ON 28 FEBRUARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE TWENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY…
Azat Artsakh Daily
02 March 09
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
On 28 February In connection with the twenty first anniversary of
the Sumgait massacre NKR President Bako Sahakyan accompanied by top
officials of the republic visited Stepanakert memorial complex and
laid flowers to the monument of innocent victims of these events.
RA EDUCATION MINISTRY HOLDS DISCUSSION ON ADDITIONAL FINANCING BY EU
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.03.2009 20:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Deputy Minister of Education Ara Avetisyan
had a meeting with the international expert, the Manager of EU-run
"Technical assistance to RA Ministry of Education and Science in
primary and secondary education" Program, Mr. Oliver Dis.
The parties dwelled on the reforms in primary and secondary education
sectors, specifically the development of National Qualification
Framework and a number of related problems.
Mr. Dis suggested forming a work group to develop a National
Qualification Framework project based on the existing technical task.
The parties agreed to meet in April to give their assessments of the
work accomplished, and determine its conformity with the European
qualification standards.
The issue of additional financing by EU in 2010 -2012 was also
discussed.
Panorama.am
14:05 01/03/2009
POLICE: `ROADS ARE OPEN’
Armenian National Congress spread an announcement that today taxis
from Aparan, Ararat, Edjmiatsin don’t work, the roads are closed and
those who manage somehow to get a taxi or a bus are being checked by
the police officers.
Sayat Shirinyan, the head of public relations and press department of
the Police ensured that `the roads are not closed.’
`Why do we need to check or why do we need to close the roads. No, we
don’t have such plans,’ announced Sayat Shirinyan.
`They mention about some cameras. What cameras? Are they talking about
video cameras or those to check the speed by the police officers? We
have not prepared any lists. The Chief of the Police said in a press
conference that `we also grieve this day, we have losses.’ If a year
before we were not prepared and we could not forsee things, today we
are ready to protect the public order,’ he said.
Source: Panorama.am
GENERAL DIRECTOR OF NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA SATISFIED WITH FIRST YEAR OF ACTIVITIES
ARKA
Feb 26, 2009
YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. General Director of NASDAQ OMX Armenia
stock exchange Armen Melikyan believes the first year of the activities
in the country was productive.
NASDAQ OMX’s coming to Armenia envisaged stage-by-stage implementation
of programs in Armenia.
The first stage was integration of Armenian structures, of Armenian
Stock Exchange and the Central depository in particular, in NASDAQ OMX
over the first three years, and the results are good for this year,
Melikyan said.
The General Director also pointed out that completion of the
integration process shows that Armenia is able to use NASDAQ OMX
brand. This means that Armenian structures accepted standards applied
in NASDAQ OMX group and conform to them, Melikyan said.
"This was the main task for 2008 and we fulfilled it. In the next
2-3 years steps are to be taken for development of capital market,"
he said.
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It
delivers trading, exchange technology services across the world. With
over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among
major markets.
NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 60 exchanges,
clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more
than 50 countries.
In January 2008, Nordic exchange operator OMX Group acquired 100%
of shares of the Armenian Stock Exchange (Armex) and the Central
Depository of Armenia (CDA). After the combination of NASDAQ and OMX
in March 2008, Armex and CDA have become fully owned by the NASDAQ
OMX Group, Inc.
On January 27 2009, Armenian Stock Exchange was officially renamed
as NASDAQ OMX Armenia.
PanARMENIAN.Net
Anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan leads to dreadful and wild behavior
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
Floods of dirt and falsehood have already brought up in Azerbaijan a
whole generation, for whom the assassination of an Armenian is
heroism, and even duty.
19.02.2009 GMT+04:00
Today is the odd and sorrowful day of February 19 that marks the 5th
anniversary of the brutal assassination of Armenian military officer
Gurgen Margaryan by Azeri serviceman Ramil Safarov in Budapest,
Hungary. Today the Armenian Apostolic Church also celebrates
`Vardanants Day’ and marks the anniversary of
Presidential Elections in Armenia.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ But we’ll dwell only on Gurgen Margaryan,
or, to be more exact, on the motivation Safarov had for this barbaric
act. The progressive anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan may lead to
even more dreadful and wild behavior in future. It has already wiped
off a thick layer of civilization under which we once again noticed
the Turk asker’s face, distorted with hatred and fury, an
asker whose cherished dream was to murder Armenians. In order not to
sound groundless, we’ll quote the words of Safarov, who is
considered a hero in his motherland, if not a shahid. By the way, the
enthusiasm of Baku to take what is left lying around loose, brought to
the term `shahid’ to be smartly altered so that
it meets the needs of the Azeri Agitation and Propaganda
Department. `Shahid’ is a martyr for belief, but
never a street bandit like the `heroic’ soldier
of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. During the first interrogation,
Safarov motivated.
During the first interrogation, Safarov motivated his deed as follows:
`I regret I didn’t kill any Armenian before¦ When I learnt there
were two Armenians taking the same courses I felt hatred for
them. When they greeted me I did not answer. One day they passed by
and smiled. That moment I decided that I will cut off their heads at
dawn. I tried to open the door and it opened, it wasn’t locked. I
turned on the light. Entering the door on the left bed the Armenian
was lying facing the wall. The Hungarian was on the right hand side
bed, but I didn’t pay attention to the way he was lying. As I turned
on the light the Armenian turned to his back, trying to open his eyes,
but at that moment I hit him at the forehead with the flat side of the
axe. The Hungarian guy woke up and told me in English: `Please¦
please¦’ I told him it was not his business and it was only between
Armenians and Azeris. Then I turned the axe to the sharp side and hit
the Armenian on the neck. I don’t exactly remember where else I hit,
but I also remember having hit him on the leg.’
As a matter of principle, Safarov’s deed is quite
explicable. With current state in Azerbaijan, when the news headlines
are crammed with criminals, drug addicts and perverts, such kind of
actions are standard. It is only for civilized countries that any case
of murder is considered savagery, while for nomads it is a natural
state of mind. Floods of dirt and falsehood have already brought up in
Azerbaijan a whole generation, for whom the assassination of an
Armenian is heroism, and even duty. And if there is no Armenian close
at hand, an Azeri is ready to kill, rape and spoil his neighbour,
brother, or even mother. The other day the already closed website
Day.az published a story about a child viciously beheaded by his
father.
All the efforts of the Azerbaijani side to recognize Safarov
irresponsible and achieve extradition to homeland proved useless. On
April 13, 2006 the First Instance Court of Budapest sentenced Safarov
to life imprisonment without a right of pardon for 30 years. In
February 2007, the Budapest Court of Appeals upheld the verdict. But
not only did Safarov commit a murder, he also s
But not only did Safarov commit a murder, he also started a fight with
a policeman, thus getting another term in jail. No comment¦
And lastly. On May 19, 2008 Safarov’s lawyer Adil Ismailov organized a
press-conference in the legal office `ADISAD’ with participation of
Rafik Ismailov, member of the `Human Rights XXI century – Azerbaijan’
Foundation. Answering the question issued by Rafik Ismailov concerning
violation of Safarov’s rights at the trial, the lawyer said serious
violations had been committed.
Especially, there was not taken into account Ramil Safarov’s bad
conduct of the Russian language and thus, he was deprived of his right
to give evidence in the Azeri language with the help of an
interpreter. The lawyer also noted that Safarov’s first interrogation
was carried out 8 hours after his detention. At the same time they
failed to consider the weak moral- psychological and physical state of
Ramil, which is a grave violation of the investigation process too.
Of course he was «morally weak»; after all killing an
Armenian was a hard job for faint-hearted Safarov.
ARMENIA WILL NOT ENTER THE ROUBLE ZONE
The Messenger
Feb 20 2009
Georgia
Deputy Finance Minister of Armenia Vartan Aramian has stated
that Russia has promised to issue USD 500 million to Armenia as a
stabilization credit. He also denied however that Armenia will enter
the rouble zone in return.
The Deputy Minister stated that before introducing the Euro, EU
countries undertook very serious reforms of customs arrangements,
trading arrangements, legal issues and so forth. As yet, Moscow and
Yerevan have not taken such steps.
IMF, ARMENIA NEGOTIATING NEW LOAN – IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Interfax
Feb 17 2009
Russia
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
is in intensive talks with the Armenian government to grant a loan
to the country in order to soften the effects of the global economic
crisis, IMF Executive Director Age Bakker said during a lecture on
crisis at the Yerevan State University on Tuesday.
The loan is meant to reduce the trade deficit, which rose due to the
negative effect of the global economic crisis, he said. The loan sum
is currently being discussed, the IMF official said.
The talks involve Armenia’s prime minister and central bank chief,
economic and finance ministers, he said.
The IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) is already
operating in Armenia after being approved by the Fund last November,
he recalled. The situation has radically changed since then, and
now there is a need for additional funding, because the loan granted
earlier is too small [SDR 9.2 million under the PRGF arrangement, or
around $13.6 million]. The new loan will be much bigger, Bakker said.
"RESOURCE-CENTER OF SUPPORT TO FIGHTING AGAINST TRAFFICKING" TO OPEN OFFICIALLY IN YEREVAN
ARMENPRESS
Feb 18, 2009
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: "Resource-center of support to
the fighting against trafficking" will officially open February 26
in Yerevan.
It was founded in November 2008 and by now organizational works have
been conducted. The works of establishment of the center are conducted
within the frameworks of "Program of fighting against trafficking"
of OSCE Yerevan office.
Consultant of the center on social issues Eleonora Virabian told
Armenpress that the upcoming programs of the center will be presented
February 26 and the issues existing in the legal sphere will be
discusses. Representatives from Armenian Police, Labor and Social
Affairs and Foreign Ministries, NGOs and other interested bodies will
be present at the event.
E. Virabian said that the establishment of the center aims at
coordinated activity of the victim in the fighting against trafficking
and taking into consideration its priorities.
The center must collect information on fighting against trafficking,
analyze and point out the flaws and repetitions refreshing the
information by the time.
A "typical character" of victim of trafficking will be worked out
for those who leave Armenia and arrive; it will help to adopt the
necessary approaches. The center will also organize training and
thematic discussions and meetings. It is provided with technology
for anti-trafficking events and for getting necessary information.
Armenian Labor and Social Affairs Ministry is the main partner of
the "Program of fighting against trafficking": the center functions
affiliated to it as it is the main institution which deals with the
issues of support and re-integration of the victims. The program will
last for 22 months.
OLD JUGHA KHACHKARS DESTROYED BY AZERIS TO BE RESTORED BY MEANS OF GOOGLE EARTH PROGRAM
ArmInfo
2009-02-13 15:42:00
ArmInfo. The Old Jugha khachkars (cross stones) destroyed by Azeris
will be restored by means of the Google Earth program. President of
Information Technologies Education (ITE) company Garegin Chugaszyan
told journalists today that one can see the Armenian Church St.Norashen
in Georgia in the Google Earth already now. To recall, the church
became a center of a real scandal in 2008 after the priests of the
Georgian Orthodox Church had violated the tombs of two Armenian
philanthropists of Tbilisi Lidia and Mikayel Tamamshyans. According
to G.Chugaszyan, a business proposal has already been worked out to
restore in virtual reality the ancient Armenian city of Ani, as well as
the Old Jugha khachkars destroyed by Azeris. He expressed confidence
that the given project will become popular due to the modern means of
communication as well. In 1 or 2 years IP-telephones will cost less
than $100, and everyone will have the opportunity to see a place the
way it was a thousand years ago, Chugaszyan said. This will have a
positive effect on development of tourism in Armenia.
"This is our initiative, but we hope that additional funds
will be attracted in the future to implement this project",- he
said. Chugaszyan also stressed that young gifted people from Armenia
are involved in the work at the project, and further promotion of the
project will ensure new job sites. "I am sure that in case of the right
approach to the task of familiarizing the world with Armenian cultural
values, we’ll be afraid of no financial crisis",- Chugaszyan said.
IT IS TIME WE SHIFTED TO PROGRESSIVE TAX
A1+
[03:33 pm] 16 February, 2009
Armenian authorities do not carry out a key proposition of the RA
Constitution. The Republic of Armenia is a social country but today’s
tax policy doesn’t contribute to the establishment of a social country.
"The shadow economy enables them to amass a fortune, buy elite flats in
Northern Avenue, islands, rest homes and Hammers for their bodyguards,
but they never pay property tax," says Movses Aristakesyan, President
of the NGO "Center for Economic Rights".
Movses Aristakesyan thinks it is high time we shifted to
a progressive tax. "The profit tax is fixed 20 percent for big
and small businesses. Logically, the entrepreneur will enlarge his
business and show great losses. The more profit the company has,
the higher taxes it will pay, provided that the progressive tax is
applied. It will become a guarantee for a social partnership. But to
achieve this result, we must start from amending the tax on property."
Movses Aristakesyan notes that the amendments to the Law on Value
Added Tax (VAT) have loopholes stemming from the interest of big
businesses. While the methods applied against small businesses are
rather tough.
If a company has a circulation of 58.35 million drams and doesn’t
step the threshold, it acts beyond the law as it doesn’t pay the
VAT. p> To remind, the parliamentary majority voted for the recent
legislative amendments with the exception of the Heritage faction. p>
On the other hand, the coalition voted for the fixed payments that
did not derive from the interests of big businesses, including those
of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), says Aristakesyan.
"Hayastan" trade centre pays a tax 154 million drams and ranks the
489th on the list of great taxpayers. But everyone knows that the
centre brings vast incomes to the owners.
Remind that the center is owned by Hayrapetyans who are BHK members.
"Hrazdan" trade center owned by Rafael-Tatev Ltd is the 347th on the
list of taxpayers and Malatia fair-the 128th.
"Given the present economic growth when the import increases by 4.5%
tax payments continue to lessen. It means the economic growth doesn’t
boost profits," says Movses Aristakesyan.