Author: Badalian Vardan

OUTRAGEOUS PICTURE IS REVEALED

Lragir.am
Country – 08 April 2015, 15:38

There is no good news in the report of the ad hoc committee on gas
while there is a lot of bad news, said Member of Parliament Nikol
Pashinyan today, noting that the worst news is that Armenian consumers
have to pay 20 million dollars annually for the lost gas.

Every year 127 million cubic meters of gas is lost in the gas supply
system, and ordinary citizens pay for the gas. “The report of the
ad hoc committee informs that though the losses are big, since 2012
no investment has been made to cut the losses. If no investments are
made to cut losses, then some people benefit from them, they flow to
someone’s pocket,” Pashinyan says.

The committee has found out that the gas bill includes the price of
plants and pictures bought for the offices of Gazprom Armenia.

“I am asking Mr. Aivazyan why they charge the money of flowers and
picture to us and he says, ok, it’s in Armavir, it’s just 1.5 million
drams. Mr. Aivazyan, what is this if not robbery? When we say that
the Armenian government is robbing people, we don’t mean that Serzh
Sargsyan and Hovik Abrahamyan break into our homes, lift our sofas from
both side, load onto the trucks with the help of Young Republicans
and take them away, as well as our TVs, wardrobes, cookers. Robbery
is when 650 thousand consumers are each charged 200 drams for meter
service, 300 drams for the loss, 1.5 million drams for flowers and
what not only in Armavir region,” the member of parliament says.

The member of parliament says the issue of acquisition of 20% of
shares is an important issue. “We are saying that there is a law on
privatization which states how state property is to be sold. You sold
[the shares] bypassing the law. Aivazyan says instead you know for how
much more than its actual price we sold it. It’s the same as making
someone take off his trousers and sell them. The trousers cost 50 AMD,
you sold it for 300 drams, but the man is left without trousers, and
no matter how expensive you sold it, it is not a comfort,” he states.

The member of parliament said that the price of gas went up in the
result of gasification of villages. He notes that they vowed free of
charge gasification of villages during the elections, people voted
for them, then they charged people double and triple.

“In addition, they did not return the money to the treasury. They
built on money from the treasury and redirected to their own pockets
through the losses. When those nominees for parliament vow to gasify
your village, this is the result. Now they have gasified the villages
but gas has got so expensive that people have to heat their houses
on compost,” he said.

Nikol Pashinyan announced that Serzh Sargsyan and Hovik Abrahamyan
know whatever this committee has somehow conveyed between the lines and
they personally manage the entire process which is called corruption.

“And finally let’s acknowledge that not a dram, not a cent will
move in Armenia without Serzh Sargsyan’s knowledge and approval,”
Pashinyan stated.

GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY TO OPEN COMBAT TRAINING CENTER IN JAVAKHETI

April 9, 2015 10:56

Photo:

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Georgian Ministry of Defense will open Primary
Combat Training Center in Akhalkalaki this year.

Georgian Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze said this, Mediamax’s own
correspondent reports.

According to him, intensive construction works of the center are
underway.

Earlier, Russian military base employing locals was stationed in
Akhalkalaki.

Mindia Janelidze also said that in May 2015, Georgia will host
“unprecedented joint exercises with the U.S.”, but he abstained
from details.

It should be recalled that in March 2015, modern base of the police
special mission unit opened in Aspindza village in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region. “Earlier, there was no special mission unit of the Georgian
Ministry of Internal Affairs, while now citizens will feel more
protected”, stated the Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Gharibashvili
stated this at the opening.

Samtskhe-Javakheti is mainly populated with ethnic Armenians.

LES CONCLUSIONS D’UNE ENQUETE SUR LES RELATIONS ENERGETIQUES ARMENO-RUSSES

Contestees au Parlement

Un depute pro-gouvernemental, qui a mene une enquete parlementaire
armenienne sur les relations energetiques controverses de l’Armenie
avec la Russie face a des allegations de l’opposition de fraude,
a presente ses conclusions a l’Assemblee nationale hier.

Le Parlement a debattu de ce rapport de Vartan Ayvazian, adopte par
une commission ad hoc presidee par lui.

La commission multipartite a ete forme il y a un an au milieu d’un
tolle de l’opposition contre un accord gazier signe au cours de
decembre 2013, lors de la visite du president russe Vladimir Poutine
en Armenie. En vertu de cette entente, le gouvernement armenien a
cede sa participation residuelle de 20 % des parts dans le reseau de
distribution de gaz a Gazprom a la Russie et a accorde aux geants du
gaz 30 ans de droits exclusifs sur le marche de l’energie armenienne.

Ces privilèges sans precedent accordes a Gazprom avaient suscite
un tolle auprès des principaux groupes d’opposition. Meme l’ancien
president Robert Kotcharian avait ajoute sa voix aux condamnations,
en disant que l’affaire pourrait tourner prendre en “otage” le secteur
de l’energie armenienne par les Russes.”

Le gouvernement et sa majorite parlementaire avaient nie ses
accusations, avant d’accepter une enquete parlementaire.

S’adressant au Parlement, Ayvazian a dit que l’enquete a conclu que
l’operation etait legale et economiquement benefique pour l’Armenie.

“Nous avons examine entre 5000 et 6000 documents,” a t-il dit.

Cependant, le rapport de la commission a ete rejete comme frauduleuse
par le Congrès national. Levon Zurabian a insiste pour dire que le
document est nul et non avenu parce qu’il n’a jamais ete formellement
adopte par le Parlement. Il a dit qu’Aram Manoukian du HAK et d’autres
membres de la commission representant la minorite d’opposition du
Parlement n’ont pas assiste aux reunions de la commission.

mercredi 8 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Date: April 7, 2015

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web:

`ICONIC IMAGES OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ TO BE EXHIBITED AT THE NATIONAL
PRESS CLUB

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), in
cooperation with the Armenian National Institute (ANI) and the Armenian
Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), is pleased to announce that the `Iconic
Images of the Armenian Genocide’ exhibit will be on display at the National
Press Club on Wednesday, April 22nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday,
April 24th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Assembly and ANI staff will be on hand
to present and discuss the exhibition with guests.

The fourth in a series of digital exhibits released free of charge, `Iconic
Images of the Armenian Genocide’ brings together as a single collection key
images recording the brutal mistreatment of the Armenian population of the
Ottoman Empire and the utter destruction of their historic communities.
“The exhibit creates a panoramic view of the entire duration of the
Armenian Genocide,” stated ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian. “All facets of
the genocide that the photographic record allows, ranging from the
deportations, executions, massacres, murders, starvation, extermination and
destruction, are reconstructed panel by panel.”

Many invaluable pictures were destroyed during the war years and what
remain today are scattered across continents. In view of how much was lost,
these photographs are also survivors, many waiting for the time when they
would be identified and reconnected to the events to which they attest.
These scattered images are now gathered and organized into a narrative
exhibit that reconstructs many episodes of the Armenian Genocide. Together
they recreate a sense of the terror exercised by the Young Turk regime and
reveal the extent of the dispossession and decimation of the Armenian
people in their historic homeland.

“The exhibit,” stated Assembly Board of Trustees Co-Chair Van Z. Krikorian,
“was created to honor the exemplary figures in the United States diplomatic
service whose conscientious reporting remains a permanent testament to the
horrors of the Armenian Genocide, among them Jesse B. Jackson, US Consul in
Aleppo; Leslie A. Davis, US Consul in Harput; Oscar Heizer, US Consul in
Trebizond; George Horton, Consul-General in Smyrna; and in Constantinople,
Gabriel Bie Ravndal, Consul-General; Hoffman Philip, Charge d’Affaires;
Abraham I. Elkus, Ambassador; and Henry Morgenthau, Ambassador.”

The photographs were collected from numerous repositories, sources and
individuals, including the US National Archives, Library of Congress, Near
East Foundation, Oberlin College Archives, University of Minnesota Library,
California State University Fresno Armenian Studies Program, Republic of
Armenia National Archives, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, AGBU
Nubarian Library, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Institute
collections, Maurice Kelechian, and National Geographic photographer
Alexandra Avakian.

The exhibition is free and will be open to the public on Wednesday, April
22, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 9:00 AM
to 11:00 AM in the First Amendment Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th
Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR: # 2015-020

Available online at:

BOULDER, COLORADO, TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

14:08, 08 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The city of Boulder, Colorado, will recognize April 24 as a day of
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,Daily Camera reports.

City Councilman George Karakehian opened the City Council meeting
Tuesday night by reading a resolution in support of the Day of
Remembrance, which will be recognized at the state level as well.

Karakehian, who is of Armenian descent, choked up slightly as he
noted that Hitler famously said, “Who, after all, speaks today of the
annihilation of the Armenians?” as he justified a policy of genocide
in Europe. Karakehian asked the people of Boulder to remember the
Armenians.

ARMENIA LIBERALIZED AIR COMMUNICATION WITH SIX COUNTRIES – MINISTER

YEREVAN, April 8. / ARKA /. Armenia has liberalized air communication
with Austria, Russia, Iran, Spain, Turkmenistan and Iraq, economy
minister Karen Chshmarityan said today during a Q&A session in the
parliament.

The Armenian government liberalized the domestic civil aviation
sector in late October 2013 saying that all local and foreign airlines
meeting safety standards will be allowed to fly to and from Armenia
without special authorizations or other restrictions.

According to the minister, relating negotiations are being held
now with Qatar, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Jordan,
Thailand, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Greece.

He said the three major goals of this policy is opening of new
destinations, ensuring the lowest possible prices for tickets and
providing quality services.

According to Civil Aviation Department of Armenia, last year passenger
traffic through local airports surged by 18.5% from 2013 to 2,082,755
people.-0-

ARMENIA’S INTERNATIONAL RESERVES AT ABOUT $1.5BLN BY END Q1 – NEWSPAPER

08.04.2015 15:45

YEREVAN, April 8. /ARKA/. Armenia’s gross international reserves will
amount to about $1.5 billion by the end of the first quarter 2015,
Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time) says referring to the press office
of the central bank.

Hence, the international reserves will still be in line with the
international practices and will be sufficient for covering the imports
and the servicing of short-term (up to one year) commitments for more
than five years.

According to the newspaper, the regulator expects the international
reserves to be replenished by about $510 million in 2015, of it about
$300 million through second euro bond issue, and the remaining part
from other receipts.

At the same time, the foreign debt load is expected to decrease
substantially, by about 30%.

The newspaper says the number of commercial banks’ foreign currency
accounts in the central bank is expected to increase due to the
regulator’s recent actions to replenish commercial banks’ capital
and to promote forex inflow.

The reduction in reserves by $762 million during 2014 was facilitated
by a number of factors, particularly by decrease of $305 million in
balances on foreign currency correspondent accounts, external debt
servicing worth about $260 million and the central bank’s sale/purchase
deals worth $310 million to ensure financial stability and to curb
the inflation, says Haykakan Zhamanak. -0-

HEAD OF THE ICRC DELEGATION: 1915 EVENTS MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN

20:47, 08.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia
Theme: Politics, Analytics

Interview of Sarah Epprecht, head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia,
in connection with the upcoming centennial anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

What is the ICRC’s position on the massacre of the Armenian people
in the Ottoman Empire?

The events that occurred a century ago are without doubt tragic
and still provoke strong feelings. From a humanitarian perspective,
it is a tragedy.

In line with our mandate, we prefer to focus on the importance of
remembering the tremendous suffering and loss of life endured by
countless Armenians under Ottoman rule. We see this year’s centennial
commemoration as a time to recognize the need to strengthen respect
for human dignity and highlight the importance of efforts to prevent
such tragedies from happening again anywhere in the world.

How does the ICRC classify the events in legal terms?

We are aware that there is a lot of interest in ascertaining which
countries or organizations officially recognize as genocide the
terrible events that took place under Ottoman rule. However, as a
neutral and independent humanitarian organization, the ICRC does not
take part in such debates.

The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization with a history
of working in situations of violence that stretches back 150 years.

What efforts did the ICRC make to assist the Armenian people back then?

One hundred years ago, the ICRC was not yet the organization that it
is today. Unfortunately, at that time, we did not have the extensive
field presence and proximity to victims that now characterizes our
work. The situation at that time made direct assistance impossible.

Nevertheless, in the years that followed, the ICRC focused on providing
relief to Armenian children. It coordinated the efforts of a number
of organizations to help children in Armenia who were suffering from
the effects of the First World War.

The ICRC has an extensive archive of different types of documents
dating back a long time. Does it contain information about those
terrible events?

The ICRC archives from that time are open to the public, so they can
be consulted by anyone who is interested. The resources to be found
there reflect the ICRC’s historical position and actions, which
stemmed from its deep concern about the massacre of the Armenian
people in the Ottoman Empire.

ARMENIAN CEMETERY DESECRATED IN ANKARA

April 8, 2015 – 16:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – “Treasure hunters” in Ankara destroyed an ancient
Armenian cemetery, with human bones strewn everywhere, according to
Hye Tert.

The cemetery is also used as a picnic venue. The cemetery was the only
reminder of the Armenian presence in Ankara’s district of Sincan. A
while ago, the city municipality moved some of the well-preserved
tombstones to the municipal park to create an “open air museum.”

Later, the tombstones were removed, and reportedly sent to the Museum
of Anatolian Civilizations.

Several years ago, the cemetery was fenced, yet the measure proved
useless. The fence was broken down, with the graves desecrated by
treasure hunters.

ARTUR SAKUNTS: THE SAME CAN HAPPEN TO ANY POLITICAL FORCE THAT WILL SEEK CHANGE OF POWER (VIDEO)

16:31 | April 8,2015 | Politics

Didn’t the law enforcement agencies violate human rights by arresting
seven members of the opposition Founding Parliament group?

“I shall refrain from making any comments as the investigation is in
progress,” Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan said on Wednesday.

Asked how he assessed the arrest as a lawyer, Mr Manukyan said, “From
the legal point of view, I shall assess it as the man who serves as
Minister of Justice.”

The minister does not see a violation of the presumption of innocence
while the Investigative Committee of Armenia said yesterday it
prevented possible ‘mass disturbances’ during public events scheduled
for April 24 – the day when Armenians will be commemorating the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

“No names are given,” said Mr Manukyan.

Human rights activist Artur Sakunts says the arrest of the opposition
activists is ungrounded and the charges are fabricated. “They arrested
the people who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, are key figures in the
movement that is demanding his resignation,” he said.

Mr Sakunts says Serzh Sargsyan is doing everything to retain his power;
he is even applying violence and force against public.

“Today they are trying to intimidate the Founding Parliament. Tomorrow
it can be the Civil Contract or some other political force that will
seek a change of power,” he added.