Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

HRANT MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: SHOOTING DOWN CIVILIAN PLANES WOULD MEAN DECLARING WAR
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
16:29 30.01.2013

“The meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers
with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Paris was of working nature,
political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference
today. According to him, the meeting was important, as reference was
made to the issue of exploitation of the Stepanakert Airport.

Last year’s events deadlocked the negotiation process on the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict, it is obvious that the political solution
of the issue is impossible at this point, that is why the mediators
laid the main emphasis on humanitarian issues during the meeting in
Paris, Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

The political scientist attaches particular importance to the
discussion of the issue of the Stepanakert Airport. “Judging from the
fact that President Serzh Sargsyan declared the day after the meeting
that the Stepanakert Airport will be exploited in the near future,
one can conclude that progress on the issue has been reached at the
meeting. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs also referred to the issue
in their statement,” Melik-Shanhazaryan said.

“It’s not only Armenia that wants security. The predictability of our
region is important to the US and Russia. In this respect the position
of Armenia goes in line with that of the international community.

Purely technical solutions are needed here to pressure Azerbaijan. I
think some mechanisms have been found, otherwise the President would
not make the statement, especially in this pre-election period,”
the expert said.

Actually, hitting a civilian aircraft would mean declaring war on the
two Armenian states, but the political scientist considers Azerbaijan
is not ready for that.

“I’m more than confident that official Baku will not take that step.

If it was really ready for war, it would not wait for the exploitation
of the airport and would use other opportunities. Therefore, these
statements should be treated as mere populism aimed at solving domestic
problems,” Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

The political scientist does not expect any progress in the
negotiation process in 2013. The talks will be less intensive connected
with the elections expected in both countries. According to Hrant
Melik-Shahnazaryan, the Minks Group Co-Chairs face a serious task of
maintaining the negotiation format in the dangerous year of 2013. The
Paris meeting was a step in that direction, he said.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN STANCE: TO AND FRO
Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

16:12 30/01/2013

As is known, on 30 January 2013 the Russia-based Nezavisimaya Gazeta
published an interesting article the author of which admits the
mistake of supplying S300 to Azerbaijan. In addition, Lieutenant
General Leonid Ivashov is quoted, “Sale of Favorite modern air
defense complexes to Azerbaijan instead of Iran is a political or
rather geopolitical miscalculation by Dmitri Medvedev. We lost a
lot by reaching agreement and signing New Start with Washington, the
international agreements on the northern seas are not fully in line
with our interests. Assisted by the ex-minister of defense Anatoly
Serdyukov, Medvedev authorized the signing of agreement with Israel on
reconnaissance data exchange. All these agreements are very difficult
to revoke, including with Azerbaijan which boosts its military budget
and carries out actions which are contrary to the interests of Russia
and its allies,” the president of the academy of geopolitical issues,
Colonel General Leonid Ivashov thinks.

It should be noted that in late November 2012 the same Lieutenant
General Leonid Ivashov told me in his office in Moscow in answer to my
question on his opinion on the supply of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan,
“Quite normal.”I wrote about it without mentioning L.

Ivashov. In addition, the general insisted on his position and
arguments. Perhaps he meant weapons other than air defense. But this
is a suggestion which the Armenian “advocates” of the dual Russian
policy could give.

The Russian policy of arms export will affect its own security. For
the time being, it would be good to answer the question whether Israel
used Russian technology in production of arms supplied to Azerbaijan
and whether Russia is aware of this. It would be good to hear the
opinion of the Armenian “advocates” of all kinds of pro-Eurasian,
pro-governmental and anti-governmental riffraff who work their asses
off to become Russian prostitutes.

From: Baghdasarian

LT. GENERAL NETKACHEV FINDS THAT STRENGTHENING OF ARMENIAN ARMY POTENTIAL WILL SECURE STABILITY IN REGION

14:10, 30 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Finally Russia has turned its face
towards its main strategic partner in South Caucasus – Armenia. The
strengthening of Armenian Army potential is a safeguard of the
stability in the region. Lieutenant-General Yuri Netkachev stated this
in a conversation with “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” and underscored that
this serves to restrain Azerbaijan, which wants to give a military
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Lt. General Netkachev
noted: “It was a political miscalculation of the Russian side to sell
“Favorite” Anti-Air Defense systems to Azerbaijan instead of Iran. To
be more correct we can call it a “geopolitical mistake”. Azerbaijan is
increasing the military budget and this contradicts the interests of
Russia and its partners.” Lt. General Netkachev has been the deputy
commander of the Russian army in the South Caucasus more than five
years.

As reports “Armenpress” among other things “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”
states that Moscow is seriously concerned about the Baku statements
in accordance with which the Azerbaijani anti air defense forces have
been commanded to attack the civil aircrafts “in the Azerbaijani air
space”. The newspaper notes: “That country considers the heaven of
Nagorno Karabakh to be its own air space.” In the Russian expert’s
opinion such position may cause war.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLERS WIN 7 MEDALS AT THOR MASTERS 2013

January 30, 2013 – 14:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Greco-Roman wrestling team won 7 medals
at Thor Masters 2013 Denmark-hosted international tournament, to gain
team leadership of the event.

Sasun Ghambaryan, Artur Shahinyan, European champion and London
Olympics bronze winner Artur Aleksanyan won gold, with Tigran Torosyan,
Sargis Tonoyan, Aram Julfalakyan and Maksim Manukayn scoring 2 silver
and 2 bronze medals respectively.

The team will hold a practice session February 3, with 24 young
wrestlers invited to participate.

From: Baghdasarian

SOUTH CAUCASIAN RAILWAY GIVES FINANCIAL AID TO FAMILIES OF KILLED AND INJURED IN BRIDGE COLLAPSE AT SHORZHA-VARDENIS

YEREVAN, January 30. /ARKA/. The South Caucasian Railway cjsc provided
financial support to the families of the killed and the injured in
the bridge collapse at Shorzha-Vardenis railway section, the company’s
press service reported.

The South Caucasian Railway is a socially oriented company and helps
its employees and their families on delightful and sad occasions,
according to the press service.

The accident occurred during the construction works in November last
year killed three employees of the company – Nerses Martorisoyan,
Gagik Avetisyan and Varuzhan Sargsyan. Another two railwaymen, Argam
Antonyan and Robert Hambartsumyan, were injured.

The company allocated over 7 million drams for organizing funeral
ceremonies. Each family received financial help worth 5 times the
minimum wage, says the report.

Under an instruction from the company’s general director Victor Rebets,
the son of the killed Nerses Martirosyan who is a third-year student
at the Yerevan Engineering University transport department is employed
at Sevan section where his father worked. The company will also pay for
the education of Martirosyan the Younger under the corporate contract.

The South Caucasian Railway is paying the treatment costs for the
injured in the bridge collapse. A total of about 700,000drams was
provided to Argam Harutiunyan and Robert Hambartsumyan for surgeries.

The company’s staff suggested deductions from their wages and a total
of 3,800,000drams were collected as a result.

All this has been done to create a high level of social responsibility
and to ensure stable performance, according to the report.

The South Caucasus Railway cjsc is a 100% subsidiary of Russian
Railways open joint stock company that is operating Armenian railways
under a 30-year concession contract signed in 2008. The contract can
be extended for another 10 years. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

PRICES FOR MEAT TO GO UP IN SPRING – EXPERT

TERT.AM
13:14 ~U 30.01.13

The prices for meat have gone down and will continue going down
because of mass slaughter, chairman of the Agrarian Rural Union NGO
Hrach Berberyan told the reporters on Wednesday. He said the reason
of it is the lack of animal feedstuff.

“In spring, when the grass appears, the slaughter will be stopped and
the prices for meat will sharply grow. One package of feedstuff is
being sold now by 2,500-3,000 drams which is twice more as compared
with the past year,” he said.

Hrach Berberyan also referred to the issue on giving the Syunik
provinces’ pastures to neighbor Iran for rent.

“The issue is not in giving them it for rent, and the erosion they
may cause which, of course, is very bad. The pastures should belong
to the country it has but it is necessary to use them,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

“WE CARRY OUT THE WORKS WITHIN THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE”

Monday, 28 January 2013 09:56
The Minister of Agriculture summarized the year of 2012

Last week, NKR Minister of Agriculture Andranik Khachatrian summarized
the year of 2012. At a meeting with journalists, he presented the
situation, the tasks and problems in the sphere.

Speaking of the strategic importance of the agrarian sector, Mr.

Khachatrian focused on the necessity of ensuring food-
self-sufficiency, development and consolidation of rural settlements.

Noting that for the last 5 years the agrarian sphere had provided 13.4%
of GDP and in January-September of 2012 it made 14.7%, he said that
the index was expected to increase within a year.

Beginning from 2008, the amount of funds allocated from the state
budget for the agrarian sector was increasing day by day and in
2012 it made 2949.6 million drams, exceeding the annual average of
2006-2007 more than 8 times.

According to the land balance, Nagorno-Karabakh has 124878.5 hectares
of arable land, which makes 21% of the agricultural land. The ministry
is aimed at the efficient use of land resources, improvement of land
use and crop production, and increase of crop yields. The minister
briefed on the harvest gathered in the republic, noting the reasons
of its increase or decrease in different years.

The highest rate of wheat yield (except the Shahumian region – 23.2
q / ha) was achieved in Hadrut region – 19.7 q / ha and the lowest –
the in Martakert region, making 11 q / ha. In the Martakert region,
the yield of barley was also low.

According to the minister, thanks to the efficient work of the
republican operational headquarters, in 2012, they managed to gather
wheat harvest with almost no loss. The conversation related also to
the mechanisms of providing land users with seeds of spring crops
and agricultural chemicals, to the measures taken by the ministry
for reducing the size of the damage caused to the fields by natural
disasters and improper implementation of the rules of agricultural
machinery.

The recent studies have testified that the most part of production
in the GDP structure makes livestock. Emphasizing the importance of
balanced development of the branches, Mr. Khachatrian noted that the
government was consistent in increasing the efficiency of livestock.

“It can be only noted that in 2012, 1665 million AMD was directed to
crediting various livestock sectors”, he said.

As of January 1, compared with the last year, increase in the number
of all animals was fixed, except for birds, due to the increase in
their slaughtering at the end of the year.

“The year of 2012 was also favorable in terms of maintaining a stable
anti-epidemic situation”, the minister said. “During the year,
there was no outbreak of dangerous diseases in the republic. In
the reporting year, corresponding vaccine at 25.2 million AMD was
imported from the Russian Federation, and the RA provided vaccine at
27.7 million AMD as assistance”, he noted.

Among the achievements of 2012 Mr. Khachatrian noted the opening of
the official website of the ministry, establishment of cooperation
with other countries, improvement of the veterinary services, etc.

However, much is still to be done, and in the coming years, the
ministry will try to maintain and develop the stable growth rates of
the year of 2012.

The journalists touched upon the problems in the meat market, in
particular, related to the sale of meat in several villages and the
lack of control over the quality of the imported meat products.

As for the control, Mr. Khachatrian noted that the country almost
lacked a system of ensuring food security, and the ministry of
agriculture was taking corresponding steps to fill this gap. In
addition, since September 2012, meat import from Armenia has been
prohibited for security reasons. It is, in particular, due to the
registered cases of anthrax. As for the restrictions on selling meat
from the villages at the Stepanakert market, the minister does not
consider the issue urgent, especially that the meat factory is put
into operation. The issue will be fully resolved with the opening
of a meat processing enterprise, and the ministry has already got
corresponding plans.

The journalists raised the issue of the necessity to introduce
corresponding changes in the crediting mechanism implemented by the
Fund for Rural and Agricultural Support for reimbursing the damage
caused by natural disasters, as the operating mechanisms often benefit
only the officials, making business in the agricultural sphere,
and not the common land users.

In response, the minister noted that the reimbursement was often
given in the form of prolonging the term of the credits’ repayment
and not as financial assistance. And it is normal, especially that
no insurance system is operating in agriculture yet. By the way,
the ministry of agriculture is working in this direction, and pilot
insurance will be introduced in some branches soon.

Why are so much funds allocated, and the works are done poorly?

Answering the question, A. Khachatrian noted that the works were
carried out within the resources available, but in general, they
were insufficient. “Just for fertilizing the lands, 6 or 7 billion
AMD are needed, while only 400-500 million AMD are allocated, or
about 10 times less. 80% of the registered agricultural equipment
is worn, causing violation of the agricultural rules and the terms
of agricultural works. To renew the fleet, about 20 billion AMD are
needed. And so is in all directions”, the minister said.

When will the NKR become self-sufficient in terms of food? According
to Andranik Khachatrian, for some products – wheat, eggs, poultry, and
in part the dairy products – the republic is already self-sufficient.

The ministry is currently elaborating a concept of food security,
as a result of which many issues will get their solution.

At the request of the journalists, the minister told in details about
the sub-regional programs. As we know, they have been carried out
only in Banadzor and Ukhtadzor so far. Similar programs will be also
carried out in the Togh sub-region (Hadrut region) Khramort sub-region
(8 communities of the Askeran region), 10 communities of the Martuni
region (Nor shen, Kaghartsi, etc).

The minister pays great importance in the implementation of all
these works and provision of good results to consultations and
consolidation of the relation “ministry – peasant – land user –
farmer”. Here he finds it necessary to stimulate the process by
increasing the salaries of agronomists and veterinarians working in
the field. A slight increase has taken place, and it will be periodic,
assured the minister of agriculture.

Srbuhi VANIAN

From: Baghdasarian

GYUMRI’S NEGLECTED: WITH 7 YOUNG KIDS, THE OHANYAN’S STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

11:03, January 30, 2013

The following video shows how Hayk and Margarita Ohanyan are surviving
with their seven young children on the outskirts of Gyumri.

The parents do not work and survive on social assistance from the
government. The fuel they burn during the winter months comes from a
local garbage dump.

Shirak Center staffers came across the Ohanyan family when they were
distributing assistance provided by Aram Mikayelyan from Australia and
Elvis Madatyan from America.

Workers at the Shirak Center make daily visits to needy families
living in trailers and dilapidated buildings in Gyumri and the local
vicinity. They have met many large families like the Ohanyans whose
only income is government assistance.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PILOT OF ALMATY AIR CRASH IS KAZAKHSTAN CITIZEN

11:17, 30 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian nationality pilot of civil
plane fell near Kyziltu village, Almaty region was found out to be
Kazakhstan citizen. For clarifying information Crisis Management
Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of
Armenia established a connection with Kazakhstan relevant Center,
resultedly it became clear there was an Armenian in the plane crew ,
Kazakhstan citizen Svyatoslav Babayan, Ministry of Emergency Situations
informed Armenpress. “Challenge -200” civil aircraft launching Almaty
Kokshetau flight fell near the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan on January
29, 13: 13 local time. The total number of casualties reached 21,
including five members of the crew.

From: Baghdasarian

PHILLIPE KALTENBACH : SEVRES 2015 INSTITUTIONNALISERA LA CONTRIBUTION ARMENIENNE A LA CULTURE FRANCAISE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 30 janvier 2013

Philippe Kaltenbach a accompagne une delegation de parlementaires
armeniens sur le site du Collège Samuel Moorat de Sèvres, lieu
d’implantation du futur Memorial armenien du Grand Paris. Ils ont
ete accueillis par les deux Vice-presidents de Sèvres 2015, le père
Bezdikian et M. Robert Aydabirian ainsi que par son Secretaire general,
M. Leon Papazian.

La delegation parlementaire armenienne etait composee de M. Ara
Babloyan, President de la commission de la sante, de la maternite et
de l’enfance, de Mme Naira Zohrabian, Presidente de la commission
des questions d’integration europeenne, de Mme Margarit Yesayan,
Vice-presidente de la commission de la defense des droits de l’Homme
et des questions societales, de M. Mher Shahgeldyan, de M. Mnatsakan
Mnatsakanyan et de Mme Alice Martyrossian, Conseillère a la direction
des relations internationales et Secretaire du groupe d’amitie,
accompagnee de M. Vahagn Atabekian, representant de l’Ambassade
d’Armenie en France.

” Sèvres 2015 est un projet que je connais, que je soutiens
totalement et que j’appelle de mes v~ux ” a declare Philippe
Kaltenbach, ” il pourra contribuer au dialogue franco-armenien mais il
institutionnalisera surtout la contribution armenienne a la Republique
et a la culture francaise. C’est un projet que, me semble-t-il, la
France et toutes les structures armeniennes de France se doivent de
soutenir ” a-t-il ajoute.

Le Père Bezdikian, Vice-president de l’Association Sèvres 2015,
a preside la visite du site de Sèvres en expliquant son histoire et
celle de la Congregation des pères Mekhitaristes. Les membres de la
delegation ont decouvert l’importance du site et son potentiel sans
equivalent. ” Cette institution appartient a la communaute armenienne,
il est important qu’elle soit preservee mais aussi que son patrimoine
unique serve de base a l’edification d’un memorial qui sera source du
rayonnement de la culture armenienne en general et de son impact en
France en particulier ” a precise le père Bezdikian. ” En ce sens,
l’equilibre du projet implique que les pouvoirs publics s’engagent
comme le fait la communaute armenienne a travers la Congregation ”
a ajoute M. Robert Aydabirian.

MM. Robert Aydabirian et Leon Papazian ont expose le projet de
manière detaillee au cours d’un dialogue ouvert et anime, suscitant
des questions et des commentaires de la part de la delegation
parlementaire.

M. Ara Babloyan, a souligne, en tant que co-president du groupe
d’amitie Armenie-France, l’importance de la cooperation entre
les Etats francais et armenien en insistant sur le fait que les
Francais d’origine armenienne constituent un atout evident pour le
developpement de cette cooperation comme pour la prosperite de la
France. ” Nous sommes très fiers de la contribution des Francais
d’origine armenienne a la richesse culturelle et economique de la
France et Sèvres 2015 ne pourra que renforcer nos liens et cette
contribution ” a affirme Ara Babloyan.

mercredi 30 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian