Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

BIOGRAPHY OF THE RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAMVEL NIKOYAN

National Assembly of RA

Dec 6 2011
Armenia

Samvel Nikoyan was born on February 13, 1958 in the village of
Sarnaghbyur in the Ani region (now Shirak Marz.)

In 1982 he graduated from the present State Engineering University of
Armenia with the specialty engineer-mechanic, in 1987 – Armenian branch
of Marxism-Leninism University adjunct to the USSR Central Committee.

1982 – 1990 he worked as an engineer-constructor, and later as senior
engineer, head of division, deputy head of production unit and head
of production unit in Yerevan Hydro Apparatus Plant.

In 1995 he was deputy chief engineer in Yerevan Experimental Machinery
Plant.

1995 – 1998 he was head of division in the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Armenia.

1998 – 2003 he was deputy director of ~SHaymamul~T (Armenian Media)
CJSC.

2001- 2003 ~V Chairman of the RPA Organizational Committee.

2003 – 2007 ~V NA deputy (proportional electoral -system, RPA.)

On May 12, 2007 he was elected a deputy of the National Assembly by
the proportional electoral system from the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA.).

Since 2008 he is the Chair of the Armenian delegation of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union.

On May 18, 2009 he was elected Vice Speaker of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia.

He was involved in production of ammunition and their delivery during
the years of Artsakh freedom fighting. He was a member of the National
United Party (NUP) acting underground in the USSR, later member of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA.) He is a member of the RPA
board. In 2005 he was awarded the Andranik Ozanian Medal of the RA
Armed Forces, and in 2006 he was awarded the Commemorative Medal of
RA Prime Minister.

On December 6, 2011 he was elected Speaker of the RA National Assembly.

He is married with three children.

From: Baghdasarian

SERZH SARGSYAN SENT A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT OF RF AND CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED RUSSIA POLITICAL PARTY AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT OF RF ON THE OCCASION OF THE UR VICTORY IN THE RF STATE DUMA ELECTIONS

06.12.2011

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to the
President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and Chairman of
the United Russia Political Party, the Chairman of the Government
of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the UR
victory in the RF State Duma elections.

The congratulatory message addressed to the President of the Russian
Federation Dmitry Medvedev states:

“Dear Dmitry Anatolievich,

I cordially congratulate You on the occasion of a convincing victory
of the United Russia in the RF State Duma elections.

The elections have become a vivid evidence of the leading role that
the United Russia plays in the country’s social and political life.

The victory in the elections has come to prove once again the support
of the friendly people of Russia to the policies conducted by You
and aimed at the strengthening of the statehood and rule of law,
assured social and economic development, new quality of life for
the citizens of the country and consolidation of Russia’s role and
standing on the international arena.

I am confident that the results of these elections will assist in
further elevating the level of the strategic partnership between
Armenia and Russia, expansion and strengthening of friendly and
ages-long good-neighborly relations for the benefit of our two
countries and two peoples, for upholding stability and security in
the South Caucasus.

Dear Dmitry Anatolievich,

I wish you good health and greater success in the achievement of the
preset goals.”

In the congratulatory message addressed to the Chairman of the
United Russia Political Party, the Chairman of the Government of
the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President Serzh Sargsyan
underscored that the elections have become a bright evidence of the
United Russia’s decisive role in the social and political life of the
Russian Federation. The President of Armenia noted that the results
of the elections reveal that Vladimir Putin’s rich experience of
state activities is essential for the sustainable social and economic
development of the country, political and economic modernization of
Russia and further increase of the RF international prestige.

“I am confident that the United Russia Party is capable of ensuring
further dynamic advancement of the Russian Federation down its road
toward the implementation of the preset social and economic reforms.

In Armenia, we highly appreciate Your attitude toward Armenia and the
Armenian-Russian friendship. I am confident that we will continue to
enhance the strategic Armenian-Russian partnership for the benefit
of our two peoples, stability and security in the South Caucasus.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I wish you good health and further
success in the statebuilding, aimed at Russia’s well-being, peace and
prosperity,” the congratulatory message of President Sargsyan reads.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VISITS AGARAK COPPER-MOLYBDENUM PLANT

/ARKA/
DECEMBER 6, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. Armenian deputy prime minister Armen
Gevorkyan visited last Friday the Agarak copper-molybdenum plant in
the southern province of Syunik where he was told about the plant’s
business investment projects, GeoProMining company’s press office
said in a press release.

