is pro-Russian. As
soon as Serzh Sargsyan is not the president, Kocharyan will be one,
which means Sargsyan is the lesser of two evils. But if Oskanian
represented Prosperous Armenia in the presidential elections, these
theses would collapse.

Serzh Sargsyan would be unable to compete with a political figure
like Oskanian. It is also important to understand that the government
has always attached an importance to sham oppositional candidates
but this possibility has expired too. Only force remains, or Serzh
Sargsyan had to retreat prior to the elections because I think the
government can~Rt be removed through elections.

May the upcoming election in Armenia have an unexpected turn, like
the Georgian elections?

There is no similarity with Georgia. With time the society will
appreciate Saakashvili more and he may return one day. It wouldn~Rt be
a surprise to me if Ivanishvili and Saakashvili had some agreement. If
it is true, Georgia has made a leap toward the change of government
through elections. This is a huge progress. You see no similarity
with Armenia. If Kocharyan returns, we should thank Serzh and Tigran
Sargsyans. Under such irresponsible and perhaps even criminal policy,
the only issue of the society is salvation and not development. The
savior can be only the one who would be able to control by force the
state machine which has grown into a criminal gang, as well as the
monopolies. Sargsyans has freed us from the possibility to choose and I
think they will be caught in the trap into which they want to lure us.

So do we replace one brutal system with another?

We don’t change any brutal system, we are in the same system. The
issue of change of system should be discussed thoroughly. This
has nothing in common with the change of government. Those who are
trying to persuade us that there is a fight between the pro-Western
and pro-Russian forces want to deceive us. The fight in Armenia is
among clans, not among different values.