Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Who is not interested in having cheap electricity?

16:13 | July 26,2014 | Social

How can we develop alternative renewable energy sources in Armenia?

The participants of a roundtable discussion at the EcoLur Press Club
were trying to answer the question. They say many people do not know
that numerous steps have been taken in this direction, despite the
indifference of politicians, whereas European countries switched to
alternative energy sources long ago.

Levon Dokhoyan, a lawmaker of the Rule of Law Party (OEK) and Hovsep
Khurshudyan, a member of the Heritage Party, who were supposed to
attend today’s discussion, did not show up at the meeting for
different reasons.

Vahan Hamazaspyan, a leading advocate for developing renewable energy
in Armenia and author of a helioification program- consumption of
solar energy, says as a scientist he feels ashamed that our government
does not want to do anything for the economy and does not pay
attention to the development of solar energy. “This is a political,
rather than economic issue. I applied to the Secretary of the
National Security Council [Artur Baghdasaryan] asking him to help the
spread and mass production of solar devices. But he did nothing and
today his party is holding incomprehensible rallies against the
planned electricity price hike.”

Tamara Babayan, Director of the Renewable Resources and Energy
Efficiency Fund, says Armenia has gone far ahead in terms of renewable
energy resources, and has a favorable legislative field to use it.

Vahan Hamazaspyan is the author of a device called ‘Combined
HelioSystem,’ which, he says, is a necessity for a country like
Armenia. The device is a mirror, combined with a parabola system,
which can accumulate the solar energy in one point. The thermal
capacity of the device, depending on the area, ranges from 3.3
kilowatts to 3.7 kilowatts.

From: Baghdasarian

550 ceasefire violations reported this week

15:16 * 26.07.14

Azerbaijan’s armed forces violated the ceasefire across the Contact
Line with Nagorno-Karabakh 550 times in the past week.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army reports that the adversary released
over 5,000 gunshots against Armenian defense positions from weapons of
different calibers.

Prompt operations by the Army’s frontline military units helped
suppress the Azerbaijani side’s activeness.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

CAUSE ARMENIENNE
Il y a 31 ans tombaient les 5 combattants Arméniens de Lisbonne lors
d’un attentat contre l’Ambassade de Turquie

Il y a tout juste 31 ans, le 27 juillet 1983, un commando de 5
Arméniens se réclamant de l’ARA (Armée Révolutionnaire Arménienne)
mourrait lors d’une attaque contre l’ambassade de Turquie à Lisbonne.
Ces cinq membres du commando arménien avaient pour noms Vatche
Daghlian, Sarkis Aprahamian, Ara Kerdjelian, Setrak Adjemian et Simon
Yahneian.

La tentative de prise d’otage du commando arménien se terminait
tragiquement par la mort des cinq jeunes révolutionnaires qui
exigeaient d’Ankara la reconnaissance et les réparations du génocide
arménien de 1915. La tentative de prise d’otages -dans laquelle
avaient également trouvé la mort l’épouse d’un attaché administratif
turc ainsi qu’un policier portugais- avait échoué et tourné au drame.
Les 5 Arméniens se donnant la mort.

31 ans après leur mort héroïque, > comme on les
appelle désormais n’ont pas connu leur statut de héros en Arménie.
L’historien Simon Safarian l’a rappelé le 25 juillet à Erévan. Lors de
la même conférence de presse, Samvel Tatevossian, le réalisateur et
combattant de la guerre de libération du Karabagh a rappelé que ceux
qui avaient été désignés par les médias internationaux comme des > étaient en fait des héros qui donnèrent leur vie sur
l’autel dédié au combat pour la vérité et la justice du peuple
arménien. Reste à l’Arménie de reconnaitre ses enfants tombés en héros
à Lisbonne il y a plus de trois décennies, sur le chemin de la liberté
et de la dignité du peuple arménien.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 26 juillet 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijani veteran of Karabakh war attempts self-immolation

16:52 * 25.07.14

An Azerbaijani veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war has tried to set
himself afire outside the presidential administration in Baku.

According to Haqqin.az, the man, Fagan Nasibov, wanted to thus express
his protest against Lutfal Abdulaev, the chief of Zardob region’s
executive government, who he claimed had swindled him out of 65,000 US
Dollars.

But the attempt turned out vain.

Nasibov’s family is said to have been next to him during the protest action.

From: Baghdasarian

The Messenger, Georgia
July 25 2014

Military balance in the South Caucasus

By Messenger Staff
Friday, July 25

The South Caucasus is stuck with soldiers and weapons. They can be
taken as the “richest” countries of the world in this regard. Military
budgets of the countries are permanently increasing. There are two
strains of thought over the situation. One opinion states that such
armament will lead to a war in the region, while the second claims
that the current developments are essential for keeping a balance. As
Latins said: Sivis pacem para bellum (want peace, get ready for war).

Azerbaijan is taking the primary position with regard to military
capacity and expenditure, reaching 3,7 billion USD. It has 77,000
soldiers and officers, possessing 340 tanks, 700 armored wehicles, 14
MiG 29 destroyer planes, 19 destroyers, 40 attacking helicopters, 30
transportation helicopters and numerous artillery and missile devices
as well as other weaponry.

Russia is the main weapon-supplier to Azerbaijan, followed by Ukraine.
Azerbaijan buys weapons from Belarus as well. Azerbaijan bought some
weapons from Israel. The country spends a large amount of money in
weaponry gained from its oil income.

As it is known, Azerbaijan is in a conflict situation with Armenia.
Armenia spent 447 million USD on 1013 in military issues. It has
45,000 soldiers in its army, it owns 200 tanks, 240 armored vehicles,
240 artillery systems, 15 S-25 destroyers, 10 combat and 10
transportation helicopters.

>From a financial point of view, Azerbaijan is more capable to purchase
weapons. Yerevan is actively supported by Russia as well in terms of
weaponry. Like Azerbaijan, Armenia also purchases weapons from
Ukraine. It also buys them from Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
However, Azeri military potential seriously exceeds Armenian.
Meanwhile, Russian soldiers’ being on Armenian territory is a security
guarantor for the little country.

Georgia’s military expenditure increased under Mikheil Saakashvili’s
presidency. It reached over 1 billion USD by 2007. However, after
losing the war with Russia in August 2008, Georgia’s military
expenditure went down. Georgia has 20,000 soldiers, 90 tanks, around
200 combat vehicles, 185 artillery devices, 12 S-25 destoyers and
about 30 transport helicopters.

Before the war in 2008, Ukraine was the main supplier for Georgia in
terms of weapons. Georgia has also purchased weapons from the Czech
Republic. Georgia has been buying weapons from Bulgaria since 2011.
Georgia has refused to create a large army, focused more on formation
of compact arm forces, which should be able to comply with NATO
standards.

There are two big players Turkey and Iran that have their own military
potential in the region. Turkey is a NATO member country as well.

From: Baghdasarian

Wicked Local Arlington
July 25 2014

A book detailing Arlington family of John and Artemis Mirak

ARLINGTON

“Genocide Survivors, Community Builders: The Family of John and
Artemis Mirak,” is the story of two Armenian orphans uprooted from
their homes in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide and
their life in the New World, where they became an example of courage
and achievement in both their Armenian and non-Armenian communities.

The family history was written by their oldest son, Dr. Robert Mirak,
the author of “Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America, 1890 to
World War I” (Harvard University Press, 1983).

At its center is Zaven Mirakian, who became John Mirak, a restless,
ambitious, and talented businessman. From a humble start, he built an
impressive and innovative automobile enterprise, Mirak Chevrolet and
affiliates, for which he was recognized locally and nationally.

He also succeeded in major real estate developments in Greater Boston.
In addition, he donated both his time and resources to an endless list
of charities from his hometown of Arlington to national Armenian
organizations, as well as hospitals and sanitaria overseas. His wife,
Artemis (née Eramian), not only assisted her husband’s efforts but,
while he was away during World War II, raised their four children and
inspired them to seek higher education and achievement.

The book is also a study in acculturation, tracing the evolution of
the family from its immigrant origins to Arlington and Winchester,
where the children grew up and were education. It highlights the
tensions of the second generation caught between the cultures of the
Old World on the one hand, and the New World on the other. It also
shows how the children and grandchildren of the founders carried on
the family traditions of service, especially to the Armenian community
in the U.S. and in Armenia.

Published by the Armenian Cultural Foundation of Arlington, the study
with illustrations is available at the ACF, 441 Mystic St. in
Arlington; Book Ends, at 559 Main St. in Winchester; the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, 395 Concord Ave. in
Belmont and online at Amazon.com.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Defense Ministry Claims Information Requested by NGO is “State Secret”

07.25.2014 21:46 epress.am

The Court of Appeal of the Republic of Armenia (RA) on July 24 began
examination of the appeal of the RA Ministry of Defense, which is
disputing an RA Administrative Court ruling.

Recall, the Administrative Court on April 9 upheld the claim of
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office against the RA Ministry of
Defense and ordered the defense ministry to provide the information
requested by the organization — that is, the names of organizations
supplying food, clothing, fuel, and stationery supplies and the types
of food, clothing, fuel, and stationery supplies they have supplied.

According to the organization’s website [AM], reading the appeal, the
Ministry of Defense representative, Manik Santrosyan, said that the
information requested by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor
Office contains state and official secrets; thus, he cannot provide it
and the court did not take this fact into account when issuing its
ruling.

The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, however, said that
those purchases that are not made to ensure military equipment, arms,
ammunition, or military equipment cannot be considered state secrets.

From: Baghdasarian

H. Abrahamyan: Vorotan Hydro Cascade sale should be in state interests

Friday, July 25

During his working visit to Dilijan, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan responded to questions of mass media representatives,
according to the press office of the government.

When speaking about the sale of Vorotan Hydro Cascade CJSC, the prime
minister said:

“The new government does everything so that this deal will be
concluded in the interests of our state and economy and all the
clauses of the law be observed. Of course, there are flaws and
unacceptable clauses, for example, a very high rate of profitability –
23.5% and I am firmly against it. There can be no deal in which the
future buyer will have profits of 23.5%. There has been no such deal
in our country and we are now working on this important issue. We
attach importance to the big U.S. company’s investments of $180
million in our economy.”

As regards trust in that company, Hovik Abrahamyan said there is
nothing suspicious. “I don’t see anything ‘dark’ here as we have
worked transparently for 2-3 months. No pressure has been put. It is
also rumored that we want to cancel the deal and transfer the hydro
cascade to a Russian company. If the deal is invalidated during my
premiership, I will be against the transfer of Vorotan Hydro Cascade
to a businessman of any other country. We informed the American side
about our approaches, all those clauses we do not agree with. They
will inform us about their opinion: if they agree, very well, if they
don’t – then the deal will not go ahead and we will not sell Vorotan
Cascade to Russia,” H. Abrahamyan said.

As for the decision concerning Nairit-2 CJSC shares taken at the
government session today, H. Abrahamyan said: “The question is that
debt was accumulated and we need to continue discussions for 3-4 days
to take a decision”.

The prime minister also discussed the economic policy of the
government, noting that the welfare of Armenian citizens depends on
economic development of the country.

TODAY, 21:00
Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

674 couples of Karabakh “Big Wedding” demanded to release Levon Hayrapetyan

17:30, 25 July, 2014

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS-ARTSAKHPRESS. 674 couples, who participated in
Karabakh “Big Wedding”, appealed to the competent authorities of the
Russian Federation, demanding to release businessman Levon Hayrapetyan. As
reports “Armenpress”, the “Big Wedding” couples expressed hope that the
Russian law enforcement bodies will display an objective approach, in the
result of which the benefactor’s innocence will be proved.

“We, the 674 couples of “Big Wedding”, initiated by Levon Hayrapetyan in
2008, consider invaluable the great benefactor’s
contribution to the development of Artsakh, displayed by both sponsoring us
and our children, and many other major projects. In the frames of “Big
Wedding” project 674 families were formed in Artsakh, and during almost 6
years’ time around 1200 children were born. Being well aware of Levon
Hayrapetyan’s high human values, we are convinced that the accusations
against him are groundless. We hope that the Russian law enforcement bodies
will display an objective approach, in the result of which the great
benefactor’s innocence will be proved. Considering the investigation
process and revelation of truth as a matter of time, at this stage we
demand that the preliminary investigation body should immediately release
Levon Hayrapetyan from custody. Once released, in addition to providing
assistance to the preliminary investigation, he will have the opportunity
to improve his health condition, about which we are mostly concerned,”
reads the letter.

Previously it was reported that the Federal Security Service of the Russian
Federation arrested Russia-resident rich Armenian businessman Levon
Hayrapetyan. As reports “Armenpress” citing “Rosbalt”, Levon Hayrapetyan
was detained on July 15 in Domodedovo Airport, where the airplane landed
from Monaco.

The investigators transported the Armenian businessman to the Investigation
Committee of the Russian Federation under special surveillance, where he
was officially informed about the arrest.

The law enforcement authorities suspect Levon Hayrapetyan of having
connections with the band led by criminal authority Sergey Finagin.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Les automobilistes invités à être prudents

La modification législative sur le montant des sanctions pour les
violations de la circulation entrera en vigueur le 26 Juillet. A cette
occasion, les organisations qui traitent des droits des conducteurs
appellent les automobilistes à être prudents parce que l’attention
envers les pilotes va se lèver.

Début lundi en cas de non-paiement des pénalités le montant de
l’amende augmentera au bout de 31 jours, puis de la 61e journée de 50
pour cent. Ainsi, à partir de maintenant en l’absence de paiement de
l’amende l’amende ne va plus augmenter de trois à cinq fois.

Cependant, comme l’a mentionné le président de l’ONG du Centre de
protection des droits des conducteurs Eduard Hovhannisyan cet argent
représente de 50 à 60 pour cent des moyens extra-budgétaires de la
police de la route et la police de la route va essayer de remplir
l’écart par d’autres moyens.

“Nous pensons que c’est une sorte de bombe. La police de la route va
avoir des problèmes ; l’argent n’est pas là, où allons-nous trouver de
l’argent ? ” a prédit Hovhannisyan.

“Ainsi, maintenant nous exhortons tous les conducteurs à être
prudents. S’ils n’étaient pas pénalisés pour des infractions mineures
avant, maintenant ils vont commencer à pénaliser pour chaque simple
bagatelle ” a-t-il ajouté.

vendredi 25 juillet 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian