Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CRIMES GO UP: 8,465 CRIMES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN FIRST HALF OF 2011

news.am
Aug 19 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – in total 8,465 crimes were registered in Armenia in the
first half of 2011, which is by 7.3 percent more compared to the
relevant period of 2010, Armenian Deputy-General Prosecutor Mnatsakan
Sargsyan told at the expanded meeting of Board of Prosecutor General’s
Office on Friday.

According to him, amid a general increase in the number of crimes,
number of crimes against the person dropped by 114 making 1567 or 18.5%
of all criminal cases.

Cases of intentional injury to health also reduced (from 645 to 629).

Number of homicides (from 21 to 28) and number of attempts of murder
(from 9 to 20) increased.

Smuggling cases have decreased by 26 or 58.7%: 37 cases were registered
in first half of 2011.

From: Baghdasarian

GORBACHEV’S FUND TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN ARMENIA

news.am
Aug 19 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Green Cross International, formed by former Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev, will allocate funds to build a plant producing
solar power generators in the Armenian city of Spitak.

Head of the programs on solar power plants Vahagn Hamazaspanyan said
it will help Armenia overcome economic crisis as not a single country
is producing such equipment, while the demand is growing.

At the same scientist complained that the Armenian Government has
not lifted a finger to develop this field. For instance, the National
Security Council headed by Arthur Baghdasaryan has recently approved
strategic program for energy security which did not mention solar
units, he told journalists.

Preliminary investments in the project are amounting to $8 million.

The plant is supposed to produce up to 1,000 units with different
capacities (3-32 kilowatt). One generator with a capacity of 32 kW
is sufficient to supply electricity to a household.

At the moment, negotiations are being held with Brazil and Mozambique
to promote further exports of solar installations.

From: Baghdasarian

DASARAN.AM PROJECT LAUNCHES IN ARMENIA

Panorama
Aug 19 2011
Armenia

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, announces
that owing to the company’s support now Dasaran.am project will be
available to all schools in Armenia for free. The RA Minister of
Science and Education Armen Ashotyan, the founder of the educational
project Dasaran.am Suren Aloyan, and VivaCell-MTS General Manager
Ralph Yirikian signed an agreement of cooperation.

At the initial stage schools in Yerevan, and later all the schools
in Armenia, will be involved in the Dasaran.am project, creating a
unified educational electronic system and an environment improving
the links between students, parents, and teachers.

“Quality education is one of the major preconditions of a country’s
development. Following this belief, VivaCell-MTS has implemented
numerous projects in the sphere of education. To provide education
and upbringing for children ties between family and school have to
be strengthened to have a comprehensively educated society. It is
important that technologies and innovative approach are now being
involved in the educational processes in our country,” mentioned
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

Parents, students, and school personnel can benefit from the project
for free, which will provide parents an opportunity to become aware
of the school progress, average marks, homework and behavior of their
children. In their turn, students will be able to create a network
of friends, to improve their knowledge through various intellectual
games, to develop necessary skills through specially designed contests.

Dasaran.am project will realize special training courses for teachers
and school personnel directed at improving their computer skills.

From: Baghdasarian

ALIYEV’S RESPONSE TO ARMENIAN GIRL’S LETTER IS PART OF AZERI MYTH

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 19, 2011 – 16:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The myth about “Azerbaijani Armenians” is one of
official Baku’s propaganda instruments, an Armenian expert said.

“Azerbaijan is trying to convince the Armenian society of existence
of an Azerbaijan which was once a home for Armenians,” military
psychologist David Jamalyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

“One of the examples of this propaganda is the response of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev to the letter of 13-year-old Karabakhi girl
Adelina Hovakimyan. Pay attention to the lines saying that ‘the
Azerbaijani presidential administration reads every message addressed
by Azerbaijani resident’,” he said, noting, at the same time, that
the letter will hardly bring any negative consequences.

On August 8, school student from NKR sent a letter to the Azeri leader
to ask him why he is trying to gain control over Karabakh. Adelina
Hovakimyan called on Aliyev for peace.

In his reply, Aliyev said that “Azerbaijan also wants peace and
stability in the South Caucasus.” The letter also included invented
“historical facts” on Karabakh’s “belonging to Azerbaijan.”

From: Baghdasarian

TIMOSHENKO APPEALED TO ARMENIAN MP

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:55:02 – 19/08/2011

We have learned that a group of members of the Ukrainian Parliament
have appealed to Member of Parliament Naira Zohrabyan, Bargavach
Hayastan Party, to advocate Yulia Timoshenko in different international
structures.

Timoshenko’s supporters appealed to Naira Zohrabyan because she is
a representative to the PACE, she is the vice-president of Euronest
PA and a Co-Chair of the EU-Armenia inter-parliamentary commission.

By the way, the first plenary session of Euronest is scheduled
on September 14, in Strasburg, and on September 26 the PACE autumn
session starts, during which the supporters of Yulia Timoshenko are
going to raise the issue of Timoshenko’s trial.

There is information that the PACE is going to hold a special
discussion on Timoshenko’s issue.

According to our information, Naira Zohrabyan has not responded to
the letter of Timoshenko’s supporters yet.

From: Baghdasarian

NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON DISCUSSIONS OF A DOCUMENT ON NK ISSUE AT NATO PA

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 19, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS: There is no official information on
the adoption of a document on the Nagorno Karabakh issue during the
next session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, according to Karine
Avagyan, head of the Armenian delegation to NATO PA, member of the
RA National Assembly ARP faction.

Karine Avagyan reported Armenpress that “they will give their response
when official information from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will
be available.” She said for years before each session the Azerbaijani
party has been spreading information, according to which the NATO
PA intends to adopt a document on the NK issue. “I think we will see
the same image this time as well,” she said.

According to Karine Avagyan, the authorities of both NATO and NATO
PA have stated many times that they see the resolution to the issue
within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity.

From: Baghdasarian

WHO WILL BE STEPANAKERT’S NEXT MAYOR?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:25:59 – 19/08/2011

On September 18, elections of mayor are scheduled in Stepanakert. The
candidates are not known yet though nomination has set out and will
last till August 24. People suggest nomination of the Chief of Staff
of the NKR Government, Suren Grigoryan. The acting mayor, Vazgen
Mikayelyan, is also expected to run in the election. By the way,
he is President Bako Sahakyan’s brother-in-law.

Vazgen Mikayelyan has been mayor for 4 years. He succeeded Eduard
Aghabekyan who was elected in the result of genuine democratic
elections. However, oppositionist Aghabekyan could not come to terms
with the government. Since, the city treasury, despite municipal laws,
is financed from the state budget, the government simply cut funding
for the ex-mayor’s programs.

The next mayor did not pretend to municipal independence. Moreover,
he was a relative of the president, and everyone knew where decisions
were made. The fact that Bako Sahakyan’s brother-in-law became mayor
was a minus for this biography.

Will his brother-in-law run again despite the strong backlash of the
society? People in Karabakh say it makes no difference who will be
mayor, the brother-in-law of the president or the chief of staff of
the government. In fact, it doesn’t inasmuch as the citizens will
not elect him.

From: Baghdasarian

OWING TO VIVACELL-MTS’ SUPPORT NOW DASARAN.AM PROJECT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL SCHOOLS IN ARMENIA FOR FREE

Noyan Tapan

19.08.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 19.08.2011) VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile
TeleSystems” OJSC, announces that owing to the company’s support
now Dasaran.am project will be available to all schools in Armenia
for free. The RA Minister of Science and Education Armen Ashotyan,
the founder of the educational project Dasaran.am Suren Aloyan,
and VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian signed an agreement
of cooperation.

At the initial stage schools in Yerevan, and later all the schools
in Armenia, will be involved in the Dasaran.am project, creating a
unified educational electronic system and an environment improving
the links between students, parents, and teachers.

“Quality education is one of the major preconditions of a country’s
development. Following this belief, VivaCell-MTS has implemented
numerous projects in the sphere of education. To provide education
and upbringing for children ties between family and school have to
be strengthened to have a comprehensively educated society. It is
important that technologies and innovative approach are now being
involved in the educational processes in our country,” mentioned
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

Parents, students, and school personnel can benefit from the project
for free, which will provide parents an opportunity to become aware
of the school progress, average marks, homework and behavior of their
children. In their turn, students will be able to create a network
of friends, to improve their knowledge through various intellectual
games, to develop necessary skills through specially designed contests.

Dasaran.am project will realize special training courses for teachers
and school personnel directed at improving their computer skills.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia’s leading mobile operator,
having the widest 2G/ 3G network reach and spreading a wide range
of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of
the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July
2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build
a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS
drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any
development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. For
more information, visit

* * *

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator
in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 100 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well
as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which
MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM
services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since
June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about MTS can
be found at

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE DEMANDS OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION INTO POLICE ACTIONS AGAINST LAWYERS

Tert.am
19.08.11

The official website of the prosecutor’s Office of Armenia has posted
the following information:

“On August 16, 2011, the mass media reported that the Board of the
Chamber of Advocates decided to apply to the Prosecutor General of
Armenia for initiating criminal proceedings on the fact of police
officers obstructing the activities of lawyers Vahe Hovsepyan and
Stepan Voskanyan. We inform the mass media that the RA Prosecutor
General’s Office had not received such a complaint by August 17.”

RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan applied to Chief of the RA
Police Alik Sargsyan for an official investigation.

“In its August 16 issue, the Haykakan Zhamanak daily published
an article entitled ‘Criminal proceedings against policemen’. The
article discusses the legality of actions by the police officers at
the Central police department.”

Specifically, on the basis of the information provided by the Chamber
of Advocates, the author of the article points out that the lawyers
Vahe Hovsepyan and Stepan Voskanyan were preventing from carrying
out their legal activities at the police station.

Since the facts mentioned in the article need to be investigated,
the article was sent for an official investigation. “I ask for the
results to be reported to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office,” says
the statement by the RA Prosecutor General.

From: Baghdasarian

ISKANDARYAN: POSSIBLE CHANGE IN SYRIA MAY IMPACT ARMENIA

Panorama
Aug 18 2011
Armenia

A possible change in Syria may affect Armenia, Director of the Caucasus
Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan told reporters.

“The Syrian developments are directly linked to Turkey, Iraq, and
Kurds,” the political expert said.

It is the developments around Armenia, not those inside the country
that are most interesting, according to him.

Turkey has deployed troops on Syrian border, the speaker noted,
and thus is demonstrating concern over the Syria events.

“Syria is withdrawing troops from north-eastern regions (Der Zor,
Kamishli) which makes us think that major developments are taking
place there,” Iskandaryan said adding that “these events may change
the regional situation which doubtless will affect Armenia.”

From: Baghdasarian