According to it, Gevorkyan visited the new building of the processing
plant, which is equipped with modern flotation machines. The
construction of the new building is expected to be over by the end of
the year. It is expected that as a result of the investment program
GeoProMining will hire about 40 new workers.

Gevorkyan was said to have praised the pace of modernization of the
combine-one of the largest industrial complexes in the south of the
country and stressed the importance of creating new jobs for the
further socio-economic development of Agarak town.

In 2009 the government provided the plant with a stabilization loan
as part of its anti-crisis measures to help it reduce the prime
cost of its products and improve their competitiveness. In 2010 the
plant began to work with profits and expects further improvement of
indicators in 2011-2012.

GeoProMining, founded in 2001, is an international privately owned
company with a diversified resource base of gold and other metals.

GeoProMining enterprises are located in Russia, Armenia and Georgia.

It acquired the Agarak copper-molybdenum plant in 2007 December.

From: Baghdasarian

GURGEN ARSENYAN WON’T JOIN REPUBLICANS

Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 14:45:48 – 07/12/2011

The leader of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenyan stated in
his press conference on December 7 that he will not appear on the
Republican ticket, even if the Republican Party makes such a proposal.

Gurgen Arsenyan stated that he supports ideological alliances, as
well as political competition and debates for the voters to understand
what they want.

Gurgen Arsenyan thinks the Republican Party will lose votes in the
next election because there is no improvement of the quality of life,
while the reshuffle gives no result.

Gurgen Arsenyan also dwelt on the Russian State Duma elections noting
that it should make the Armenian and Russian authorities think because
the elections displayed that the more Russians voted for the opposition
which increased its presence in the parliament.

From: Baghdasarian

WITNESS IN ARTAK NAZARYAN CASE NOT DISCHARGED FROM MILITARY: DEFENSE MINISTER PROMISES TO LOOK INTO IT

epress.am
12.07.2011

The trial in the case of rifle platoon commander Artak Nazaryan, who
died suddenly while serving in Tavush marz (province) during peacetime
on Jul. 27, 2010, resumed at the Court of First Instance of Shengavit
Community of Yerevan Tuesday. This time witness Arman Mnatsakanyan,
who works at the military police, but who at one time served at the
same military base as Nazaryan, was called to the witness stand.

On Dec. 4, Mnatsakanyan was to have been discharged from the military,
but that didn’t happen. Representing the victim’s legal successor,
Ruben Martirosyan of the Yerevan-based Helsinki Association for Human
Rights and the victim’s mother, Hasmik Hovhannisyan, Tuesday met with
Armenia’s defense minister and informed them that Mnatsakanyan hasn’t
yet been discharged. Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan promised to
look into the matter.

Prior to examining the witness, Martirosyan was interested in who
hired Mnatsakanyan’s attorney as he didn’t have an attorney at the
last court session, and the judge said he would be provided with a
public defender. Instead, however, he has an attorney who is a member
of the RA Chamber of Advocates. The judge said he’s not interested
in who hired Mnatsakanyan’s attorney.

Martirosyan considered this comment by the judge to be biased and
put forth a motion for withdrawal (not the first time), which the
judge rejected.

Then, Mushegh Shushanyan, attorney to the victim’s legal successor,
motioned to examine Mnatsakanyan after the latter is discharged from
the military. Representatives of all the defendants joined in this
motion, but it too was refused.

Attorney Hrant Gevorgyan, representing accused Hakob Manukyan,
expressed a motion of withdrawal to prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan,
for carrying out an incomplete examination. And Ruben Martirosyan,
joining this motion, added that the appeal by witness Artur
Lazarian in which he said that his testimony during the preliminary
investigation was extorted from him and that he was beaten at the
military police station, does not correspond to the truth – it is
lost and not among the materials in the case.

The decision on this motion will be made public at 2 pm today.

From: Baghdasarian

ADG LAUNCHES STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN KARABAKH

asbarez
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

During the ADG presentation in Glendale

ADG: Artsakh Development Group, a non-profit, non-partisan organization
devoted to and engaged in raising awareness in the United States on
issues pertaining to Artsakh, launched its educational campaign.

In October ADG organized an educational event at Cal State Dominguez
Hills University Campus with the participation of Robert Avetisyan,
Permanent Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh in the United States,
who spoke briefly about Artsakh. The event launched the establishment
of a Study Abroad Program with the University of Artsakh. An exclusive
lunch with the university professors was followed by a lecture by Dr.

Levon Marashlian. Attended by a great number of students and the
general public, the event proved to be a remarkable start of the
Program.

Dr. Marashlian presented a summary of the conflict over Artsakh from
1991 to 2011, using numerous news reports from American, European, and
Turkish television to support his analysis. His presentation included
the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in the early 1990s and the ceasefire
in 1994, the conflicting claims of the two sides and international
mediation to reach a peace settlement, Turkish President Turgut
Ozal’s promotion of the “Goble plan” in Washington D.C., the oil
factor and competing pipeline routes, the strategic importance of
the South Caucasus, and the currently deadlocked peace process.

The Study Abroad Program is anticipated to allow between 12 to 15
Cal State students to spend a summer in Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh
with an opportunity to learn about history, politics, culture, and
economy of Artsakh.

ADG Hosts Presentation in Glendale The ADG launched its educational
campaign. On October 9 ADG organized an educational seminar –
Conference: “Artsakh in Today’s World” – with the participation
of Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh in the United States.

Conference: “Artsakh in Today’s World” held at the Glendale Public
Library, offered a multi-faceted program. The event consisted of three
panels: History & Politics, Economy, and Cultural, each followed by a
Q&A session. The event was a call to action for Armenian Americans to
mobilize resources in order to raise awareness in the U.S. on issues
pertaining to Artsakh. In his speech, the Founder and President of
ADG, Sevak Khatchadourian, highlighted the purpose of the event:
“Misinformation has to be addressed with your help and the help
of this organization. This organization will be giving seminars at
universities and raising awareness about our history, culture, and
certainly about our rights.”

The History and Politics Panel opened with “The Academic War
Over Karabakh: Part II” by George Bournoutian, followed by Levon
Marashlian’s “NKR From Military Victory to Diplomatic Deadlock,
1991-2011”, and concluded with Razmig Shirinian’s “The Absurdity of
Diplomacy and The Absence of Politics: The Case of Artsakh”. The
Economy panel began with “Economic Prosperity as a Cornerstone
of Independent Artsakh” by Vladimir Shekoyan and concluded with
“Business and Entrepreneurship in Artsakh” by Alec Baghdasaryan. The
first two panels were moderated by the Publisher of The California
Courier Harut Sassounian. The Cultural panel opened with moderator
Hrayr Eulmessekian’s visual piece “On Deep Background” followed by a
photography collage from a collaborative project by Vahe Oshagan and
Ara Oshagan “Father Land” presented by Ara Oshagan. The final speech
“Artsakh Culture: Past and Present” was presented by Armine Alexanian,
a representative from the Foreign Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh who
flew in from Artsakh specifically to participate in the Conference.

One of the speakers, Professor Levon Marashlian, stated a fresh
perspective, “Negotiations are deadlocked, each side claiming
historical and legal rights, tit for tat. The Armenian side’s claims
are more valid of course, but it might help to add to the argument the
difference between survival and prestige: for tiny Armenia, Artsakh
is a question of survival, of life and death, for big Azerbaijan
it is a question of prestige and national honor because the Azeris
do not need Artsakh since they are rich with resources, swimming in
oil-they even have caviar.”

The first of its kind, covering controversial topics on historically
famous Artsakh, the Conference proved to be a great success. It was
attended by close to 180 people of various age groups and backgrounds
and was covered by several television stations. Among the guests were
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, The Consul General of the Republic of
Armenia in the U.S. Grigor Hovhannissian, representatives of U.S.

Armenian Veterans Association, and other noted members of the Armenian
community in the United States.

The ADG Board consists of distinguished members of the Armenian
community in Los Angeles: Pattyl Aposhian, Gerard V. Kassabian. Esq.,
Sevak Khatchadourian, Tamar Sinanian, and Taleen L. Tertzakian, Esq.

For information:

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN CENTER COLLAPSED

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:30:30 – 06/12/2011

Due to wrong architectural solutions, Yerevan center is in collapse.

This is the opinion of Karine Danielyan the chairwoman of the
NGO For Sustainable Human Development. She told Lragir.am that the
construction of elite buildings in Yerevan downtown has a destructive
effect. When it rains, the tunnels of the metro are full of water,
says Karine Danielyan.

Dwelling on the North Avenue, she noted that geologists disagreed
with the construction of buildings in this area. She says the ground
there is not reliable for such buildings.

She recalled that geologists requested relevant exploration of that
area but their request was not accepted.

From: Baghdasarian

LE PARTI REPUBLICAIN DEMENT TOUTE CAMPAGNE ANTICIPEE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 6 decembre 2011

Le parti Republicain d’Armenie (HHK) a nie que la recente reunion
de ses membres principaux visait a former l’equipe de campagne de la
prochaine election devant avoir lieu dans cinq mois.

De telles accusations ont ete exprimees par le principal parti
d’opposition le Congrès National Armenien (HAK).

David Matevosian du HAK a affirme qu’avec la mise en place de cette
equipe de campagne et la tenue de la reunion de la nuit precedente le
HHK a viole la loi electorale qui ne permet pas aux partis politiques
ou aux candidats de fonder et faire fonctionner des equipes de
campagnes avant la date officielle.

Le mois dernier le president du Parlement et membre important du HHK
Hovik Abrahamian avait annonce sa demission après avoir accepte la
proposition du president actuel d’Armenie Serge Sarkissian de gerer
les elections parlementaires prevues en mai 2012. Mikael Minasian
avait egalement quitte son poste de conseiller du president pour la
mâme raison

” S’ils, en effet, ont laisse leur fonction publique pour promouvoir
des elections libres, alors ils auraient dû le faire seulement après le
jour officiel de lancement de la campagne conformement a la loi. On
ne permet pas qu’une equipe de campagne soit formee avant cela ”
a dit David Matevosian.

Les participants de la reuniion ont nie qu’il s’agissait de la première
assemblee de equipe de campagne decrivant la reunion comme une reunion
de travail regulière de quelques-uns des fonctionnaires du parti.

Particulièrement le depute du HHK Hovhannes Sahakyan a dit que la
reunion ne violait aucune loi du pays.

Silva Markosian, membre de la Commission electorale Centrale d’Armenie,
a aussi insiste pour qu’aucun des partis politiques n’ait encore fonde
son equipe de campagne. La fonctionnaire a dit que la reunion du bureau
du HHK ne pouvait pas etre une reunion de l’equipe de campagne parce
que ” la loi ne le permet pas. ”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S LONG TERM ECONOMIC POLICY

The Messenger
Dec 5 2011
Georgia

As Armenia’s PM Tigran Sargsyan stated on December 2 his country
should elaborate a new economic program which will cover the period
up to 2020. The priorities and action plans should be clearly outlined.

According to the PM, Armenia has elaborated a sustainable development
program, however it was influenced by the results of the world economic
crisis and therefore needs adjustment. According to the World Bank,
for the last 20 years the Armenian economy is slowly developing and
its government has to take certain new steps as well.

From: Baghdasarian

RAMIL SAFAROV MAY BE EXTRADITED TO AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Dec 5 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who serves a life imprisonment
in Hungary, may be extradited to Azerbaijan.

Public TV quoted sources in the Foreign Ministry as saying.

On return from Hungary, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf
Khalafov said he was hopeful that issue regarding Ramil Sarafov’s
extradition would be solved.

“This issue may be reviewed as part of the humanitarian assistance
convention of the Council of Europe where both Azerbaijan and Hungary
have a membership. Hungary will review this issue once it is raised,”
the deputy FM added.

Ramil Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Budapest Court
in 2004 over charges of killing Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan
during NATO exercises in Hungary in 2004 for insulting the flag
of Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian