Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ELECTRIC TRANSPORT MAY HELP AVOID PROBLEMS IN YEREVAN TRANSPORT SECTOR: CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. Development of electric transport in Yerevan
will help avoid problems in transport sector, head of Armenia’s
Consumers Association Armen Poghosyan said.

According to the head of the NGO, Yerevan municipality is not paying
proper attention to the matter despite the fact development of electric
transport has been on the mayor’s office agenda for long years.

“In speaking about development of electric transport, the municipality
is not specifying any figures, volumes or deadlines”, Poghosyan said.

One of the options is opening of new metro stations, Petrosyan said.

“As to the tramway, I am sure, even if not now, it will be restored
in Yerevan many years later”, Poghosyan said.

Yerevan Metro after Karen Demirchyan was founded in 1981. It has
ten stations today. The total length of all metro lines is 13.4
kilometres.-0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

SOLDIER DIES OF GUNSHOT WOUND IN ARTSAKH ARMY

PanARMENIAN.Net – Serviceman A. Muradyan, born in 1993, died of a
gunshot wound in one of the units of Artsakh defense army on Tuesday,
July 30. According to the army press office, investigation has
been launched.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN SHOWMAN MARK SAGHATELYAN DIES

12:46, 31 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: The famous Armenian showman, broadcaster
Mark Saghatelyan died at the hospital after the two day life-and-death
struggle. As Armenpress was reported by the Nairi Medical Center, his
condition got worsened and the doctors could not manage to save him.

Mark Saghatelyan was transferred from the Blood Center after
Tsolyan to the Nairi Hospital on July 30 with the diagnosis of acute
leukemia. Saghatelyan was in coma and blood transfusion was performed
for the entire night. The computer tomography showed that the showman
had a cerebral hematoma.

Armenpress News Agency staff expresses its deep condolences tothe
family and relatives of Mark Saghatelyan.

From: Baghdasarian

SYUNIK ELECTIONS WILL COST 50 MILLION AMD

Wed, 07/31/2013 – 09:30

For the preparation and implementation of September 29 additional
elections in Syunik region, the Central Election Commission has
requested the government 51 136 846 AMD, but the government has
decided to allocate 50 384 846 AMD.

This became clear from the letter of the Minister of Finance to the
President of CEC, published on the official website of the Government.

On what was CEC planning to spend the additional 1 million AMD is not
clear, since CEC has not published its preliminary estimates. The
government estimated that from more than 50 384 846 AMD 8 441 515
will go to CEC, 2 752 031 AMD to TEC and 39 191 300 AMD to PEC.

Recall that the need for September 29 additional elections in the
Syunik region came up when MP Vahe Hakobyan elected from 38th district
in Syunik was appointed the Governor of Syunik.

It should be noted that none of the political forces have presented
their candidates for the mentioned elections.

Author: Factinfo – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN CITY HALL REPRESENTATIVE OFFERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH SIT-IN ACTIVISTS (PHOTOS)

July 30, 2013 | 13:57

YEREVAN. – A representative of the Armenian capital city Yerevan
Municipality attempted to negotiate with the participants of the
ongoing sit-in across the city hall building, but they turned down
the offer for talks.

Sit-in activist Gor Arakelyan told the aforesaid to Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

Incidentally, there are three sit-in participants-Gor Arakelyan, Suren
Sahakyan, and Vahagn Minasyan-and many others come to support them.

“We said we did not come to negotiate, but rather we clearly
presented our demands. And when these demands are met, only then we
may negotiate. We are ready to fight to the end,” Arakelyan said.

In his turn, Suren Sahakyan added that they will continue their sit-in
until their demands are met.

To note, the municipality representatives have promised to bring
benches for these activists, so they would not sit on the ground.

But until then, the city hall employees were washing the municipality
courtyard, and therefore the sit-in participants were sitting either
in an automobile, or on the chairs which they had brought.

To note, the activists-who are on the fourth day of their sit-in-have
several demands, which include the dismissals of Municipality Transport
Department Chief Henrik Navasardyan and Yerevan Trans Company Director
Misak Hambardzumyan.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the YerevanMunicipality
recent decision to increase the public transport fares in the city
had brought about outbursts, several groups were formed in the social
networks, and the initiatives were staging protests and distributing
pamphlets against this decision. In addition, the Free Car initiative
was launched, along the lines of which Armenia’s numerous well-known
personalities, MPs, and ordinary residents were providing-with their
own vehicles-free transportation to the people.

And on July 25, Mayor Taron Margaryan suspended the decision on the
fare hike; but the wave of the aforesaid movement is still alive. The
activists demand that the persons, who made the decision on raising
the transport fares, be brought to account, and those officials,
who used violence against and cursed at the activists, be punished.

From: Baghdasarian

INFILTRATION ATTEMPT FROM LEBANON THWARTED, TERRORISTS KILLED IN MANY AREAS

Jul 30, 2013

Provinces, (SANA)_ Units of the armed forces on Tuesday killed and
wounded members of armed terrorist groups in Aleppo and its countryside
and confronted attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into safe areas.

SANA reporter quoted an official source as saying that an army unit
targeted vehicles carrying weapons and ammunition for terrorists on
Atareb-Daret Ezzeh- Orum al-Sughra in the southwestern countryside
of Aleppo.

The source noted that the weapons were bound to provide back-up to
the terrorists in Khan al-Assal area.

Another army unit, the source added, destroyed several gatherings
for terrorists in Atareb and the journalists residential compound.

SANA reporter said numbers of terrorists who had been committing acts
of looting and blocking roads were killed on the roads of al-Raqqa and
al-Bab-Aleppo and in Ein Daqna, Tall Raf’at, Deir Hafer and Mar’anaz.

The terrorists’ weapons and equipment were destroyed.

Units of the armed forces eliminated terrorists’ gatherings in the
western countryside of Aleppo, while another army unit clashed with
terrorists who infiltrated into Dahret Abdrabbah in al-Lairamoun
neighborhood and killed others in al-Ma’amel area.

Meanwhile, an army unit repelled terrorists’ attack on Aleppo Central
Prison, while other units destroyed terrorists’ gatherings in Hilan,
al-Jbeili farms, Talet al-Madafeh and al-Khoulandi gas station.

A number of terrorists’ dens in al-Alqamiyeh and Minnegh villages
were destroyed.

Terrorists infiltrating into safe areas in Aleppo repelled

Units of the armed forces thwarted attempts by terrorists to infiltrate
into safe areas in the neighborhoods of al-Rashdin, Salh-Eddin,
al-Amiriyeh and Bustan al-Qasr in the city, killing and injuring
scores of the terrorists.

Many terrorists killed in operationsin Damascus Countryside

In the meantime, the army units carried out a series of operations
against the terrorists’ gatherings in the Eastern Ghouta and a number
of towns in Damascus Countryside.

An official source told SANA reporter that units of the armed forces
clashed with terrorist groups in several areas in Harasta city,
killing and injuring many terrorists, among them mohammd Nour Khashaneh
was identified.

An army unit also destroyed a terrorists’ gathering to the east of
Masraba town in Harasta, killing a number of terrorists including
Mohannad al-Saour.

Several terrorists were killed with their weapons and equipment
destroyed in Erbin town, according to the source.

The source added that army units hunted down terrorist groups in Adra
al-Balad town and killed many of their members. Jaber al-Sheikh was
identified among the dead.

A chain of operations were carried out in the farms surrounding the
towns of Deir Salman, al-Mansoura and Sakka in which many terrorists
were killed and others were injured, including Mahdi al-Qajma’i.

Army units clashed with terrorist groups in al-Ghezlaniyeh area. The
clashes resulted in destroying heavy machineguns and various types
of weapons after killing a number of terrorists.

In the southern countryside of Damascus, army units continued pursuing
terrorist groups and targeting their gatherings in the areas of
al-Sayyeda Zainab, al-Ziyabiyeh and Hijjeira.

Mohammad Hamada and Bashir al-Dgheim were identified among the killed
terrorists in al-Sayyeda Zainab, while the Jordanian terrorist Ahmad
Khairat was identified among those killed in al-Ziyabiyeh.

Clashes in Hijjeir, however, resulted in killing a number of terrorist
groups’ members, including Hani Mitleq.

Infiltration attempt from Lebanon thwarted

An army unit foiled a terrorist group’s infiltration attempt from
Arsal in Lebanon into the Syrian territories through Khirbet Hamam
site in the southern countryside of al-Qseir in Homs.

A military source told SANA that our armed forces killed 6 terrorists,
wounded others and arrested terrorists Mohammed Bassam Al-Abedel
Qader Barkkawi and Bassam Hamdi Taj ed-Din, nicknamed Gulam.

Terrorists’ dens targeted in Homs

Several dens and gatherings for terrorists were destroyed in the
neighborhoods of al-Qarabis, al-Warsheh, Bab Hood, al-Abraj, Jouret
al-Shayah, al-Waer, Wadi al-Sayeh and al-Hamidiyeh in the city of Homs.

An army unit repelled armed terrorist groups that tried to infiltrate
from al-Dar al-Kabira and al-Ghasbiyeh areas towards the villages of
al-Dweir and al-Muhajjarin in northern Homs, leaving many of their
members dead and injured.

In another context, an official source in the province said an
army unit destroyed a number of terrorists’ gatherings in Talbiseh,
al-Rastan, al-Ghanto and al-Dar al-Kabira, killing many terrorists.

Among the terrorists killed in Talbiseh were Adnan Shahoud, leader
of a terrorist group, Mohammad al-Mahmoud and Mahmoud al-Deikh.

13 roadside bombs dismantled on Palmyra-Homs highway

In another context, engineering units foiled an attempt by an armed
terrorist group to detonate 13 roadside bombs in Hannoura area in
the city of Palmyra.

SANA reporter quoted an official source as saying all the roadside
bombs, which had been planted on Palmyra-Homs highway, were dismantled,
noting that the bombs weighed 35-50 kg and were to be detonated via
cell phones.

Terrorists targeted in several villages in Idleb

Army units, in a series of operations carried out yesterday, inflicted
heavy losses upon terrorists in Idleb countryside.

A military source told SANA that several headquarters for Jabhat
al-Nusra terrorists and a factory for manufacturing rockets were
destroyed as a number of terrorists killed in Ma’arrat al-Nu’man in
Idleb countryside.

The source added that an army unit eliminated gunmen in Kafrshillaya
and foiled terrorists’ attempt to detonate 62 explosive devices
planted on the roads of the town.

In the same context an army unit destroyed weapons including 14.5 mm
machine guns in Mara’ian town while another unit killed a number of
terrorists in Blashtoon and al-Maghara and destroyed their criminal
equipment and weapons.

Terrorists linked to Jabhat al-Nusra were eliminated in Kansafrah
town and weapons used by gunmen in their attacks on the people in
the region were destroyed.

An Army unit targeted the headquarters of the so-caled “Sharia
tribunal” in Saraqeb in Idleb countryside, eliminating two extremely
dangerous terrorists: head of the tribunal Abdullah Barbour and his
bodyguard Mohammad Mufid al-Kheshen.

Army units also destroyed a terrorist hideout in the town, resulting
in the elimination of many terrorists including Qassem Mohammad Hammad.

Terrorist leader eliminated in Daraa

An Armed Forces unit clashed with terrorist groups in Daraa, resulting
in the killing or a number of terrorists including Mohammad Khalil
al-Hussein al-Mahamid, the leader of a terrorist group called “Liwa’a
Tawhid al-Janoub.”

Another unit eliminated a number of terrorists in the town of Basr
al-Harir, including Hamza Jihad al-Shara’a.

Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists eliminated in Deir Ezzor

An Army unit clashed with a terrorist group affiliated with Jabhat
al-Nusra in the salt mine area in Deir Ezzor, inflicting heavy losses
upon the terrorists.

English Bulletin

From: Baghdasarian

SYRIAN TROOPS RAID MILITANTS IN IDLIB COUNTRYSIDE

Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:35

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Armed Forces, in a series of military
operations, inflicted heavy losses upon antigovernment fighters in
Idlib countryside.

Several dens and gatherings of al-Nusra Front terrorists and a
factory for manufacturing rockets were destroyed in Syrian soldiers’
operations, a military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency,
adding that a number of militants were killed in Ma’arrat al-Nu’man
in Idlib countryside.

The source added that an army unit targeted gunmen in Kafrshillaya
and foiled rebels’ attempt to detonate 62 explosive devices planted
on the roads of the town.

Meantime, an army unit destroyed militants’ weapons including 14.5 mm
machine guns in Mara’ian town while another unit killed a number of
insurgents in Blashtoon and al-Maghara and destroyed their equipment
and weapons.

Terrorists linked to al-Nusra Front were killed and wounded in
Kansafrah town by the soldiers of the Syrian army.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in the Arab state after
President Bashar al-Assad started a reform initiative in the country,
but Israel, the US, its Arab allies and Turkey sought hard to bring the
country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and
some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President
Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.

From: Baghdasarian

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS’ INVESTMENT PROGRAM FOR 2014 TO COST AMD 7.5 BILLION

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. South Caucasus Railways CJSC’s investment
program for 2014 will amount to AMD 7.5 billion against the previous
year’s 6.3 billion, Viktor Rebets, CEO of the company, said in an
interview with ARKA News Agency.

“We will put special emphasis on creation of technologies connected
with the train separation system of traffic regulation system,
i.e. a system of semi-automatic blocking, as well as on automation
of our switch facilities at stations and reinforcement of our railway
facilities,” he said.

Fore example, he said, the reconstruction of our motive-power depot
in Gyumri has made it possible to change periodicity of repairs of
locomotives, get rid of outside contractors and increase periods
between repairs.

“Before that, we repaired cars every year, without taking into account
how many kilometers they have run, while now we see their mileages,
and taking into account short distances in Armenia, we can say that
the periodicity of repairs will shrank twice (once in two years),”
Rebets said. “We won’t pay for that many times – it can serve for at
least one decade.”

Rebets also stressed that in 2008, when the company came to Armenia,
there were 420 derailing cases, and in 2012 their number reduced to
five thanks to investments in the infrastructure, particularly to
the repair of 300 kilometers of railways.

Speaking about plans for the next year, Rebets said that the process
of creation of the unified data transmission network from the final
to the first stations as well as fortification of bridges will be
completed in 2014.

“We built three bridges in 2012. This year we are fortifying three
other bridges, but are not building new ones, since there is no
necessity to do this.”

South Caucasus Railways, a 100-percent subsidiary of Russian Railways,
runs Armenian Railway.

Armenian Railways was handed over to the South Caucasus
Railways on February 13, 2008 for 30-year concession
management with a right to prolong the management term for
other 10 years. ($1 – AMD 410.30).—0— – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ECONOMIST CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO IMPORT IRANIAN BUTADIENE FOR NAIRIT RELAUNCH

16:32, 30 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenia could come to an agreement with
Iran on importing butadiene from that country for Nairit Plant CJSC,
instead exporting chloroprene rubber. This was stated to Armenpress by
the Chairman of the Public Council’s Committee on Financial-economic
and Budgetary Affairs and the Head of the Union of Local Producers
Vazgen Safaryan.

Reminding that by the same scheme Armenia imports gas from Iran and
exports electric energy, Vazgen Safaryan noted that if formerly Nairit
produced annually 15-20,000 tons of chloroprene rubber on the base
of acetylene, now on the base of butadiene it will produce about
30-35,000 tons. According to the Chairman of the Public Council’s
Committee on Financial-economic and Budgetary Affairs and the Head
of the Union of Local Producers, 10,000 tons of the produced rubber
might be exported to Iran and the other part – to other countries.

In 2006 the Rhinoville Property Limited international company purchased
90% of the shares of the Nairit Plant CJSC. The other 10% belong to the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia.

The Nairit Plant CJSC was established in 1940. On December 1 2008
the work of the Plant was stopped because of the financial crisis.

About 1,500 employees were dismissed. The employees of the Nairit
Plant are being paid the debts of their salaries by parts.

In 2013 the Russian Itera and Rosneft have been interested in the
Nairit Plant.

According to different data, the total debt of the Nairit Plant
makes about 120-130 million dollars, 20-25 million of which – to the
Armenian banks.

From: Baghdasarian

IRAN: US, BRITAIN UNWILLING TO SEE REBELS’ CRIMES IN SYRIA

Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:48

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gholam
Hossein Dehqani lashed out at the western states, specially the US
and Britain, for sending weapons to the rebel groups in Syria, and
said they have closed their eyes on the terrorists’ crimes in the
Muslim country.

“There are very horrendous reports about committing worst types of
crimes, particularly taking advantage of civilians as human shield
by the extremists in Syria,” Dehqani said on Tuesday, addressing the
UN General Assembly meeting allocated to surveying the current status
of human rights observation in Syria.

He reiterated that Shiites, Sunnis, Druzes, and Christians are all
victims of the extremist groups and it is very surprising for us how
come during the course of the past two years no one has expressed
worries about the presence of foreign warriors who have entered Syria.

Addressing the British and US representatives at the UN, he said, has
Britain, or the United States so far expressed worry about arming the
opponents and forwarding money and logistical contributions for these
extremist groups, or have they themselves been involved in arming them.

It seems as if they prefer to close their eyes over the criminal
acts committed by the extremists in Qusair, Allepo, Khan al-Assal,
and the other Syrian cities and villages, he added.

Reminding the US and British UN envoys about the countless criminal
acts committed by the extremist groups in the region, and particularly
in Syria, he asked who is concerned about the fate of the victims
of these crimes? Where is that accountability of which you speak so
much about? Should these extremist groups and their supporters not
be held accountable for the criminal acts they commit?

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs and foreign-backed terrorist groups
against not just the Syrian police, border guard and army troops,
but also people being reported across the country.

Tens of thousands of people, including members of the security forces,
have been killed since some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in the Arab state after
President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel,
the US and its Arab allies sought hard to bring the country into chaos
through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals
have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad,
who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.

From: Baghdasarian