Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

QARAKERT’S POTHOLED STREETS GET REPAIRED; PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MUST BE COMING FOR VOTES
Grisha Balasanyan

;-president-sargsyan-must-be-coming-for-votes.html
16:14, February 5, 2013

The village of Qarakert, in Armenia’s Armavir Provice, is bustling
with unprecedented activity.

President Sargsyan will make a campaign stop in the tiny community
tomorrow as he swings through Armavir.

In preparation, workers have been seen filling the potholed streets
with red gravel.

When asked if the community was paying for the last minute repairs,
Qarakert Mayor Mher Hartenyan pondered for a moment and then responded,
“No, the road construction company is doing the work. They made
repairs on December 28 as well.”

Local residents say the village is being spruced up just for President
Sargsyan, noting that nothing would be done for another candidate.

Mayor Hartenyan said his community faces a number of problems but
wouldn’t divulge which ones he will broach with the president.

“Come by tomorrow and hear for yourselves,” were his parting words.

From: Baghdasarian

DAYS OF KUWAITI CULTURE TO OPEN IN ARMENIA ON FEB 6

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 5, 20:38

The Days of Kuwaiti Culture will officially open in Armenia on Feb 6.

The press service of the Armenian Culture Ministry reports that the
Days of Kuwaiti Culture will include exhibitions, concerts in Yerevan
and in Gyumri. The Kuwaiti delegation consisting of 40 people will
visit the places of interest of Armenia and the cultural establishments
of the country. The events will last till Feb 10.

The Days of Kuwaiti Culture are being held under the agreement on
cooperation in the sphere of culture for 2011-2013 signed between
Armenia and Kuwait.

From: Baghdasarian

ROSSOTRUDNICHESTVO DELEGATION TO VISIT ARMENIA ON FEB 6-8

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 5, 20:34

A delegation of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent
States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian
Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) will visit Armenia on Feb 6-8.

On Feb 6 the delegation will meet with Russian Ambassador to Armenia
Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Academician Hrant Matevosyan and Director of
Byurakan Observatory Hayk Haroutyunyan.

On Feb 7 the members of the Rossotrudnichestvo delegation will meet
with Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan. The same day they
will attend the opening of the exhibition “Armenians’ participation
in the Patriotic War of 1812-1814” at the Tourism Institute and will
also meet with the authors of innovation projects.

In addition, they will meet with Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament
Hermine Naghdalyan and will hand Rossotrudnichestvo awards to Armenian
MPs for their contribution to development of the Russian language
and Russian culture in Armenia.

The last day of the visit will pass under the slogan “Russian Science
Day”. The delegation will meet with young scientists and President of
the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosyan. They will
also attend a roundtable dedicated to the Russian-Armenian scientific
and technical cooperation.

From: Baghdasarian

NEGATIVE BALANCE OF LAKE SEVAN CONTAINS SEISMIC RISKS

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 5, 20:35

The negative balance of Lake Sevan contains seismic risks, Head of
the Association For Sustainable Human Development Karine Danielyan
told ArmInfo.

By the data of EcoLur NGO, as of 1 Jan 2013 the level of Lake Sevan
was 1900,10 m, which is by 3 cm lower than the index of the previous
year. Danielyan thinks that the negative balance is the result of
last year’s water release. The expert stressed that the changes in the
water level cause ground pressure, which contains seismic risks. She
also pointed out the negative impact of the big water release on the
ecology of the lake, its biodiversity and water composition.

To remind, on 22 June 2012 the Parliament adopted the bill on
increasing the water release from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes
from the former 170 mln to 320 mln cu m. The environmentalists said
that the parliamentary hearings did not take into account the NGOs’
opinion. Thus, the provisions of Aarhus Convention were violated.

Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan also spoke of it.

From: Baghdasarian

ASBAREZ KURDISH LEADER APOLOGIZES TO ARMENIANS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND CALLS ON TURKISH LEADERSHIP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACT

An influential Kurdish leader in Turkey, in an interview published
on Sunday, acknowledged the Kurds’ role in the Armenian Genocide
and apologized to the Armenians on behalf of the Kurdish people,
the Asbarez Newspaper reports.

“Turkish parliament member and the vice-president of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Congress Ahmet Turk said that in 1915 the Kurdish
people had a large role in the torture and massacre of Armenians,
Assyrians and Yezidis and, he as a Kurd, apologized to the Armenian
people on behalf of all Kurds,” the article reads.

Turk, who is also a mediator of talks between the Turkish government
and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan,
urged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to follow suit and
recognize the Gencoide. He explained that the Kurdish population was
used to commit the crimes against Armenians in 1915.

“Our grandfathers and fathers were used in the injustices perpetrated
against Armenians, Assyrians and Yezidis. There’s blood on their
hands. With the blood of these peoples they bloodied their own
hands. Thus, as their children and grandchildren, we apologize,”
said Ahmet Turk.

According to him the Kurds did commit those crimes, but they committed
them against their will. “The Turkish government, instead of denying
it, must also apologizeâ?¦ There is a need for fundamental change
here,?? Turk said.

From: Baghdasarian

VTB BANK (ARMENIA) SINGLED OUT AS TOP-OF-MIND BRAND AMONG ARMENIAN BANKS

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. VTB Bank (Armenia) has been singled out
by the Institute for Political and Sociological Consulting (IPSC)
as the most recognizable brand among Armenian banks

The institute conducts top-of-mind awareness surveys once in every six
months. This is its fourth poll, which was conducted in December 2012
in Yerevan and four large cities of Armenia. Some 1,200 people were
surveyed there. The major part of respondents first pointed out VTB
Bank (Armenia), as it was also in the first half of 2012. As a whole,
the bank improved its top-of-mind result by 5.4%, compared with the
previous survey, and by 3.8% particularly in Yerevan. In provincial
cities the bank~Rs rating rose 7%.

Compared with August 2011, the bank~Rs indicator went 13.5%
up. VTB Bank (Armenia) also won the largest number of good marks
from respondents.

VTB Bank (Armenia) CEO Yuri Gusev said that the bank~Rs leadership
in IPSC surveys proves that its initiatives in offering products,
providing services, reforming its branch network and marketing enhances
public confidence in the bank and gives significant competitive
advantages to it.

Respondents have been chosen at random. All the answers have been
checked by using various methods. Some 46.7% of the data have been
rechecked by IPSC personnel by calling to respondents and visiting
them.

The survey also contains other questions and data, which shows the
degree of public confidence in Armenian banks.

VTB Bank Armenia (Armenian Savings Bank before June 2006) joined VTB
Group in April 2004. VTB, the second largest bank of Russia, holds 100%
of shares of VTB Bank (Armenia). VTB Bank (Armenia) has 67 branches
all over Armenia~Rs territory – the largest branch network in the
country. VTB Bank (Armenia) is reckoned among leaders for general
indicators. -0—

From: Baghdasarian

DETAINED AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITIONIST ILGAR MAMEDOV NOMINATED HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE POST OF PRESIDENT

20:50, 5 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS: The head of REAL (Republican
Alternative) Ilgar Mamedov will be a candidate in the presidential
election this fall, said at a press conference at the Media Centre
the Executive Secretary of the structure Natig Jafarli.

As reports Armenpress, referring to Azerbaijani press, REAL intends
to secure the release from custody of Ilgar Mamedov and start his
election campaign, he said. The Chairman of the Majlis of REAL – Erkin
Gadirli said that the arrests of Yagublu and Mamedov did not differ
from previous arrests of the opposition, as part of general repression.

“The suppression of the protests of the population is accompanied
by violence, but citizens do not have fear. Therefore, the arrest
of Mamedov and Yagublu are losing importance and no one is afraid,”
he said. Soon REAL will announce its electoral program and urge
the Council of Europe, OSCE, EU and the European Parliament not to
participate in the political games in Azerbaijan and not to turn the
election into a subject of trade.

He confirmed that REAL will nominate Ilgar Mammadov a presidential
candidate.

Another member of the public organization – Altai Geyushev noted
that arrest of Ilgar Mamedov was expected. “We are not afraid of
these processes and will soon make public our plan in the current
environment,” he said.

According to the expert Zohrab Ismail, the arrest of Mamedov and
Yagublu aims to divert public attention from the events in Ismayilli.

“We will be prepared for serious protest on political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience,” said Ismail. Representatives of the party
Musavat, Tural Abbasli, and Umid, Anvar Aghazadeh feel the need to
join forces for the release of those arrested and in joint protest.

They condemned the aggression of the authorities during the recent
protests, including the use of rubber bullets and tear gas.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN AIR FORCE TO RECEIVE 48 IL-476 HEAVY TRANSPORT PLANES

February 5, 2013 – 21:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Russian Air Force’s Military Transport Aviation
(MTA) will receive a total of 48 Ilyushin Il-476 heavy transport
planes by 2020, rather than the previously stated 39, its commander
Col. Gen. Vladimir Benediktov said, according to RIA Novosti.

The Russian Defense Ministry said last October it had signed a
contract worth about 140 billion rubles ($4 billion) with Russia’s
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the delivery of 39 Il-476 planes
by 2020.

“The MTA will receive its first series-produced [Il-476] planes by
2014, and a total of 48 by 2020,” Benediktov said.

The Il-476, (also known as the Il-76-MD-90A) is a significantly
modernized variant of the Il-76 Candid transport plane, featuring
a fully-digital flight control system, new avionics and PS-90A-76
engines with improved fuel efficiency systems.

A prototype of the plane carried out a maiden flight from the Aviastar
plant in Ulyanovsk in September and will undergo a comprehensive test
program for another year.

The Russian military has not received significant numbers of new
large transport planes in the past 20 years.

From: Baghdasarian

FOOTBALL BETTERS CONFIDENT OF ARMENIA’S VICTORY OVER LUXEMBURG

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. World bookmaker offices are confident
that Armenian national team will win over Luxemburg in today’s
friendly match.

For instance, prestigious British William Hill takes Armenia’s victory
with a coefficient of 1.53, the drawn 3.8, and Luxemburg’s victory
with 6.5. Bwin experts accept odds of Armenia winning at 1.53, drawn
at 3.9 and Luxemburg’s victory at 6.25.

Experts of Russian “Marafon” and Armenia “Vivaro” betting offices are
even more confident that Armenian national teams will win. “Marafon”
ratios are 1.49, 4.33 and 7.2 and “Vivaro” ratios are 1.48, 3.8 and
7 respectively.

The friendly between Armenia and Luxemburg will take place at the
stadium after Georges Pompidou in French Valence Tuesday, 22:45. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN OPPOSES LEASING ARMENIA’S GRAZING LANDS TO IRAN

NEWS.AM
February 05, 2013 | 17:25

YEREVAN. – The documents between Armenia’s Syunik Region and Iran’s
East Azerbaijan Province, and with respect to leasing Syunik’s grazing
lands to Iran, are prepared with uneducated formulations. Opposition
ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party National Assembly (NA) Faction Secretary
Aghvan Vardanyan stated this Tuesday at NA.

In his words, such self-activity by regional authorities is improper,
and it does not factor in the social and environmental consequences.

To note, pursuant to these documents that are publicized in the press,
52,000 hectares of grazing lands in Syunik Region will be leased to
Iranian companies for 5-10 years, and at $25/h.

From: Baghdasarian