Author: Boris Nahapetian

Karabakh President spokesperson: Serzh Sargsyan never forces territorial concessions

Boris Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2019
Karabakh President spokesperson: Serzh Sargsyan never forces territorial concessions Karabakh President spokesperson: Serzh Sargsyan never forces territorial concessions

18:52, 07.02.2019
                  

Armenia’s ex-president  Serzh Sargsyan never forced territorial concessions. The Karabakh President  spokesperson David Babayan told the Armenian News – NEWS.am, commenting on the statement of the former Minister of Defense Samvel Babayan that Serzh Sargsyan gathered the Karabakh elite in 2016 and stated the need for territorial concessions, and the elite did not object.

According to him, it is very important to keep the issue of the Karabakh settlement in the spotlight. “It is important to say that unilateral concessions are unacceptable. From this point of view, any such statement is welcomed from the point of view of ideological messages. Even if these statements are not relevant. It is very important that these issues are raised by politicians, war veterans and the military, ”he said. 

David Babayan stressed that the position on discussions with the participation of the third President of Armenia has already been expressed. “I was at such a meeting, and there was no such proposal. If it was, then you need to say about it, and if it was not, then you need to say about it.

Gagik Tsarukyan at the meeting with the NKR Speaker: We need to strengthen our position on the Artsakh issue

Boris Nahapetian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 2 2019
Ani Mshetsyan

ArmInfo. On February 1, a meeting of the delegation of the faction of the parliament took place in the Artsakh National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia  “Prosperous Armenia” headed by party leader Gagik Tsarukyan and  members of the Karabakh parliament.

According to the press service of the NKR Parliament, during the  conversation with the leadership of the faction, the Chairman of the  Artsakh Republic Parliament Ashot Ghoulian welcomed the guests and  congratulated them on the success of the extraordinary parliamentary  elections in the Republic of Armenia.  He noted that, having made his  first visit to Artsakh, the faction confirms its readiness to  maintain and continue to develop the existing relations. 

Ashot Ghoulian stressed the need for continuous improvement of  interaction between the legislative bodies of two Armenian republics,  expressing the hope that as a result of joint work, it will be  possible to expand the framework of parliamentary diplomacy to the  benefit of solving issues of a single agenda.  Head of the Prosperous  Armenia faction Gagik Tsarukyan, expressing gratitude for the  reception, stressed that the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the  newly elected deputies with their colleagues from Artsakh and clarify  the upcoming actions towards the solution of national issues.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed the issue of  comprehensive presentation by the deputies of the Republic of Armenia  of the Artsakh problem at international platforms and ensuring the  protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh in the context of  their non-recognition.  Then an extended meeting was held with the  participation of members of the Prosperous Armenia faction and the  Artsakh National Assembly factions.

Congratulating on behalf of the Artsakh parliamentarians the newly  elected deputies of the Prosperous Armenia faction, NA President  Ashot Ghoulian expressed confidence that the faction will continue to  actively contribute to the further development of bilateral mutually  beneficial relations.

Touching upon the objectives of the visit, Gagik Tsarukyan stressed  the need to transfer issues of pan- Armenian significance to the  practical direction and intensify the consistent efforts of his  faction in the matter of international recognition of Artsakh. “We  are all representatives of one nation, and division is unacceptable  on this issue. On the Artsakh issue, we must continue to strengthen  our common position in order to more quickly achieve our goal of  international recognition. We must be able to convince our  international partners in Artsakh without preconditions” – concluded  Tsarukyan.

Dr. Nerses Krikorian, a Unique and Celebrated Armenian-American

Boris Nahapetian

LEGENDARY SCIENTIST DR. NERSES “KRIK” KRIKORIAN, A  UNIQUE AND CELEBRATED ARMENIAN-AMERICAN

 

Armenian News Network / Armenian News


BY FLORENCE AVAKIAN


 

Nerses Krikorian was four years old when he first stepped on U.S. soil.    Born on the side of a Turkish road in 1921 as his parents were fleeing the Armenian Genocide, his family spent the next four years moving from country to country with only the bare clothes on their backs. On the way, his brother was born in Aleppo, Syria. 

 

Canada became their final refuge. The family finally found its American home in Niagara Falls, NY when Krik was four, his father becoming a factory worker, and his mother a homemaker giving birth to his youngest brother.

 

He remembered many years later, that all that moving from place to place was a “tortured way of living, because you don’t belong anywhere.”

 

A FAMED SCIENTIST AND ANALYST

 

With such bleak beginnings, Nerses “Krik” Krikorian’s future seemed anything but promising. From age 4 to 96 when he died in Los Alamos, New Mexico, his story is anything if not amazing. He was one of the most famed scientists and intelligence analysts in America, having been a major player on the Los Alamos Manhattan Project which eventually created the first nuclear weapon.

 

 His first job was at Union Carbide in 1943, following a bachelor’s degree from college in chemistry. The lab made highly enriched uranium. He was unaware that he was ensconced in the Manhattan Project which dropped the first atom bomb on Hiroshima.


 

He said at the time, “Well, the war is going to end.  And I hope we never have to use it again for any purpose.”

 

After the war, Union Carbide cut down its uranium work, and he went to New Mexico to continued working on the Manhattan project.

 

Many years later, when his father visited him, He mentioned to Krik that the rugged mountains and dry climate of New Mexico reminded him of the old country.   Krik felt that “deep down, maybe I had some connection to it that I didn’t even remember”.  

 

It was also at Los Alamos that he met his wife, Katherine Patterson who had also come in 1943 to work on the Manhattan Project as a member of the Women’s Army Corps.  There, they raised their only child, a daughter Debra, now a retired Army lieutenant colonel.

 

 THE ARMENIAN CONNECTION

 

And so began an illustrious career for Krik that spanned four and a half decades.  It was in 1972, when he was asked to join an intelligence unit, though he didn’t know why.  He suspected that the reason also included the fact that he spoke fluent Armenian, and some Russian.     

 

As a child, his parents had forced him to speak and write Armenian, as well as to learn the history, culture and literature of Armenia. 

 

“As a kid, I thought it was useless,” he remembered. Why do I need to learn a language that hardly anyone speaks. I guess God knew what was coming.”    

 

He found out why in the 1960’s that he had to translate Russian chemistry books into English. This information became very useful to the U.S. government at the time.

 

“I’m an American,” he said.   Feeling a deep commitment to America’s national security, he felt that the intelligence analysts were all motivated to keep the peace. “I feel obligated to this country. Look at what I have been able to accomplish here.”

 

Krik was always amazed that as a boy he had arrived in this country with papers that labeled him as “stateless”, and could rise to a position of security head for a U.S. intelligence unit. 

 

As the holder of six patents, Krik retired in 1991 after receiving countless honors, including the Los Alamos Medallion (its highest award), two honorary doctorates, the CIA’s Intelligence Community Medal, and in 2005, election as an honorary Doctor to Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences.

 

NOSTALGIC REMEMBRANCES

 

Recently, Krik’s daughter Debra, in a telephone conversation, reminisced about her father’s strong link to his heritage. “My father felt strongly about his Armenian background.   He was fluent in both modern and liturgical Armenian, and could read and write.”

 

Debra revealed that her grandparents suffered during the Genocide, with her grandmother’s immediate family all killed. Her grandfather’s brothers split, with the eldest moving to Canada, and the other brother going to Yerevan.  Her grandfather with his wife and son Krik came to Canada via Syria, Greece, and France.  

 

“My grandparents apparently masqueraded as Kurds during a portion of this odyssey as both were fluent in Kurdish. They never spoke to me about the Genocide,” Debra remembers.

 

She relates that when her father moved to New Mexico, there were very few Armenians, but in the 1950’s and 1960’s, a group of about 60 came together.     “When I was a child we would get together with these families frequently even though it was 100 miles each way to see each other. During the 1980’s there were enough to establish a cultural organization as well as an Armenian church which my parents supported.”

 

She recalls that her father often read Armenian poetry, history and philosophy, and translated many writings “which he left to me. During the last days before his passing, he reverted to speaking Armenian and spoke to several of his Armenian friends. In short, he went back to his Armenian roots.”

 

Krikorian had opportunities to go to Armenia in the 1990’s, first at the request of the U.S. State Department to assist and engage with the scientists there.   Later he visited and assisted through the audits of scientific projects funded through the International Science and Technology Center.


 

During these visits, he also happily met his relatives there. It was his wife “who had the heart and soul of an Armenian” who first went to Armenia in 1979, and found his relatives who still keep in contact with daughter Debra to this day.

 

BENEVOLENT GOAL

 

A scientist “in soul and heart”, Dr. Krikorian had been regularly contributing to one of the most effective Diasporan projects supporting cutting edge R&D in Armenia – the Armenian National Science and Education Fund(ANSEF), run by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) in New York City.   

 

Following his personal wishes, a special Endowment Fund was established at FAR by his daughter Debra after the eminent scientist passed away.   Its goal is to perpetually support young researchers educated in universities in Armenia.


 

In a 2017 interview, Krikorian reflected, “things have worked out far beyond what I ever imagined.  I think of my parents, and wonder, ‘How did they ever do it’.  My parents instilled in me the importance of doing the right thing and giving back to your fellow man.  I hope I have done that.”

 

Press: The 3rd lawsuit against the Governor of Ararat Garik Sargsyan was submitted to the court

Boris Nahapetian
  • 19.01.2019

    •  

  • Armenia:

    •  

  • arm

38
 364

VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.


“168 hours” writes. “Former head of Vedi Medical Center (MC), surgeon Melkon Taloyan filed a complaint against the governor to appeal the order to fire him. To remind, RA Prime Minister after the revolution Nikol Pashinyanled by the “Civil Agreement” party Garik Sargsyanafter assuming the position of governor, the first was “released” from the heads of Artashat, Masis and Vedu medical centers. All three passed the exam and were newly appointed to their positions. By the way, the governor’s handwriting, the means and the period of time to get rid of these three persons were also the same. The same is the demand of these three doctors who run the medical centers of the region from the court, in their lawsuits submitted to the court of general jurisdiction of Ararat region, all three of them challenge the arbitrary order of the head of the region. The head of Vedu Central Committee considers the governor’s decision to fire him exclusively personal. In a conversation with 168.am, Melkon Taloyan elaborates about the lawsuit against the governor and the strained relationship with him. “I have not been personally acquainted with Garik Sargsyan, there were no contacts in any format before he was appointed governor, but the tension in our relations, which has left such a deep impression on him, is actually related to the political defeat of his relative, that story dates back to the 2012 parliamentary elections. In the Aralez community, where I live, my father’s home is also in that village, I supported my friend from the RPA in the 2012 parliamentary elections.Araik Grigoryan (Avshari Araiki).


The opposing candidate, the owner of the Yeraskh winery in Marz Razmik Tevonyan(from the “Republic” party), suffered a shameful defeat in his own village and has not digested it to this day. That’s exactly what he said, on the same day, he openly announced in the crowd that he would take revenge on Taloyan. And today, Tevonyan remembered the undigested defeat in his political election campaign and “wrapped” it around the neck of the young governor, a representative of the executive power, taking advantage of his lack of experience, became a consultant, supports and guides him in various issues, and by abusing trust, takes his own revenge against many people from the region at the hands of the governor. The governor is a victim, practically that person was never interested in the regional hospitals the quality of the work of the medical staff, our personnel and technical resources, the expectations from him, from the revolution, he did not have that seriousness,” said the former head of Vedu Medical Center in a conversation with 168.am.


“Before Garik Sargsyan was appointed governor of the region, I still knew that he would be the first to fall after me. And I was not mistaken… at first he made it clear that I should leave voluntarily, then he sent a scam through him, threatened that I would reveal something, let him not cause trouble, I refused again. I tried to talk face-to-face, thinking that it is an employer-subordinate relationship that can be clarified and smoothed over, but it was avoided, and in the only meeting that took place, the governor “generously” advised me to go write your application for dismissal, go on vacation, rest as much as you want. And so the remote discourse with the governor, with provocations and blackmails, lasted for months.


He searched, carried out endless checks, then forced me to write my application for dismissal, I refused again, and during that entire period he invited about 10 people to the cabinet, offered me my position, my colleagues who refused also came out and called me. The last candidate he settled on was my deputy. Samvel Khachatryan also refused to go to the conspiratorial deal with the governor, but when he came to tell me, I asked him to return to the governor’s office and give his consent, only if he does not appoint someone from the air instead of me, and come and manage what he has created. And so it happened. The governor received the consent of my deputy and immediately gave the order for my release.” Surgeon Melkon Taloyan left the region, works at two hospitals in Yerevan at the same time: “Aramyants” and “Elit Med” medical centers. The head of the Artashat Medical Center who was dismissed by the governor moved to Yerevan, and the former Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia employed him in his private “Vardanants” clinic the very day after his release.Levon Altunyanas an anesthesiologist.


It turns out that the problem of urbanization in the New Armenia announced by the new authorities will be serious, the orders issued by the officials may be for the benefit of one and to the detriment of the health of the population of the entire region. Of course, it is possible that the governor Garik Sargsyan has ample opportunities, as well as the owner of the wine factory Razmik Tevonyan, and they can afford to turn to the best clinics in Yerevan or foreign countries for the treatment of family members if necessary. And are the poor peasants who live on daily bread guilty, who will become victims of the whims of these two people? After all, the region has been emptied of doctors, and this is already a serious issue that should be in the attention of the Ministry of Health, the Minister of Territorial Administration and the residents of Ararat region. P.S. Commander Vazgen Sargsyan Razmik Tevonyan, a close friend of the family, traditionally ran for the parliamentary elections in Ararat from the “Republic” party and was not elected, but today his son was elected as a member of the National Assembly on the list of the “Civil Agreement” party.


“time” the newspaper writes. “The increase in the price of Russian gas sold to Armenia was done by the former prime minister Karen Karapetyan within the drawn scheme. It’s no secret that Karapetyan has connections in “Rusgazprom” and the increase in gas prices was implemented to hide Karapetyan’s previous looting. According to energy experts, if the price of gas did not rise, there was a real possibility to lower it by $15, although according to other calculations, it could be done up to $30 per thousand cubic meters. By persuading the Russians to raise the gas tariff, Karapetyan managed to completely neutralize the possibility of selling gas cheaper to consumers.”


“People” the newspaper writes. “Having solved the issue of the offices of the deputies of the National Assembly, now another test is waiting for the staff to solve the issue of license plates provided to the deputies. Even yesterday, the MPs were driving in cars with normal number plates and parked them in front of the National Assembly building. If a license plate is provided to all deputies, then a means of transport is provided only to the chairman of the National Assembly, deputies, heads of factions and chairmen of committees. still the National Assembly has not been able to completely take back the license plates assigned to the former MPs. Until then, the National Assembly is in “idle time” for a month. the next session will take place already in February.”


“People” the newspaper writes. “Bezin prices have started to decrease in Armenia. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper became aware that the price of gasoline at RA gas stations has dropped by more than 40 drams. Accordingly, one liter of regular gasoline is sold for 400 drams, premium type for 420 drams. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper learned from businessmen involved in the import and sale of gasoline that in the near future it will gradually become cheaper by 50 drams. This is a consequence of price fluctuations in the international market, but let’s note that in the past there was no impact on the domestic market in such cases.”


“Fact” the newspaper writes. “The issue of red lines is again in the spotlight. This issue has been discussed many times, and it has been emphasized that this issue is a political decision. The other day, the members of the “Driver’s Friend” human rights non-governmental organization once again spoke about the issues arising from the problem, in addition, they urged the drivers to close the numbers. Referring to the above, co-founder of “Driver’s Friend” IOC, member of the public council attached to the RA police chief Sergey Ghahramanyan first we asked if the option of closing the numbers is the right way to fight. In response, he mentioned: “If we talk about the parking of the car on the red lines, then in that section, which is considered a permissible place for parking the car, the car can be parked even without a license plate. In addition, a car parked in a permitted place cannot be evacuated or an administrative record drawn up for that car.


But we certainly do not welcome number blocking, we are against number blocking in general, except when you can park your car in the permitted area. That is, in those parts of the streets where parking is not allowed, yards and other similar places. And in all cases when people drive with closed numbers or do it in an unauthorized place, it is naturally not welcome. Now this is just an extreme step because they have been trying to mislead drivers for months. are constantly hinting at upcoming changes to the red lines, but they are still not being implemented.” To the observation: are you sure that your exhortation will be correctly perceived by the drivers, our interlocutor recorded. “Yes, because we highlighted what was said “in red lines”. There are people who stand at intersections with closed numbers, we have always criticized that phenomenon. This is about parking in a permitted place.” As for what “Driver’s Friend” offers in terms of red lines in general, the co-founder of IHB mentioned that they had various meetings and presented many suggestions. One of the proposals, according to S. Ghahramanyan, the amount of the parking space is to be included in the property tax. “In general, the point is that there will be no unnecessary administration. That is, “red lines” were introduced to penalize. By paying 100 drams, people simply insure themselves against being fined 5,000 drams,” he said.


Another suggestion is to organize parking spaces in more convenient places. “The reason is that it is not possible to organize parking spaces in all places. In addition, we have proposed to prohibit parking altogether in a number of streets in order to eliminate traffic problems and traffic jams. Also, different values ​​may apply in different neighborhoods. This is also a proposal,” our interlocutor noted, also citing the example of Prague, where, according to him, the issue of paid parking spaces has a very good solution. “The mayor can invest the experience there in Yerevan. There are different values ​​in different parts of the city. In addition, you can enter different tariffs, for example: the citizen may not give money at all at his place of residence”, he said. Sergey Ghahramanyan emphasized that significant changes are expected in a short period of time. “First of all, the problem is illegal administration. Incorrect administration is carried out, as a result of which illegal fines are sent to people. And in the future, we expect changes and correct investment around the general idea of ​​red lines. It has been said for months that there will be a change, and a city government has arrived, which is also against red lines. But all that does not change, although it is said that we will change it. A considerable period of time has already passed, but in administration nothing has changed, administrative protocols are being drawn up illegally, without facts. There are drivers who even want to hold demonstrations. We constantly urge them to wait a little longer, because the city government elected by the same drivers must change something in this area.


Moreover, we did not say eliminate it and that’s it. We have proposed reasonable solutions to avoid unnecessary administration of people, to have an effective mechanism that will reduce the high density of vehicles. And the density and accumulation of cars in Kentron and Arabkir is much higher than in other communities,” he concluded.”

The Jerusalem Post: Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to visit Israel soon

Boris Nahapetian
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 14 2019
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo.Armenian Acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed an opinion in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that diplomatic missions of the two  countries will soon be opened in Israel and Armenia. At the same  time, he refrained from answering the question about the possibility  of opening an Armenian diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

Mnatsakanyan also stressed that Armenia is interested in giving a new  quality to relations with Israel. He also stated about the similarity  of the two peoples, and the difference between the Armenians from  their neighbors. “We have an ancient and complicated history,” the  Armenian FM said.

  According to Acting Minister, Armenia has so much to offer Israel in  the fields of agriculture, science, technology, education and  innovation – and especially in the area of early childhood education,  he also noted  that he planed on traveling to Israel himself in the  near future to promote joint ventures.

Referring to the issue of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey,  Mnatsakanyan stated “1.5 million of our people were murdered. But we  do not feel like victims. We are victors because we were not supposed  to be on the surface of this earth. I would not say that we were not  disappointed that the vote didn’t take place in the end. We know that  this issue has become a trading chip in your relations with Turkey  and it is very unfortunate,” the Acting Minister stressed. 

At the same time he stated, it is well-known, that Israel sold  weapons to Azerbaijan. That doesn’t mean that we would not like to  develop realtions with Israel, including in the military field.

“We have an extremely long history with Iran,” continues  Mnatsakanyan.  “They are very aware of the cultural contribution  Armenia has had in Iran.  Since we have what could be described at  best as hostile relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, Iran functions  as an important lifeline channel for us. We have good relations with  many countries, and it’s essential for us that our relationship with  one country does not jeopardize our connections with others”.

  In turn Dr. Chen Bram, a research fellow at the Truman Institute of  the Hebrew University, stated the need to improve Israel’s relations  with Armenia. “On the one hand, Azerbaijan is an important ally for  Israel, and we should not jeopardize this relationship. And of course  relations with Turkey are particularly complex. On the other hand,  maybe Israel can actually help bring about peace between Armenia and  Azerbaijan. Israel should be able to stand up to Azerbaijan and say,  ‘We are your ally, but we would like to establish relations with  Armenia, too, and you should not view this as a move that will harm  our relations.’ This might cause a bit of an uproar at first, but  it’s possible to do. I think it’s a shame Israel hasn’t made such an  effort until now”, the expert stated.

Regarding the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, then,  according to Brahm, Israel should take this step 

Russia ups gas price for Armenia by 10% in blow for new government

Boris Nahapetian
CEE Energy NewsWatch Today
January 7, 2019 Monday
Russia ups gas price for Armenia by 10% in blow for new government
 
 
Russia has pushed up the price of gas it sells to Armenia by 10%.
 
Talks over the gas price were seen as key in assessing relations between the new post-revolution government in Yerevan and Moscow, the small nation’s big strategic partner.
 
In 2019, Russian state gas giant Gazprom will sell gas to Armenia at $165 per thousand cubic metres, Gazprom said in a statement following a December 31 meeting between its chairman, Alexei Miller, and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian. The previous price was $150 per thousand cubic metres.
 
Prior to the announcement, the Armenian government had several times said it was aiming to have the gas price reduced. Garegin Baghramyan, Armenia’s minister of energy and natural resources, said as late as December 27 that “Of course, we are holding talks on reducing the tariff, but I am unaware of Russia’s proposals. The best result for us must be to reduce the tariff.”
 
Armenia imports the large majority of its gas from Russia. Its only other supplier is Iran.
 
The price increase comes as Armenia appears set to lose its position heading the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, and days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian met in Moscow.
 
The day after the meeting, Putin pointedly sent public holiday greetings to former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan, a Pashinian nemesis currently in jail in Yerevan on abuse-of-power charges, eurasianet reported.
 
The price increase is “symptomatic of how the Kremlin is exploiting Armenia’s acute dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, using gas supply as a political instrument to put pressure on the Pashinian-led government,” Eduard Abrahamyan, a London-based analyst of Armenia, told the news website.
 
Pashinian’s enemies in the Republican Party of Armenia that ruled the country before the country’s velvet revolution of April to May last year made political capital out of the gas reverse. “We are finishing the year not entirely proudly and fruitfully,” wrote Eduard Sharmazanov, the party’s press secretary, on his Facebook page the day the announcement was made. “Nikol, who for months has been accusing us of artificially increasing prices on gas and creation of a corrupt gas scheme, saying that since his becoming prime minister that Armenia-Russia relations have been wonderful, today reported that the price of gas is increasing.”
 
Pashinian claimed that consumers would be paying the same price for energy thanks to “our certain internal adjustments”. He did not detail those adjustments.
 
Separately, on December 27 Pashinian said Armenia was determined to continue “integration” within the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EES).
 
“We are committed to further integration within the Eurasian Economic  Union and treat seriously our chairmanship in the EES,” Pashinian said during his meeting with Putin in Moscow.
 
“I am confident that after our chairmanship we will have even more effective integration in the union,” Pashinian said, referring to Armenia’s rotating presidency of the EEU that began on January 1.
 
The trade bloc brings together Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
 
Putin praised the Russia-Armenia bilateral relationship, including “growing trade that increased by nearly 30 percent” last year.
 
He said that Russia was Armenia’s largest economic partner, accounting for some 25% of Armenia’s foreign trade.
 
Pashinian’s My Step alliance won more than 70% of the vote in the snap parliamentary elections held on December 9.
 
Pashinian vowed to maintain close relations with traditional ally Russia, but at the same time said he would seek closer ties with the United States and the European Union.
 
Russia has a military base in Armenia.

Syria national threatens Armenia ministry staff

Boris Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 26 2018
Syria national threatens Armenia ministry staff Syria national threatens Armenia ministry staff

10:01, 26.12.2018
                  

YEREVAN. – A Syrian citizen in Armenia on Monday threatened some ministry staff, in capital city Yerevan.

At 9:50am on that day, police received a report informing that a person was insulting and cursing at the employees at Government Building No. 3, and he was threatening to break the glass with a stick and pour it on this staff.

According to shamshyan.com, police inspectors were dispatched to the scene where a specialist from the Ministry of Health said Syrian citizen Yeghia K.—who now resides in Yerevan—had threatened to cause serious injury to himself and several personnel of the ministry.

As per the source, the police report on this incident has been transferred to the investigative department.

SMEs in Yerevan to be exempt from local duty increases, vows Mayor

Boris Nahapetian

SMEs in Yerevan to be exempt from local duty increases, vows Mayor

Save

Share

12:22,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. SMEs with up to 58,3 million drams in annual turnover will be exempt from the tax increased that are part of a Yerevan City Council bill on 2019 local duty rates, Mayor Hayk Marutyan said at a sitting today.

He added that the City Council will convene a special sitting sometime mid January for additional discussions over the matter. “You know very well that several duties under this draft are being increased in Yerevan, but because our policy is to support small and medium businesses, I am recommending to hold a session and define exceptions,” he said.

The Mayor said the decision will come into force January 1, thus urged operators not to worry.

Changes include a 6000 dram increase in the license duty for construction of up to 20 sq.m. buildings, and a 10,000 dram increase in the license duty for non-main buildings in greater space.

The license for selling liquid fuel, pressurized natural and liquefied petroleum gas for a fiscal year is increased from 350 thousand to 600 thousand drams.

Local duties for entertainment facilities operating after midnight have also changed, among others.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Consumer rights activist says municipality can unilaterally terminate contract with Sanitek Armenia

Boris Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 24 2018

The Yerevan Municipality has strong legal grounds to cancel its contract concluded with Sanitek Armenia, a branch of Sanitek International Group – a multinational waste management company headquartered in Lebanon, if the latter continues to provide poor garbage disposal services in capital Yerevan, a consumer rights activist says. 

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Babken Pipoyan, Chairman of the Informed and Protected Consumer NGO, stressed the city hall only needs to carry out consistent work by documenting the improper waste removal cases in the capital and unilaterally terminate the contract after the deadlines set for eliminating the shortcomings expire. 

“I want to inform the mayor that if he really wants to terminate the contract, he has all the possibilities. He can give [Sanitek] ten days and 15 employees, providing his personal guarantees for dissolution of the contract with Sanitek,” Pipoyan said. “If the company cannot work, let it pick up its stuff and leave.” 

He added the funds allocated to the waste management company should be given to the community.

As part of the contract, the Yerevan Municipality has fined Sanitek twice for failing to fully meet its obligations.