Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 19 2012

Armenia concludes CSTO training

The Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) of the CSTO have started
the final stage of the Vzaimodeystviye-2012 military drills at the
Marshal Bagramyan Range in the Armavir Region of Armenia, RIA Novosti
reports.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai
Bordyuzha, Armenian and Russian Defense Ministers Seyran Oganyan and
Anatoly Serdyukov, heads of diplomatic missions of Armenia, UN and
OSCE observers are attending the drills.

The military drills started on September 15 with about 2,500 soldiers
of Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan taking part. The
International Red Cross Committee attends the drills. Kyrgyzstan is
not involved in the process. Tajikistan sent observers. About 500
vehicles, 50 artillery guns, 200 cars, 1500 small arms and drones were
mobilized.

Major-General Anatoly Yakovlev, Commander of the CSTO Joint Staff,
said that Armenia was split into three territories, according to the
scenario. The CSTO forces practice protection of the Caucasus Region.
The final stage will focus on counter-terrorism operations.

From: Baghdasarian

V. Gaspari demands AMD 850.000 in compensation

07:48 pm | September 19, 2012 | Politics

Opposition activist Vardges Gaspari does not view the new appointment
of Nikol Pashinyan, a lawmaker of the Armenian National Congress
(HAK), as a guarantee for a fair decision to be brought in his case.

Nikol Pashinyan has been appointed Chairman of the Ethics Committee of
the National Assembly which is to study on Sept. 24 a complaint filed
by Vardges Gaspari against Republican MP Samvel Alexanyan. Mr. Gaspari
says he does not have great expectations from the Committee.

Gaspari lodged the complaint following a June 21 incident outside the
NA building during which the Republican MP seized the poster Gaspari
was holding. Later, Alexanyan’s bodyguard knocked Gaspari down at the
NA entrance.

Vardges Gaspari says Nikol Pashinyan cannot influence the decision
which is to be determined by vote.
The Committee includes Nikol Pashinyan (HAK), Merujan Simonyan
(Prosperous Armenia Party-BHK), Hovhannes Margaryan (Country of Law
-OEK), Artsvik Minasyan (ARF-Dashnaktsutyun), and Zaruhi Postanjyan
(HHK).

Yesterday Vardges Gaspari filed a lawsuit with the Kentron and
Nork-Marash district court against Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan
and Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan.
“On March 3, 2011, I was taken to the Police Department of Kentron
District where I was subjected to administrative detention.
Administrative proceedings were initiated against me. In April 2011,
the Police Department of Kentron District brought a suit against me
with the Administrative Court under Article 182 of the Criminal Code
(on administrative offense charges).

At the end of the litigation, which lasted almost 15 months, the
police appealed to the Administrative Court to dismiss the case. By a
July 21, 2012 decision, Administrative Court dismissed the
administrative proceedings against me. From March 3, 2011, to July 21,
2012, I spent a large amount of energy and time to prove my innocence
and now I demand that the Court levy AMD 850 000 on the RA Police as
compensation,” says Mr. Gaspari.

From: Baghdasarian

“Sargsyan should start from his friends and family”

03:22 pm | September 19, 2012 | Politics

Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan does not have any
chances to return to politics, Hovhannes Igityan, a senior member of
the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh), told a news conference on
Sept. 19.

Neither the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), nor the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) will nominate Kocahryan for
the 2013 presidential elections, says the HHSh member.

However, he does not exclude that the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK)
may back the second president.
Recently, the names of the three presidents have been circulated as
the main contenders for the 2013 presidential polls. In this context,
Mr. Igityan said that the `new names cannot be circulated in the given
political situation.’

Igityan’s Republican opponent Sukias Avetisyan disagreed with him,
giving the name of Heritage leader Raffi Hovannisian as a presidential
candidate.
The guests at the Hayeli (Mirror) club also dwelt on Serzh Sargsyan’s
speech at the government consultation on Saturday.

“Only the policy of procurement is questionable and you need not
generalize it,” said the Republican representative.

The HHSh official said he want to believe Sargsyan’s honesty. “His
resentment showed that it is already impossible to govern the
country.”

“Where is Serzh Sargsyan’s team to help him, the team that exists in
Parliament and that was supposed to support him in the past four
years. Over 50% of the budget is stolen, we must do away with
rollbacks,” Mr. Igityan said advising Serzh Sargsyan to start with his
friends and relatives.
“If he fails to establish order in his environs, he had better step
down in silenceh” he concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

News details emerge over Global Gold Mining affair

21:51 – 19.09.12

Global Gold Mining has issued a statement commenting on a US federal
court ruling that orders a senior Armenian lawmaker to pay $37.5
million in damages to the US company.

It says particularly that the arguments presented by Vardan Ayvazyan
(Republican Party of Armenia), the head of the National Assembly’s
Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, are absolutely untrue.

Ayvazyan, who formerly headed Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection,
claimed that the ruling passed by the US Southern District Court of
New York concerned his activities as a minister. Ayvazyan had
suspended the company’s rights to the copper-molybdenum mine of
Hankavan (Kotayk region) on the grounds that the former failed to
fulfill its obligations. Ayvazyan claimed that the court had issued
the ruling in 2008, adding that he had received an executive act only
this September. The delay was allegedly linked to electoral processes
and Ayvazyan’s activities as a legislator. The ex minister claims that
there is a political context behind the decision.

According to the company’s statement, Ayvazyan said he wasn’t notified
of the proceeding and learned about the verdict from the Internat.

`Ayvazyan’s statements do not correspond to reality and are absolutely
groundless; hence Global Gold Mining has to disclose the following:

1. The court issued the ruling against Ayvazyan in 2003. in accordance
with the provisions of the SHA Ltd.’s (SHA) Share Purchase Agreement
(Agreement). SHA was the licensee of the Hankavan Mine.

It was agreed that the Agreement is subject to the jurisdiction of the
Southerm District Court of New York (Agreement Jurisdiction).

2. The court passed the ruling against Ayvazyan considering his
personal (vs. ministerial) capacity, declaring him as a hidden
shareholder giving instructions to, and ruling the decisions of the
SHA shareholders (principal).

The ruling was issued on July 10, 2012, and went into effect in August
2012. The executive act, based on the ruling, was issued on September
6, 2012.

3. The Company regularly and appropriately notified Ayvazyan of all
the court files, including the claim, evidence relating to the case,
the requirements for showing up to court, as well as the Ruling. The
Company sent Ayvazyan notifications, through registered mail delivery,
on January 25, February 29, March 14, April 27, June 7 and August 15,
2012 to the addresses 10, Str. Alec Manookian, apt. 16, Yerevan, and
22 Charentsavan 6th district, apt 13. It got documents confirming the
receipt in both addresses. Ayvazyan received as many as six
notifications over this case.

4. SHA’s share, at the time of being bought by the Company, totaled
500,000 Armenian Drams (approx. $ 1,250). After being acquired, the
sums for the activities were raised to USD 50,000 by the Company.
Given these obligations, the price for the total cost for studies in
the Hankavan mime made up USD 2,847,755.50, which is 50 times more
than required under the obligations.

5. The reports on the studies of the outcomes (numerous volumes with a
text and maps) were sent to the Ministry of Nature Protection in the
period when Ayvazyan was a minister, and hundreds of samples, with
their copies, are kept in the Company’s archives to date. In such
circumstances, the SHA suspended the license, then transferred it to a
company under Ayvazyan’s control and was later sold to a third
company. All the materials relating to the judicial proceeding are
available to the public at the Southern District Court of New York and
the ruling is public,’ reads the statement.

Below are documents pertaining to the case:

From: Baghdasarian

Armenians in Hungary to Sue Government over Safarov Extradition

asbarez
Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

Hungarians protest government’s decision to extradite Safarov

BUDAPEST – The national council of Armenians in Hungary plans to file a
legal claim against the Hungarian government’s controversial decision
to transfer convicted Azeri murderer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan, the
local Blikk newspaper reported. The publication quoted council head
Szeván Sarkisian as saying the charges include abuse of power and
bribery.

There are an estimated 3,500 to 30,000 Armenians living in Hungary,
half of whom speak Armenian as their native language, and there are
currently 31 Armenian `self-governments’ operating in the country.

Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.

Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Hungary, however, states that it had sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan
after receiving assurances from the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry that
Safarov’s sentence, which included the possibility of parole after 25
years, would be enforced.

According to some reports, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan in
exchange for Azeri purchase of Hungarian securities worth 2 to 3
billion euros, an information official Budapest denies.

`Hungarian prime minister is `morally bankrupt’ and should resign
after admitting that he personally approved the transfer of the Azeri
axe murderer while knowing the likely consequences,’ the leader of the
opposition Socialists said earlier.

Attila Mesterhazy said it was clear from Orban’s comments at a news
conference on Tuesday September 11 that he had been aware that
Azerbaijan would release the life-sentenced Ramil Safarov after his
repatriation.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia ARF Establishes Syria Relief Fund

asbarez
Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

ARF’s Vahan Hovannesian and Lilit Galstyan during Tuesday’s announcement

YEREVAN (Yerkir) – The Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Armenia has
established a fund to provide assistance to the Armenian community of
Syria, which is currently facing extreme hardship as a result of what
many call a civil war.

To unveil the effort, which is called `Help Your Brother,’ ARF Bureau
and ARF parliamentary bloc member Vahan Hovannesian and chairwoman of
the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association Lilit
Galstyan held a press conference on Tuesday.

Hovannesian explained that the target of the unrest in Syria has
become Aleppo and warned of Turkey’s destructive role in perpetuating
the unrest there. He explained the fund has been established as an
extension of a helping hand to those in need in Syria,

The assistance is directed to Armenian who have remained in Syria and
are weathering war-like conditions. Hovannesian said that the effort
has already been under way and plans to send the first plane load of
supplies by the end of the month are on target.

Hovannesian also highlighted the role the people of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic have played in the Syrian-Armenian relief
effort.

Galstyan called on all facets of society, regardless of their
political affiliation, to come together and assist in this important
initiative. The supplies being sent in the first shipment, she
explained, include medical supplies, food and basic necessities.

Galstyan explained that a series of projects are being planned to
enlarge the scope of the fund’s activities, among them a concert in
October, the proceeds of which will be allocated to this project.

`This is truly an open undertaking and we are open to all ideas on how
best to assist those in need now,’ said Galstian.

`This is a public initiative, this is not a partisan initiative and it
should not be made partisan,’ added Hovannesian, who added that the
ARF’s flexible structure on the ground and its ties with the Armenian
Church will enable an effective distribution of supplies and aid.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia wants to use EU’s agricultural experience: Minister

YEREVAN, September 19. /ARKA/. Armenia’s agriculture minister Sergo
Karapetian said studying and introduction of best agricultural
practices of the EU will contribute to stepwise solution of problems
in this area in Armenia as he spoke at a two-day seminar organized by
EU’s TAIEX program on improving competition in the agricultural sector
of Armenia through the EU experience.

Experts from Finland, Romania and Poland are sharing their experience
in the field of agriculture with Armenian colleagues.

TAEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument) is an
integral feature of the European Union enlargement strategy. Since
1996 TAIEX shares the expertise of EU Member State public officials
with beneficiary countries to `fill the gaps’ in their knowledge and
understanding of EU rules and procedures through the exchange of
experience and best practice – thereby fostering networks between
officials in EU Member States and partner countries. TAIEX is
demand-driven and delivers peer-to-peer assistance. Since 2006 it has
been extended to cover the neighbourhood countries.

Minister Karapetian said that cooperation between Armenia and the EU
is one of the cornerstones of Armenia’s European integration.
The minister, in particular, highlighted the problems of the efficient
use of land resources, increasing the efficiency of agricultural
branches, sales of products and availability of loans.

The minister blamed higher level of poverty in the rural communities
on low level of competitiveness in agriculture. The minister cited
several official figures which say that the proportion of plant and
animal products in Armenia’s foreign trade last year was 18.8% and
17.9% in exports. The minister said that over the last three years,
the share of agriculture in the overall GDP was 17.9 percent. In 2011
the agricultural GDP amounted in terms of money to about 825 billion
drams. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

5000 Armenian Syrians Arrived in Armenia

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:37:18 – 19/09/2012

The issues of the Armenians Syrians in Armenia are being solved that
is why the number of dissatisfied people has become less, says member
of the Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party Aleppo office Vazgen
Mesropyan. He noted that the initial complaints were related to the
fact that they couldn’t receive a visa and the fines they had to pay
after staying in Armenia for 21 days, as well as problems relating to
receiving Armenian citizenship. Today these issues are being solved.

The only unsolved issue for the Armenian Syrians is unempolyment.
According to Vazgen Mesropyan, 5000-6000 Armenian Syrians have moved
to Armenia but few of them found jobs. The Armenian Syrians do not
agree to work for the pay offered by the Armenian employers.

According to Mesropyan, the Armenian Syrians don’t want to set up
businesses here because they don’t know whether they will stay or
leave, also because they have always heard bad things about the
investment climate in Armenia. Mesropyan says Armenian Syrians think
they will have problems here, so they do not want to run a business
here.

As to apartments, Vazgen Mesropyan said Armenian Syrians mostly rent
apartments here. `What can the government do? Can it provide
apartments? As far as I know, housing has been provided but will the
Armenians of Aleppo live in those apartments?

Vazgen Mesropyan informed that the greater part of Armenian Syrians
have already received Armenian citizenship, but it is hard to say
whether they will stay here or will leave for a third country.

From: Baghdasarian

Catholicos receives Armenian school students from Argentina and Australia

news.am
September 19, 2012 | 16:33

ETCHMIADZIN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Wednesday
received the students from the Mkhitarian College of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, and the Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun School of
Sydney, Australia.

The Catholicos noted with delight that the students’ annual pilgrimage
to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has become a
wonderful tradition.

He underscored the role which the visits to the Motherland play in the
lives of Diaspora-Armenian youth, since it is owing to these trips
that they remain in contact with the Motherland’s realities, and see
with their own eyes those treasures which they were taught in school.
In Karekin II’s conviction, direct contact with the Motherland’s
treasures strengthens the students’ national spirit, awareness, and
zeal.

The Catholicos also extended his gratitude to the teachers, trustees,
and heads of the two schools.

From: Baghdasarian

Moscow to host Golden Pomegranate Armenian goods fair

September 19, 2012 – 17:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On September 21 through 23, Moscow will be holding
Golden Pomegranate Armenian goods and manufacturers fair.

Armenian artists, dance ensembles will be among the highlights of the
festival aiming to popularize Armenian goods, boosting cultural, trade
and economic ties between Armenia and Russia.

The event was organized with the assistance of the Department of
Foreign Economic and International Relations of the city of Moscow.

From: Baghdasarian