Author: Kajoyan Gevork

THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO ARMENIA HAS INCREASED BY 10.3%
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
10.02.2012 17:14

The number of tourists visiting Armenia increased by 10.3% in 2011
as compared to 2010, Deputy Minister of Economy Ara Petrosyan told
a press conference today.

Most visitors come from the CIS, European countries, also as from
Japan and other Asian countries, the Deputy Minister said.

Ara Petrosyan disagrees with the opinion that having rest in Armenia is
an expensive pleasure. “The accommodation fees in most hotels are not
higher than those in other countries of the region. I mean Azerbaijan,
Iran, Georgia and Turkey,” he said.

Ara Petrosyan said the reconstruction of roads to the places of
interest will be in the focus of attention this year, and the Ministry
of Economy is actively cooperating with the Ministry of Transport
and Communication on the issue.

Another priority in 2012 is to ensure the proportional development
of tourism resources in marzes of the republic.

US NOT TO LAUNCH WAR AGAINST IRAN FEARING TO LOSE IRANIANS’ AFFECTION – ARMENIAN EXPERT

news.am
February 10, 2012 | 14:40

YEREVAN. – Serious people in the West will consider lots of factors
prior to launching military actions against Iran, Oriental Studies
expert Ruben Safrastyan said at a press conference on Friday.

The expert said the fact that Iran is not Iraq but also a more powerful
state with lots of allies will be taken into account.

“It is also important for the U.S. that majority of the Iranian
population is well with America and it will not like to lose this,”
the expert said adding the existence of great Iranian Diaspora,
including in the U.S.

In response to the question why he believes military actions against
Iran are unlikely to start, Safrastyan said first Russia will not
want war on its frontiers. Hence, the UN Security Council cannot
approve the decision. China will likely to be against as well.

According to him, in case escalation of the situation, Russia will
make serious moves, similar to 1990s when Turkey brought closer its
troops to the border with Armenia. Regarding Iran, more possible
variant is not planning military actions but provocations.

LARGE-SCALE CONSTRUCTION WITH NON-STATE MEANS AS WELL

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
08.02.2012

At the NKR Government Session

Today a regular session of the NKR Government chaired by Prime Minister
Ara Haroutyunyan has been held.

By the first question of the agenda the executive approved the project
of measurements dedicated to the economic development of NKR that
will be realized by the state budget means of 2012. From the state
budget means 50 million AMD is foreseen for this project.

One of the most important projects asserted by the Government is the
list of objects within the frameworks of capital construction in 2012.

Total sum of capital construction and repairing works made up 8
milliard 985 million 750 thousand AMD. For construction and repairing
works in the city Stepanakert is foreseen 2 milliard 300 million AMD.

577 million 848 thousand AMD was allocated for the development and
running of irrigation and water system. The reconstruction of Artsakh
state dramatic theatre will start during the current year, construction
of Stepanakert’s sport complex will be continued, new school buildings
will be built in Astghashen (Askeran region), Tsovategh (Martouni
region), Azokh ,Ukhtadzor (Hadrout region) and so on.

At the same time Prime Minister informed that capital construction
will be fulfilled not only by state means but also by charitable: by
means of all-armenian fund “Hayastan” will be restored water systems
and preschool institutions.

At the session the government approved annual programs to be realized
in the sphere of agriculture, education and science, culture and youth,
sport, real estate cadastre, tourism and nature protection.

These documents will be fully put up in the website of the NKR
government ().

In connection with the above mentioned programs Prime Minister Ara
Haroutunyan noted that additional measures will be realized by means
that are expected from other sources.

This year it is foreseen to import grain harvester combines, tractors
and other agricultural equipments at the cost of AMD 3 billion. They
will be let to private farmers by leasing on favourable terms,-said
the Prime Minister.

In a number of interim programs the executive confirms state order of
purchasing services of social welfare ministry’s “Stepanakert nursing
home” SNO. In 2012 it will amount AMD 105 million. State service will
be carried out in hospital and at home for 225 persons.

The executive approved new regulations for the employees of healthcare
service: the previous one was recognized invalid. It was defined as
well that normal working time duration for healthcare employees will
be not more than 39 hours per a week.

The executive endorsed state order of purchasing TV and radio
broadcasting services.

Charter of real estate cadastre’s geodesy and land state agency was
approved as well.

This year the state will allocate means for realizing control over
livestock of predators. It is provided to spend AMD 18 million to
lessen livestock of wolves and jackals that threaten the population
and agriculture.

During the session the executive came out with 4 initiatives. First,
it was approved draft of the NKR “Family code”. According to the
draft only the marriages registered in the registry office are valid.

Changes were proposed to the NKR law “On state nonprofit
organization”. According to it state organization in the way of
reorganization may be reorganized to fully state participation
organization or fund.

Significant amendments were made in the NKR law “On general
education”. They mainly concern to a teacher, his retraining,
qualification and conferring a degree.

The last initiative of the executive refers to the NKR rescue service.

They were mainly of editorial character-a number of changes and
certain additions, which concern rights and duties of rescue service’s
employees.

These four initiatives will be submitted to the NKR NA’s discussion.

MEMBERSHIP OF FRANCE IN OSCE NOT TO MAKE SENSE IF IT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ARMENIA

Trend
Feb 10 2012
Azerbaijan

If Paris continues to support Armenia, defending the law on “Armenian
genocide”, the membership of France in the OSCE Minsk Group will not
make sense, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in an interview
with the Turkish ABHaber.

“France can support Armenia, but the continuation of its participation
in the OSCE at the same time would not make sense,” Mammadyarov said.

The minister said 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory remains occupied
by Armenia. If France adopts law on the fictitious “Armenian genocide”,
a country must consider the question of occupation of Azerbaijani
territory, Mammadyarov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

“Armenians committed genocide in Khojaly and occupied Azerbaijani
territories.France worth to consider the crimes of Armenia,”
Mammadyarov said.

Mammadyarov also noted that the adoption of the law criminalizing
denial of the “Armenian genocide” by the Senate of France is
unacceptable.

Previously on January 23, after an eight-hour debate, the French
senate adopted the bill. Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86
voted against.

The bill demands a years imprisonment and a fine of ~@45,000 for
denying the so-called “genocide.”

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the
Turkey – Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the
Armenians living in Anadolu and have achieved recognition of the
“Armenian Genocide” by the parliaments of several countries.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: QUAND SARKOZY SE DECIDA POUR UNE LOI

L’Express

10 fev 2012
France

Le vote du 23 janvier dernier a marque l’epilogue d’un long combat
des Armeniens contre la negation du genocide de 1915. Nicolas Sarkozy
a pris sa decision lors d’un voyage en Armenie en octobre 2011.

C’est sous le coup de l’emotion, lors de son voyage officiel a Erevan,
en octobre 2011, que Nicolas Sarkozy a definitivement pris fait
et cause pour la penalisation de la negation du genocide armenien,
raconte un ministre. Precisement a sa sortie du monument a la memoire
des victimes de 1915 a Erevan.

Les associations d’Armeniens de France presentes dans la delegation
demandent alors au chef de l’Etat ce qu’il entend faire. “Si la Turquie
n’a pas reconnu sa responsabilite d’ici a la fin de l’annee, la France
fera voter un texte de loi”, previent aussitôt Nicolas Sarkozy.

AZERBAIJAN URGES EU AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO AVOID “DOUBLE STANDARDS” IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Feb 10 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan urged the EU and the European Parliament to take a position
based on the norms and principles of international law and to avoid
“double standards” in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a conference “EU-Azerbaijan:
new horizons for the partnership” organized by the European People’s
Party in Brussels.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister appreciated the resolution on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adopted in the European Parliament in 2010.

According to the resolution, the world public was informed about the
importance of the Armenian forces’ withdrawal from the Azerbaijani
occupied territories and thousands of Azerbaijani internally displaced
persons’ return home.

Minister expressed confidence that this document will not be the last
one among similar documents, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

NEW MILITARY INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES TO BE FOUNDED IN ARMENIA AS PART OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 19:09

Secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia Arthur
Baghdasaryan and his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev met
in Yerevan Thursday and signed a number of agreements on further
enhancement of the bilateral cooperation.

Baghdasaryan told media that an agreement to enhance the
military-technical cooperation was achieved during the meeting. In
particular, he said, new military industrial enterprises will be
established, and the frontier infrastructure on the Armenian border
with Iran and Turkey will be modernized. Baghdasaryan said that the
arrangement achieved imply also creation of joint regional center
of the Emergency Situation Ministry that will make it possible for
Armenia and Russia to upgrade operative response to and management
of the existing challenges.

POLITICAL PARTIES OF ARMENIA TO BE OBLIGED TO PUBLISH THEIR FINANCIAL FLOWS

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 19:15

The Armenian parliament made alterations to the law “On parties”,
and alterations and amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code
and Civil Code in the second and final reading, Thursday.

Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan said 3 written suggestions were
received by the second reading, with two of them were accepted fully
and the other partially.

According to the draft law, it is forbidden to finance a party by
foreign states, organizations and citizens and the companies with
foreign capital. If earlier the share of the foreign participation was
25%, at present it will become 30%. The diversification of financing
is another new limit in the law. According to the draft law, the sums
as well as property and services, got by a party as a gift, can be not
more than a million size of the minimal salary for a year. Donation
more than 10 thousand-fold of the minimal salary is not allowed from
one commercial organization or individual person, and 1 thousand-fold
– from a non-commercial organization. The donations more than 100
thousand-fold of the minimal salary (100 thsd drams or $265) must
not be transferred in cash. The parties will be obliged to publish
their annual financial reports, in which besides the financial flows
they should mention expenses for the election campaign. Every year,
not late than on 25 March the parties must publish in the press the
report about the funds spent and received by them and to present the
audit conclusion on the matter if necessary. The parties, the assets of
which are more than 10 mln drams, will be obliged to publish reports
and the audit conclusion after holding of audit.

PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA RATIFIES CONVENTIONS ON EXCLUDING DOUBLE TAXATION WITH GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly adopted
today a number of laws and ratified international agreements.

Armenpress reports that the parliament ratified convention on excluding
double taxation between Armenia and Great Britain.

The parliament also ratified the convention on excluding double
taxation of incomes and property between Armenia and Ireland.

Currently Armenia has agreements excluding double taxation with
27 states.

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHER STUDIES HEALTH CARE ISSUES AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY

US Fed News
February 8, 2012 Wednesday 6:46 PM EST

LAS CRUCES, N.M., Feb. 8 — New Mexico State University issued the
following news release:

Although the health care system in the U.S. may be imperfect, an
international researcher is collaborating with colleagues at New
Mexico State University to study what practices are successful in
order to help cure health care woes in her native Armenia.

Associate Professor Tamara Tonoyan has conducted research and
participated in conferences in Armenia, Austria, Belgium, England,
Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia and in the U.S. at the Woodrow
Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C., among other places.

Tonoyan’s current research project is titled “Health care reform
in Armenia: Finding ways to overcome challenges.” The international
researcher is working under a fellowship from the Carnegie Corporation
of New York and her research aims at exploring ways to overcome
problems in Armenia’s health care system by analyzing the best
practices of developed countries.

One of the ways Tonoyan analyzes health care systems is by looking
at health services affordability. According to her research, the
utilization of health care services is low in Armenia, despite the
sufficient number of health care facilities and medical workforce.

Demand for medical services in Armenia is four times less than supply.

Many do not use the system because they do not have health insurance
and cannot afford to pay for services out of pocket.

Utilization is low even for the 23 percent of Armenians who qualify
for the government health care program “Basic Benefits Package,”
or BBP. Only 65 percent of those eligible for BBP use healthcare
services. This is in part because the government sets payment at
rates that may not cover providers’ expenditures. As a result, BBP
participants are pressured to give additional informal payments in
exchange for health services.

“BBP is not based on real costs of services and thus contributes to
unofficial or illicit payments,” Tonoyan said. “Moreover, all services
that are not included in BBP must be paid directly by the patient.”

This is not a problem unique to Armenia. Tonoyan stated that while
informal payments in Armenia may exceed 45 percent of the total
health care resources, the rate is similar in the neighboring country
of Georgia at 35-40 percent and is nearly double in Azerbaijan at
84 percent.

“In these conditions, many Armenians prefer the ostrich method,”
Tonoyan said. “It is better to not know about our diseases than to
know and not be able to treat them because of lack of access to health
care and especially medication.”

In the U.S., the problem of drug affordability has been highlighted by
the Medicare participant’s plight of the “donut hole” or coverage gap
many experience when their Medicare Part D prescription benefits run
out. Until recently, many Americans were left paying the full cost of
prescription medications once Medicare paid out $2,840. The Affordable
Health Care Act now extends a 50 percent discount on brand-name
prescription medications when participants reach the “donut hole.”

Tonoyan hopes that by researching the health systems of developed
countries with the help of NMSU colleagues, she can find strategies
to make the health care in Armenia more responsive to the needs of
the poor. She is also studying ways to reduce unnecessary medical
costs and introduce effective policies and programs.

Toward that end, Tonoyan is working not only with NMSU researchers and
professors in the College of Health and Social Services, but also with
professors in the College of Business and the College of Education.

“I truly believe that increasing collaboration with U.S. colleagues,
as well as gradual adoption of the most accessible procedures and
technologies will be very fruitful,” Tonoyan said. “This initiative
gives me a chance to share my experiences, to compare my approach with
the approaches of my U.S. colleagues and develop a new perspective.”