Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

THE TWO NKS: NORTH KOREA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

13:51 25.07.13

By Thomas de Waal

Carnegie Endowment Foundation e Two NKs

When you mention the acronym “NK,” it is interesting to hear what
the other person thinks you are referring to. For there are two NKs
at either end of the Asian land mass-North Korea and Nagorny Karabakh.

Of course, North Korea grabs the headlines for good reasons. A
population of 75 million in both Koreas, fears over a nuclear
escalation, the bellicose threats by the North Korean leadership-all
of that focuses minds on the East Asian NK as a potential flashpoint.

But there are some instructive parallels with the Caucasian NK. Along
with Kashmir’s Line of Control, North Korea and Nagorno Karabakh
surely comprise the three most militarized borders in the world. All
of them are disputed lines on the map that mark a truce rather than
a political settlement.

Of these, Karabakh’s Line of Contact (almost the same terminology as
in Kashmir) is the most ignored. Yet it is a fearsome scar on the map,
more than 200 km long, with World-War-I-style trenches on either side,
bristling with heavy weaponry.

Military experts suggest that the Armenian (including Karabakh
Armenian) and Azerbaijani militaries each have between 65,000 and
70,000 active troops, of whom about a third are probably stationed
on the Line of Contact at any one time.

The risk of new fighting over Karabakh is still relatively low.

Azerbaijan, the losing side in the conflict of the 1990s and therefore
the party most likely to go back to war, has too much to lose by
choosing the military option.

But the lesson of conflicts from August 1914 to August 2008 is
that too many of them begin by miscalculation. The main issue in
both places is lack of communication. There is no telephone contact
between commanders across the Line of Contact-just as there is none
across the 38th Parallel. That way, a small military incident could
escalate into a larger one.

What could that incident be? There is one obvious reason to worry.

This is what could happen if the newly rebuilt airport in Karabakh
opens. The Armenian side says it is ready to fly planes between
Yerevan and Karabakh. The Azerbaijanis say this would break the
Chicago Convention and have threatened (unspecified) retaliation if
that happens. So far, the Armenians have acceded to international
pressure and done nothing. But sooner or later they are likely to
make a flight. Then, given the complete lack of contact and trust
between the two sides, things could get dangerous.

Another lesson here is that maybe the most dangerous conflict is the
one you were not anticipating.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

PROTEST AT FARE RISE GOES ON IN FRONT OF YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY (UPDATED, VIDEO, PHOTOS)

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

12:05 25.07.13

A crowd of protesters has gathered outside the Government building
to express its anger over the 50% hike in the public transport fares.

Chanting the slogans one-hund-red (100 Drams), the demonstrators are
urging for Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation. The protest
continues while the cabinet is holding its regular Thursday session.

A former presidential candidate, Andreas Ghukasyan, has joined the
crowd which is becoming thicker little by little.

The members of the group, “We Pay 100 Drams” have decided to head
to the bus stops where they regularly maintain a vigil to call on
the passengers of buses and minibuses not to pay more than they did
before the controversial decision became effective.

The activists have been joined by representatives of local government
bodies, community facilities staff and government agencies.

“We can combine efforts to get the decision on fare rise invalidated,”
their cry out. The freedom-fighters staging a sit-down protest in
Freedom Square have joined as well.

From: Baghdasarian

WHAT IS MORE DANGEROUS – CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE OR “OLIGARCHS’ REBELLION”?

Tigran Sargsyan called the movement against the transport fare increase
a civil movement, stating that the government should take into account
the fact that civil society forces are being formed in Armenia.

The premier actually recognized that during the decision-making
process it is necessary to think how the society will react. It
is hard to count how many anti-social decisions have not been made
due to the dangerous civil protest. But now, the “good” guys who,
several years ago were allowed everything in Yerevan, admit that it
has become more difficult to cut a tree in a yard.

The government of Armenia is squeezed between interests of the
oligarchy and the social destabilization threat, relating to price
increase. Now, possible harm from destabilization and oligarchs’
rebellion is calculated. What is more dangerous?

The fact that the oligarchs are not silent, and put pressure on
the government, causes no doubt. And Tigran Sargsyan’s statement is
addressed to them. He hints that the oligarchs should have moderate
appetites, because there are civil forces that have moved from empty
rallies to the actions of defiance. People just do not pay – and this
is the most terrible blow.

What the “oligarchs’ rebellion” is fraught with for the government?

Someone can close their business here and leave for Batumi, someone
else will use compromising materials about Serzh Sargsyan’s old
sins and promises. But, “oligarchs’ rebellion” will hardly lead to
destabilization, to the contrary, in case of a right policy, it may
be a good reason to tame several insatiable oligarchs.

While, social rebellion and defiance are fraught with unpredictable
for the government events. Moreover now, when Armenia is facing the
important phase of completion of negotiations on the Free Trade Zone
with EU, and now Armenian authorities don’t need destabilization
at all.

Protests against the transport fare increase showed that by the end of
the month such disobedience may lead to the refusal to pay for the gas
and electricity. People may decide to pay for the gas at the former
price, and the government will be unable to do anything against it.

Tomorrow, people may agree not to pay the high percentages of bank
loans.

It is obvious that the increase in the price of transport is one of
the last acts of racketeering the Armenian oligarchy prior to the
Association of Armenia and the EU. It is no accident rates were not
increased from 1 August or 1 September, and from July 20 in order
“not to lose” the 10-day profit. After the Association, Armenian
oligarchs will not feel as free as now. And they need to squeeze to
the last during this period.

What will Armenian government choose – rebellion of oligarchs of
social revolt?

Naira Hayrumyan 13:14 25/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian

RA POLICE REFUSED HAYK ALUMYAN’S APPLICATION

Wed, 07/24/2013 – 17:18
News

RA police refused the application of Artak Budaghyan’s attorney Hayk
Alumyan. He applied to the police for the initiation of operative
investigation, as according to him the searches conducted at Surik
Khachatryan’s house were done with gross violations of law, as a
result of which it was possible to hide unregistered weapons.

Note that Hayk Alumyan applied to RA General Prosecutor Aghvan
Hovsepyan as well, asking whether Military Prosecutor Gevorg
Kostanyan;s public statements was a formal point of view or his own
one, as well as whether the publications in the media concerning Suren
Khachatryan were considered. The attorney said that General prosecutor
has not yet responded to him while the General Prosecutor’s Office
informed that the response was send in accordance with the law.

H. Alumyan did not exclude the possibility of applying again and
this time it was concern the late arrival of Goris police officers
to the scene.

Author: Factinfo – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

STILL FIGHTING: KARABAKH WAR VETERANS UP IN ARMS OVER FREEDOM FIGHTER SOCIAL CONDITIONS

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

SOCIETY | 24.07.13 | 16:22

Photolure

Grisha Sargsyan
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
 
For two months now Karabakh war veterans in Armenia have been
actively fighting for the improvement of social conditions with
acts of protests and sit-in strikes, demanding higher pensions and
discounts on medical assistance and tuition fees for their children,
utility bills and public transport.

The veterans discard the new bill to the National Assembly of Armenia
on “the status of Yerkrapah (Homeland Defender) Volunteers “, which
passed two hearings during the spring sitting of the parliament,
as nonsense. Instead they demand passing a law that would allow to
“remove thorns from freedom fighters’ fingers”.

Glorious Warriors NGO leader Grisha Sargsyan says the bill does not
represent the veterans’ interests and will only be effective for
the Yerkrapah Volunteers’ Union (YVU) members, “the suit is cut to
fit YVU”.

Karabakh war veterans (mainly referred to as freedom fighters in
Armenia) believe that the bill co-authored by well-known Generals
Manvel Grigorian and Seyran Saroyan, and MP Samvel Fermanyan will not
improve their lives and will fail to solve their social issues. It
will only clearly define the status of the yerkrapah, and here, too,
they disagree.

“We have raised the issue of passing a bill on voluntary freedom
fighter, and they wrote ‘yerkrapah’, even the formulation does not meet
our demands. In bigger picture the bill won’t bring any improvement
to the veterans’ lives,” says army reserve colonel Volodya Avetisyan,
who initiated the protest in May with a sit-in in Liberty Square.

When the bill was being discussed, Samvel Farmanyan stated that the
victorious Karabakh fight for survival and the concepts “freedom
fighter”, “volunteer” and “yerkrapah” have long become one whole,
and the concept of “yerkrapah volunteer” describes best those sons
of Armenia who volunteered to defend their homeland.

Sargsyan says in 2006 their organization along with other NGOs
advocating the Karbakh war veterans’ rights, submitted a draft law to
the parliament “On Social protection of freedom fighters” to regulate
all the respective issues.

“It got no response. Meanwhile, the bill discussed in two-three days
gets adopted. Bills are not to be passed rapidly within a couple of
days, it is not the proper way to do these things. This bill protects
the interests of only 20 percent of freedom fighters, the other 80
percent will get nothing from it. The purpose was to pass a law on
yerkrapah. I can’t help applauding to the general [Manvel Grigoryan],
who made it happen and gave a legally established status to his team,”
he says.

Kornidzor brigade commander Arayik Khudaverdyan says they demand
solutions to the issues of those who volunteered to go fight, did not
get paid for it, sold their own property to buy arms and invested all
that into the Karabakh defense and eventually victory, but today live
in privation.

The meetings with the prime minister which resulted in certain promises
are not productive, they say. Colonel Avetisyan, leading the standoff,
says he told the premier about the extremely poor state and hardship
the veterans have been facing for years.

“Gas and electricity tariffs have gone up, so has the public transport
fare, and life in general has become more expensive, and those getting
47,000 drams ($120) will keep getting as much, and I wonder how they
are going to survive? Looking at our government I realized that they
do not care about anyone. We just went, sat down, saw each other,
they asked for a month and a half to compile lists, to sort true
freedom fighters from fake. We are not satisfied and will continue
our standoff,” he says.

Protests will continue. Should the demands not be met, they will
start demanding the resignation of the current government. On July 28,
a large-scale rally is planned in Yerevan with around 10,000 freedom
fighters to join from the provinces.

From: Baghdasarian

OPEN LETTER TO ERDOGAN

12:09, 25 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: The popular British The Times Periodical
published the open letter of 30 famous figures addressed to the Prime
Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoðan connected with the Gezi Park
policy. As reported by Armenpress, this was published by the Turkish
CNN Turk. The letter says in particular:

“Dear Mr. Erdogan,

We, the undersigned, write this letter to most vigorously condemn
the heavy-handed clamp down of your police forces on the peaceful
protestors at Taksim Square and Gezi Park in Istanbul, as well as in
other major cities of Turkey, which, according to the Turkish Media
Association, has left 5 people dead, 11 blinded-due to indiscriminate
use of pepper gas, and over 8000 injured.

Yet, only days after clearing Taksim Square and Gezi Park relying on
untold brutal force, you held a meeting in Istanbul, reminiscent of
the Nuremberg Rally, with total disregard for the five dead whose only
crime was to oppose your dictatorial rules. There are more journalist
languishing in your prisons than the combined number of China and
Iran. Moreover, you described these protestors as tramps, looters and
hooligans, even alleging they were foreign-led terrorists. Whereas,
in reality, they were nothing but youngsters wanting Turkey to Remain
a Secular Republic as designed by its founder Kemal Ataturk.

Finally, while you aspire to make your country a member of EU, you
refute all criticism leveled at you by its leaders, on grounds of
Turkey being a Sovereign State. Notwithstanding, may we respectfully
remind you, on grounds of the Convention signed on 9 August 1949,
Turkey is a member of Council of Europe, and by virtue of ratifying
the Europe Court of Human Rights. Consequently, your orders which
led to deaths of five innocent youths, might well constitute a Case
to Answer, in Strasbourg”.

The disorders in Turkey began when on May 28 2013 the plans of
replacing Taksim Gezi Park with a reconstruction of the historic
Taksim Military Barracks (demolished in 1940) with the possibility
of housing a shopping mall became known. The protests developed into
riots when a group occupying the park was attacked by police.

The subjects of the protests have since broadened beyond the
development of Taksim Gezi Park, developing into wider anti-government
demonstrations.

The protests have also spread to other cities in Turkey, and
protests have been seen in other countries with significant Turkish
communities. On May 31 2013, police suppressed the protesters with
tear gas, arrested at least 60 people and injured hundreds. The police
action received wide attention online. 5 men died in the clashes
between the police and the protesters, more than 7,500 people were
injured and about 5,000 of people were arrested. By the data provided
by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkey, about 2,5 million people
from 79 regions took part in the anti-government demonstrations held
in Turkey.

From: Baghdasarian

U.E/ARMENIE : ACCORD DE LIBRE-ECHANGE

Publie le : 25-07-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire le Communique de presse publie sur le site de la
Commission Europeenne le 24 juillet 2013.

Commission europeenne

Communique de presse

Bruxelles, le 24 juillet 2013

L’UE et l’Armenie concluent un accord sur leurs relations commerciales

L’Union europeenne (UE) et la Republique d’Armenie se sont mises
d’accord, aujourd’hui, sur l’instauration, dans le cadre d’un accord
d’association, d’une zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet.

Lors de la septième (et dernière) session de negociations qui a eu
lieu a Erevan, les deux parties ont approuve les termes essentiels
d’un accord qui redefinira les relations commerciales entre l’UE et
l’Armenie. La zone de libre-echange favorisera l’integration economique
de l’Armenie dans l’UE en permettant aux entreprises armeniennes et
europeennes d’acceder plus facilement au marche des biens et des
services de l’autre partie. L’accord offre a l’Armenie le cadre
necessaire a la modernisation de ses relations commerciales et au
developpement de son economie grâce a l’harmonisation poussee de sa
legislation et de sa reglementation dans divers domaines touchant au
commerce. Ces reformes donneront a l’Armenie les moyens d’adapter des
secteurs essentiels de son economie aux normes de l’UE. L’amelioration
des possibilites commerciales qu’entraînera la creation de la zone
de libre-echange devrait avoir des effets economiques positifs tant
pour l’UE que pour l’Armenie.

Selon une etude independante, l’accord pourrait rapporter a long
terme 146 millions d’euros par an a l’economie armenienne, ce qui
representerait une augmentation de 2,3 % du PIB. Cette progression
dependrait en particulier de la suppression des barrières non
tarifaires. Pour l’UE, les retombees economiques de l’accord devraient
s’elever a quelque 74 millions d’euros.

La zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet aura une incidence
considerable sur le commerce armenien. Selon les previsions, la
croissance des exportations (15,2 %) et des importations (8,2 %)
armeniennes entraînera a terme un reequilibrage de la balance
commercial du pays (en termes relatifs).

Contexte

L’UE a entame des negociations avec l’Armenie en juillet 2010 en
vue de conclure un accord d’association. Il s’agissait de remplacer
l’accord de partenariat et de cooperation en vigueur par un accord
plus ambitieux. Les negociations sur le volet commercial de l’accord
– la zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet – ont commence en
mai 2012 et elles ont abouti le 24 juillet 2013, au terme de sept
sessions. La Commission va maintenant rendre compte aux Etats membres
du texte de l’accord negocie. Ensuite, l’UE et l’Armenie poursuivront
les procedures devant aboutir a la creation officielle de la zone de
libre-echange dans le cadre de l’accord d’association.

L’UE est le premier partenaire commercial de l’Armenie: elle represente
32 % des echanges du pays. Les echanges bilateraux de biens ont
represente 951 millions d’euros en 2012.

L’UE accorde deja a l’Armenie un accès preferentiel a son marche en lui
appliquant le système de preferences generalisees “SPG +”, qui promeut
en particulier le developpement durable et la bonne gouvernance. En
consequence, les droits percus a l’importation sont deja très bas,
de sorte que l’accord sur la zone de libre-echange – meme s’il prevoit
egalement des reductions tarifaires – fera surtout sentir ses effets
positifs a l’interieur des frontières du pays. La reforme de la
reglementation portera principalement sur les domaines sanitaire
et phytosanitaire et visera a assurer l’equivalence les normes de
securite alimentaire armeniennes et europeennes. L’Armenie adaptera
egalement plusieurs legislations relatives aux produits industriels
afin de renforcer la securite et la protection des consommateurs.

Informations complementaires

Evaluation independante de l’impact du commerce sur le developpement
durable – zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet UE-Armenie :

Site de la Commission Europeenne concernant les relations commerciales
avec l’Armenie (en anglais)

Site de la Commission Europeenne concernant les relations avec
l’Armenie en cadre de la politique europeenne de voisinage

Site du Service europeen pour l’action exterieure concernant les
relations avec l’Armenie

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Commission Europeenne

From: Baghdasarian

UN SAUT DANS L’HISTOIRE

ARMENIE

L’athlète armenien Levon Aghasyan a defile avec sa medaille d’or a
Erevan après avoir saute 16,1 mètres au triple saut aux Championnats
d’Europe Junior en Italie. Sa victoire est la plus grande realisation
d’un Armenien en athletisme depuis l’epoque où Robert Emmiyan a brille
pour l’equipe de l’URSS.

jeudi 25 juillet 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ABANDON DES POURSUITES CONTRE OSKANIAN

POLITIQUE

Dans ce qui equivaut a un règlement a l’amiable, le service de securite
nationale de l’Armenie (NSS) a abandonne mercredi les accusations
controversees de malversations financières portees contre Vartan
Oskanian, ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères très critiques
envers le gouvernement.

Le SNRS a classe l’affaire criminelle après un plus d’un an d’une
enquete criminelle qui a ete lancee peu de temps après qu’Oskanian
ait annonce son retour a la politique active et ait commence a defier
ouvertement l’administration du President Serge Sarkissian.

L’affaire decoule d’un don de près de 2 millions de dollars
d’un philanthrope americain, Jon Huntsman, en 2010 a la Fondation
Civilitas, un think-tank base a Erevan fondee par Oskanian. Le SNRS
avait accuse Oskanian d’avoir detourne une partie de la somme. Il a
ete formellement inculpe de detournement de fonds et de blanchiment
d’argent immediatement après que le Parlement armenien a leve
l’immunite des poursuites en octobre dernier.

Oskanian, qui est un membre eminent de l’opposition, appuye par le
parti Armenie prospère (BHK), avait fermement dementi les accusations,
les qualifiant de represailles du gouvernement motivees par ses fortes
critiques envers Sarkissian et la decision du BHK se retirer de la
coalition au pouvoir en Armenie en mai 2012. Les autorites, pour
leur part, nient toute motivation politique derrière ces poursuites
egalement condamnees par la direction du BHK.

Dans un communique, le SNRS indique que l’affaire a ete abandonnee
parce que Oskanian aurait la semaine dernière admis avoir utilise
presque 251.000 $ de la donation de Huntsman a des ” fins personnelles
“. L’agence de securite, qui est le successeur armenien du KGB
sovietique, a declare que l’ex-ministre a verse le mardi 20 millions
de drams (49 000 $) d’impôts dont il etait redevable en raison de
ce revenu.

Oskanian a insiste, cependant, sur le fait qu’il ” n’a pas fait
d’aveux.” Dans une declaration ecrite, il indique que les enqueteurs
du NSS ayant echoue a prouver les accusations de fraude ont opte pour
” d’autres facons de clore l’affaire. ”

Oskanian a egalement rendu public une lettre envoyee la semaine
dernière a un haut enqueteur de la NSS. Dans cette lettre, l’ancien
citoyen americain d’origine syrienne, qui a servi comme ministre des
Affaires etrangères de l’Armenie de 1998-2008, a admis des “erreurs
comptables” dans la gestion de la donation somptueuse qui avait ete
transferee sur son compte bancaire personnel.

” Ma plus grande erreur a ete de considerer l’argent donne a Civilitas
et depose auprès de moi, et mes economies personnelles de l’epoque
comme une seule somme, ” a ecrit Oskanian. ” Il y avait vraiment des
moments où j’ai inconsciemment utilise l’argent de Civilitas pour
mes besoins personnels. Il y a eu aussi un moment où la somme a ete
transferee a partir de mon compte personnel a la Fondation Civilitas “.

Oskanian a ajoute que si cela constituait une violation des lois
armeniennes, il etait pret a reconnaître un manque a gagner en impôts
a calculer sur la base de 251.000 $, somme constituee par ce qu’il a
utilisee personnellement. En ajoutant qu’il attendait donc en retour
que le SNRS interrompe la procedure penale.

L’enquete du NSS, qui s’est traduite par un contrôle fiscal de Civlitas
et des interrogatoires repetes de son personnel, avait suscite des
inquietudes de diplomates americains et europeens. Les ambassadeurs
des Etats-Unis et de plusieurs pays europeens bases a Erevan s’etaient
fait en mars un devoir de visiter ensemble les bureaux de Civilitas,
en louant les activites de la fondation.

L’emissaire americain, John Heffern, avait declare qu’ils sont ”
d’une importance capitale pour la democratie en Armenie.”

jeudi 25 juillet 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

LES DIRIGEANTS DES SOCIETES DE TRANSPORT DEFENDENT L’AUGMENTATION DES TARIFS

FRONDE

Les proprietaires de societes privees de transport public d’Erevan ont
fortement defendu mercredi la decision controversee de l’administration
municipale d’augmenter les tarifs dans la capitale, en raison du fait
qu’il les sauverait de la ruine financière.

Taron Markarian maire d’Erevan, a quant a lui enfin rendue publique
la decision ecrite d’augmenter les tarifs des bus et minibus de 100 a
150 drams (35 cents americains) et de doubler celle des trolleybus a
100 drams. Il l’avait signe le 19 juillet, la veille de l’entree en
vigueur des nouveaux tarifs, suscitant des protestations de colère
dans la capitale armenienne.

Les leaders de l’opposition ont immediatement fustige sur ce
retard, faisant valoir que selon la loi armenienne les directives
gouvernementales ne peuvent pas entrer en vigueur avant d’avoir ete
rendu public. Les representants du parti Zharangutyun (heritage),
seul groupe d’opposition etabli represente dans le conseil municipal,
a declare que de ce fait, les prix eleves appliques pendant les quatre
derniers jours l’ont ete illegalement.

JPEG – 94.1 ko Une affiche sur le pare-brise d’un minibus exhortant les
habitants d’Erevan a s’opposer aux tarifs plus eleves “Le processus
n’etait pas legal “, a declare Stepan Safarian, un responsable de
Zharangutyun, au service armenien de RFE /RL (Azatutyun.am).

Zharangutyun a egalement renouvele ses demandes pour une reunion
session d’urgence du Conseil sur la question. Le parti d’opposition
Armenie prospère (BHK) a reaffirme son soutien a l’initiative.

Le conseil est contrôle par des representants du Parti republicain
au pouvoir (HHK), dont Markarian est un membre eminent.

La directive signee par le maire dit que la hausse des prix de
transport a ete demandee par les 48 societes d’exploitation des lignes
de bus a Erevan. Les proprietaires d’au moins deux de ces entreprises
l’ont confirme. Ils ont argue que la mesure impopulaire est le
seul moyen de compenser leurs pertes resultant de l’augmentation
spectaculaire ces dernières annees du coût du gaz naturel importe
de Russie. Le gaz russe est utilise, sous forme liquefiee et sous
pression, par presque tous les bus et minibus en Armenie.

” Avant la montee des prix, les transports publics dans la ville
etaient deja sur le point de s’effondrer “, explique Harutiun Arakelian
de la compagnie de bus Davit.

Selon Arakelian les operateurs de transport cherchent a augmenter leurs
tarifs depuis 2008. ” Si les entreprises sont obligees de continuer a
fonctionner avec le tarif de 100 drams, ils devront deposer leur bilan
“, a-t-il averti lors d’une conference de presse.

Patvakan Mihranian, un autre exploitant, a egalement affirme etre en
perte. Il a indique que les prix anterieurs l’ont empeche de remplacer
ses minibus de fabrication russe datant de 2002 par des neufs.

Mihranian estime que meme avec un tarif de 150 drams ne sera pas
suffisant pour generer les revenus necessaires au renouvellement de
sa flotte vieillissante.

Les deux hommes d’affaires ont egalement rejete une croyance largement
repandue que le transport public est une activite lucrative. Elle
aurait depuis longtemps cesse d’etre rentable, selon eux.

Les critiques font valoir, cependant, que la plupart des entreprises de
minibus sont detenues par des hauts fonctionnaires, des politiciens
pro-gouvernementaux, leurs parents ou copains et sont donc peu
susceptibles d’etre deficitaire. Ils affirment que ces augmentations
sont principalement destinees a maximiser les profits realises par
ces personnes.

JPEG – 159.2 ko De jeunes militants se reunissent dans un parc d’Erevan
pour discuter de leur campagne contre les tarifs de transport plus
eleves.

Des centaines de jeunes militants se fondent sur cet argument dans
leur campagne permanente contre la hausse des tarifs des transports.

Ils ont exhorte mercredi les usagers a continuer a payer 50 et 100
drams par trajet pour la cinquième journee consecutive. Les dirigeants
du mouvement ont promis de continuer leur campagne soutenue par
les partis de l’opposition et un nombre croissant de celebrites
armeniennes que l’on n’avait pas vu s’impliquer dans l’activisme
civique jusqu’a present.

“Le tarif de 150 drams est illegal et chaque citoyen a le droit de ne
pas payer les 50 drams supplementaires “, a declare un de ces leaders,
une jeune femme, lors d’une conference de presse. “Ce mouvement se
transforme en une revolte sociale”, a declare un autre militant. ”
De plus en plus de gens se joignent a la lutte.”

La campagne semble gagner en influence sur de nombreux habitants
d’Erevan. Leur refus de payer des tarifs plus eleves a provoque une
brève grève des conducteurs de deux douzaines de trolleybus mercredi.

Les conducteurs, qui doivent egalement percevoir les paiements,
se sont plaints de ne pas pouvoir atteindre les objectifs lies a
l’augmentation des recettes.

” Notre plan [de revenus] quotidien a ete porte de 14.500 drams a
28.000 drams ,” a indique l’un d’eux au service armenien de RFE / RL.

“Comment pouvons-nous y arriver ?”

Une femme d’âge moyen d’un de ses trolleybus n’a pas flechi. ” Je
vais payer 50 drams,” dit-elle. “Je n’ai pas d’argent pour payer plus.”

jeudi 25 juillet 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian