Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

IRANIAN TRUCK DRIVER DIES ON ARMENIAN REGIONAL HIGHWAY

news.am
December 25, 2012 | 15:41

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Rescue Service received a call, on Monday at
9:49pm, informing that a truck had blocked a road section in Syunik
Region of the Sisian city-Yerevan city motorway.

A fire and rescue squad was dispatched to the scene, the Rescue
Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

They found out that a Volvo-model truck had skidded, tilted toward the
width of the road, and caused a traffic jam. Also, its driver-Iranian
citizen Ahmad Yesmayeli Rohuollah, 47-was hit by an IZH 27175-model
car, while he was getting out of the truck, and he lost his life on
the spot.

The fire and rescue squad straighten the truck, but solely one-way
traffic was restored.

From: Baghdasarian

TWO ARMENIAN CHESS-PLAYERS WON AT METROPOLITAN TOURNAMENT

Two Armenian chess players – 12-year-old Samuel Sevian and GM Melikset
Khachiyan (USA) scored 6 points each out of 9 and shared 1st-2nd places
at the 23rd Metropolitan tournament that was held in Los Angeles,
USA. Armchess.am informs about this

Sevian exceeded the International Master norm by 1,5 points fulfilling
it for the third time. Samuel was lacking of only half a point for
the Grandmaster norm.

25.12.12, 16:58

From: Baghdasarian

40 MILLION DOLLARS FROM KUWAIT TO SYRIAN ARMENIANS

Story from Lragir.am News:

15:53 25/12/2012

On December 26 the Ambassador of Kuwait to Armenia will hand a
certificate of 40 million dollars from the Republic of Kuwait to the
Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO at the Ministry
of Diaspora. This donation is assistance for the Syrian Armenia.

Syrian Armenians will receive tickets to buy food.

From: Baghdasarian

HELSINKI CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY VANADZOR OFFICE ISSUES STATEMENT ON CONSCRIPTS’ HEALTH PROBLEMS

tert.am
26.12.12

The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office issued a statement
indicating that conscripts cannot appeal the results of their medical
examination.

On December 14, 2012, the parent of conscript G. Veranyan informed
the office of their problem. The office applied to Armenia’s Ministry
of Health. However, the Ministry of Defense is still examining the
written application. The conscript has been summoned to the Vanadzor
military enlistment office for several days. His parents, however,
strongly disagree with the results of his medical examination.

G. Veranyan has had serious health problems since childhood,
particularly heart problems, which become acuter in wintertime.

G. Veranyan has been on deferment because his health problems and
has not undergone medical examinations.

The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office has repeatedly
indicated that conscripts or their parents are unable to appeal
medical examination results. Moreover, the unhealthy conscripts are
not properly treated, which causes even more serious problems.

The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office demands that Armenia’s
Ministry of Defense ensure through and unbiased medical re-examination
of conscripts with health problems. Otherwise, the Ministry of Defense
will bear the responsibility for their further health problems.

From: Baghdasarian

1/3 OF PATIENTS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN MARZES COME TO YEREVAN FOR TREATMENT

Wednesday 26 December 2012 13:57

Yerevan/Mediamax/. According to the data of the Armenian Ministry of
Health,1 /3 of patients and pregnant women in marzes come to Yerevan
for treatment.

Armenian Minister of Health Derenik Dumanyan said this during the
final press conference today, Mediamax reports.

According to the Minister, a number of medical institutions have been
repaired and built over 2012. In 2013, medical centers of Alaverdi,
Abovyan and Berd are expected to be modernized. “In order for the
patients not to go to Yerevan, the repaired and newly-constructed
medical centers are not sufficient, marzes should be provided with
specialists”, he said.

Derenik Dumanyan noted that as of now, there are 259 medical vacancies
. Over the past period, 25 graduates were sent to marzes to this end.

Besides, 15 Syrian Armenian doctors were provided with job and the
half of them was also sent to the marzes.

Touching upon the further plans, the Minister said that in 2013,
salary raise will be one of the priority tasks. Minimum salary will
be set for each specialization of the healthcare system and besides,
a bonus system will be worked out for these specialists. In 2013,
the salary of associates of outpatients’ clinics and polyclinics will
be increased by 10%.

From: Baghdasarian

STATE DEBATE: ARMENIA, NEIGHBORS PONDER KERRY’S NOMINATION
By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
Society | 24.12.12 | 15:46

The nomination of John Kerry, chairman of the US Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, as the Secretary of State has stirred
discussion in the South Caucasus. Azeri political analysts predict
that the assumption of such a high post by the senator known for
his pro-Armenian activities would increase “anti-Azeri” sentiments,
while in Armenia hopes aren’t high for such developments.

On December 21, president Barrack Obama nominated Senator Kerry for
the country’s top diplomatic post, stressing that the Vietnam war
veteran and presidential candidate of 2004 is a “perfect choice to
guide American diplomacy.”

The 69-year-old senator from the State of Massachusetts with a
large Armenian community, back in the 90s co-authored the Article
907 restricting non-humanitarian US aid to Azerbaijan “for as long
as it keeps Armenia in a blockade”.

Kerry actively supported the Armenian Genocide recognition bill, with
periodical statements that Turkey has to face its historic mistakes.

On September 5, Kerry said in reference to Azeri murderer Ramil
Safarov’s pardon and release, that he was “shocked and appalled” and
that “this needlessly provocative act endangers the fragile peace
between these countries and damages the government of Azerbaijan’s
credibility”.

The Armenian Cause office welcomed Kerry’s possible appointment,
stressing that the senator has “supported the Armenian community of
America for around three decades in the matters of the US foreign
policy”.

Turkey has welcomed Kerry’s candidacy despite his role of an Armenian
Genocide recognition advocate. Turkish Zaman reports that foreign
minister Ahmed Davutoglu has sent a congratulatory letter. The
newspaper explains that Turkey would consider it most unfortunate if
the other candidate – U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice had been confirmed.

(The ambassador withdrew her nomination under harsh scrutiny by
the Senate.)

Neighbouring Azerbaijan has started pessimistic predictions, as
vesti.az newspaper reports, that “if Kerry becomes Secretary of
State, Azerbaijan would have to resist also America’s pressure in
the negotiation process over the Karabakh conflict”.

Vesti.az cited Azeri political analyst Rizvan Huseynov, who said that
“Kerry’s activities will lead to an enhanced Russian factor in the
Karabakh issue”, because “the United States would want to ‘trade’
with Russia and in exchange for concessions in the South Caucasian
issues get support with Iran and Syria”.

Political analyst Rovshan Ibragimov has concerns that “personal
fondness of such an elite, top political figure might have an influence
on the country’s foreign policy”.

Giro Manoyan, heading the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau’s
Armenian Cause Office, also believes that Kerry’s “purely personal
attitude towards Armenians might have a certain impact on politics”.

However, Caucasus Institute director Sergey Minasyan believes that
Kerry’s nomination “will not be crucial”, because “after assuming
such a post personal preferences are usually sidelined”.

“At first sight it’s a desirable for us nomination, however any
high-ranking official follows the policy outlined by his/her country
administration. True, a favorable for Armenia atmosphere might be
formed, and the Azeri leadership might experience a certain sense
of restriction, but it can’t play a crucial role,” Minasyan told
ArmeniaNow.

Should Kerry’s appointment as Secretary of State be confirmed, the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman’s position would likely
be given to another pro-Armenian senator, Robert Menendez.

From: Baghdasarian

KOCHARYAN’S DECISION
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

22:14 24/12/2012

First everyone was waiting for Gagik Tsarukyan’s decision regarding
the presidential election. Now everyone is waiting for Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s decision on the presidential election. In fact, it
is not important and has never been. It is important to know what
Robert Kocharyan will decide not only on the presidential election
but also on his further role in politics.

Nobody is waiting for Kocharyan’s decision but it would at least
be worth waiting because Tsarukyan’s and especially Ter-Petrosyan’s
decisions are not needed by anyone any more.

Robert Kocharyan again won Ter-Petrosyan, this time not by force but
by chess, by sitting, planning and maybe also wiretapping.

Now all Ter-Petrosyan can do is to justify his likelihood for
cooperation with Kocharyan by lectures on pragmatism being beyond
values and ideas.

If this is so, it is a myth that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is the most
pragmatic person in Armenia. He cannot compare to Kocharyan. Kocharyan
only needed to have Ter-Petrosyan step out of the field of values and
ideas where Ter-Petrosyan had a short-term advantage almost burying
Kocharyan’s political future.

The second president was able to stand up and gradually push
Ter-Petrosyan out of the field of values and ideas. In addition, it was
not difficult for Kocharyan because Ter-Petrosyan was already starting
to feel uneasy in the field of ideas and values and was already missing
pragmatism. Moreover, further developments indicated that Ter-Petrosyan
had chosen the field of values and ideas as a tool, not as a belief.

Therefore, it took only one step from joke to cooperation with
Kocharyan.

Having brought him to the field of pragmatism, Kocharyan was able to
defeat him without any effort, by his nature. Hence, he got rid of his
“blood ally”.

Now neither Ter-Petrosyan’s nor Robert Kocharyan’s decision is
important in terms of political development. All he can do is to enter
into the game during or after the election. After the election is more
possible because Kocharyan nevertheless has very serious problems. He
is deprived of the option of force majeure, Serzh Sargsyan has an
international “authorization” to do it with the help of the army
“legitimately”.

Hence, it is meaningless for Robert Kocharyan to take part in the
presidential election because he does not have sufficient resource
to impose any result on Serzh Sargsyan. Although it is obvious that
Serzh Sargsyan has an international authorization to use force,
and most probably it is for a long term, Kocharyan may think about
imparting the process with some force majeure notes, not personally
but by means of Ter-Petrosyan, pushing him to run in the election.

If Ter-Petrosyan does not do that, Kocharyan’s decision will most
probably be postponed because he needs to realign his resource, make
an inventory, as he likes to describe it. Kocharyan will either take
the PAP which will imply some agreement with Serzh Sargsyan or will
set up a new force preventing Serzh Sargsyan from doing it himself to
stage the transfer of power in 2017-2018. Kocharyan needs to remain an
influential factor in the next five years. It is one thing when Serzh
Sargsyan is reelected, and another thing when he has to pass power.

There is more jealousy in the government and Kocharyan gets more
opportunities for maneuver.

From: Baghdasarian

SYRIAN ARMENIANS TO GET HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR FREE

19:16, 24 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: About 6000 Syrian Armenians are
currently in Armenia, which means about 2000 families. Armenpress
reports this was noted by Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan during December 24 meeting with journalists.

In her words there are about 220 Syrian Armenian students in our
universities and 695 children is schools and kindergartens.

700 Syrian Armenians needed work half of which have been already
provided with it by Ministry. There are 30 Syrian Armenians daily
visiting Ministry of Diaspora to get some consultations on different
issues.

Hranush Hakobyan stated that thanks to decision of Armenian laws and
government issues concerning visa regime, free education in schools
and kindergartens, as well as university tuition fees compensation
issues had been solved.

“Syrian Armenians have mostly applied in connection with educational,
health, job and other issues. This year with the government’s decision
issues connected with visas have been solved. About 100 people have
been accommodated in hostels, 20 families in the houses of Armenians
without rent fees,” she said. Hranush Hakobyan also stressed that on
the initiative of the ministry gathering-consultations were organized
for Syrian-Armenians looking for jobs. AGBU also allocated a sum of
money for solving the rent issue of 300 families.

Classes have also been conducted together with the Armenian Development
Agency and Armenia’s Small and Medium-Sized Business Development
Center for Syrian-Armenian start-up businessmen.

Presenting their business plan at the end of the classes they will
have an opportunity to get AMD 3-5 million loan with 5% interest rate.

Hranush Hakobyan also noted that about 450 Syrian Armenian children
spent their holidays in Armenia during summer 2012.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI EXPERT CONSIDERS STRASSER’S REPORT ON POLITICAL PRISONERS TO BE OBJECTIVE

21:43, 24 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Report of the PACE rapporteur on
political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Christoph Strasser, to be submitted
to PACE January session, fully reflects the reality. Persons included
in his list, fully meet the definition of “political prisoner”,
said the Director of Media Rights Institute (MRI), Rashid Hajili,
commenting on the report.

According to him, they only have to make technical changes to the lists
of political prisoners, by excluding the names of the released, and
adding new names, reports Armenpress referring to “Turan” news agency.

Hajili stressed that Strasser made his report based on information
from many local and international human rights organizations.

Commenting on the criticism of the report Strasser by the Azerbaijani
authorities, and that he made the list not having been in place, Hajili
said that the responsibility for this bear the authorities. He reminded
that in 2009, the Azerbaijani authorities do not give Strasser visa to
fulfill his mission. Later official Baku agreed to accept Strasser only
for discussions on the criteria for the term “political prisoner.” At
the same time, they objected the collection of the facts relating to
specific individuals.

Hajili expressed surprise at the harsh criticism of the report
Strasser and his accusation of bias by the head of the Azerbaijani
delegation. Better the Azeri side brought arguments on specific facts.

Blanket criticism by Strasser and his accusation of bias is not
justified, and does not meet the parliamentary ethics. All it means
unwillingness by authorities to have a dialogue, said Hajili.

After the report of the Assembly, it is no longer be the position of
Strasser, and will reflect the will of the PACE. Further ignoring the
position of international organizations, will do damage to the image
of the government in an election year. Therefore, the authorities
would have to release a significant number of persons from the list
of Strasser, said Hajili.

There are 85 people in the list of Strasser, and 27 of them have
already been released. According to the Institute of Peace and
Democracy in Azerbaijan, there are more than 60 political prisoners.

The monitoring group of human rights organizations of Azerbaijan
mentioned 10 political prisoners, and authorities say that there are
not political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

IRANIAN DEPUTY FM TO VISIT YEREVAN TODAY

18:34 | 2012-12-24

Foriegn Policy

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Oceania
Seyed Abbas Araqchi is due to travel to Yerevan on Monday afternoon to
attend a meeting of Iran-Armenia Political Consultative Committee.

The meeting will be held in Yerevan tonight and tomorrow.

During the visit, Araqchi will also hold bilateral meetings with
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and the country’s Energy
and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian to discuss ways to
further expand the relations between the two countries and exchange
views over regional and international developments.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have boosted
cooperation a wide array of grounds. Only in the last two years, the
two states have signed several agreements on energy cooperation and
agreed to cooperate in technology and research and enhance ties in
commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart
pledged in December 2011 to further expand “high-level relations”
between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the
implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind
schedule.

In early October, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his
Armenian counterpart met at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss
bilateral ties and regional and international issues.

In a relevant event in June, a senior Iranian official announced Iran
and Armenia’s plans to establish a joint free trade zone.

Caretaker of Aras Free Trade Zone Sadeq Najafi made the remarks in a
meeting with the governor-general of Sionik province, during which the
two sides inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in
investment, trade and environmental sectors.

“In this MoU, it was agreed that an Iranian-Armenian free trade zone
will be established for joint investment by Aras Free Trade Zone and
Sionik province,” Najafi said.

The two sides also agreed to create a joint border market at Nordouz
border which is located within the boundaries of Aras Free Trade Zone,
he added.

From: Baghdasarian