Author: Kajoyan Gevork

STATE AND LOCAL CALIF. OFFICIALS AND ANCA-WR TO TRAVEL TO ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH

Friday, September 13th, 2013

>From left: Assembly member Adrin Nazarian, Assembly Speaker John
Pèrez and Assembly member Katcho Achadjian

GLENDALE-After more than five months of planning, a bipartisan
delegation of prominent California elected officials and
representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America
-Western Region (ANCA-WR) will travel to Armenia and Artsakh this
week to meet with influential figures across Armenia’s and the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s political spectrum and obtain first-hand
understanding of the rich and dynamic cultures. The visit is scheduled
to take place from September 15, 2013 to September 24, 2013.

“The California State legislative delegation to Armenia is a long
overdue and groundbreaking development. We are very pleased that
Speaker Perez and a bipartisan group of legislators will be arriving
in our country at the invitation of the Governments of Armenia and
Artsakh. We are hopeful that this first in kind mission would leave
a lasting impact and contribute to strengthening political contacts
between the Republic of Armenia and the great State of California
– home to hundreds of thousands of compatriots,” stated former
Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannissian. “The
legislative trip to Armenia is an important project I am involved in as
Armenia’s Consul General and I would like to seize this opportunity to
thank all our partners and friends, including the ANCA Western Region
who helped us in making this project possible,” added Hovhannissian.

In an effort to be better acquainted with one another prior to the
trip and to provide the state delegation with an opportunity to obtain
logistical answers about the trip, Consul General Hovhannissian and
ANCA-WR representatives traveled to Sacramento on Monday, September
9, for a pre-trip orientation. The meeting, filled with enthusiasm
and excitement, also gave way for participants to review the more
than 120 page packet that outlined a hefty itinerary for the visit
filled with meetings with officials and historic site visits as well
as background information on Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian
Genocide, and current issues within the region.

“The gathering of representatives from both the State of California
and the City of Los Angeles governments is an important step in
strengthening the ties with the Republic of Armenia. I am pleased
to have the largest Armenian American political organization in the
United States, the Armenian National Committee of America, as part of
this traveling delegation to the Republic of Armenia. I look forward
to continue working with the ANCA in building a greater relationship
between the Republic of Armenia, the California State Assembly and
the Armenian American Diaspora. Promoting further awareness of issues
pertinent to Armenia is an integral part of my responsibility as both
a State Assemblyman and as an Armenian-American,” noted Assemblymember
Adrin Nazarian.

“We are pleased to have actively participated in the planning
and facilitation of this historic trip and are grateful for the
hospitality and initiative of the Armenian Government as well as CA
Assembly Members Adrin Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian who worked hand
in hand to make this possible,” stated ANCA Western Region Chair Nora
Hovsepian. “We are proud to serve as a bridge between government
representatives and the people of California and Armenia and are
looking forward to what promises to be a very memorable trip that
will set the foundation for similar visits with other officials in
the future,” added Hovsepian.

Delegation Participants include: Speaker John A. Pèrez, Speaker of
the California State Assembly Katcho Achadjian, California State
Assembly Cheryl R. Brown, California State Assembly Adrin Nazarian,
California State Assembly Scott Wilk, California State Assembly Bob
Blumenfield, Los Angeles City Council Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles
City Council Nora Hovsepian, Chair, Armenian National Committee of
America -Western Region Elen Asatryan, Executive Director, Armenian
National Committee of America – Western Region Dan Savage, Chief
of Staff, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian Areen Ibranossian, Chief of
Staff, Councilmember Paul Krekorian Jeremy Oberstein, Communications
Director, Councilmember Paul Krekorian Karo Torossian, Director of
Planning and Land Usage, Councilmember Paul Krekorian

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

EU DELEGATION TO ARMENIA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST CIVIL ACTIVISTS

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. In a statement issued today the EU
Delegation to Armenia expressed concern over violent attacks against
civil activists in Armenia.

On September Haykak Arshamian, a program coordinator at the Yerevan
Press Club, and Suren Saghatelian from Transparency International
Armenia branch were beaten up by several unidentified men and
hospitalized shortly after attending an anti-government gathering.

“The delegation of the European Union expresses its deep concern
about the recent attacks on civil activists in Armenia, as well as
in connection with cases of terror against human rights defenders,’
the statement said.

The EU Delegation called on Armenian authorities to take prompt and
decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

The EU Delegation recalled that respect for democratic principles,
human rights and fundamental freedoms remain essential elements in
the European Union’s bilateral agenda with Armenia.

The attacks were condemned also by the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. They urged the Armenian
authorities to take swift action to punish the responsible
and ensure the rights of citizens. -0- – See more at:

ERASMUS+ WILL BOOST EU’S EASTERN PARTNERSHIP, EDUCATION MINISTERS MEET IN YEREVAN

17:19 13.09.2013

The Ministers of Education of the Eastern Partnership countries met
in Yerevan today.

Androulla Vassiliou, Member of the European Commission responsible
for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, thanked Armenian
Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan and his colleagues
for organizing the event.

“Education, and in particular higher education, has a growing
international dimension. The type of dialogue we are having today
has become a necessity, since we all share common challenges in a
rapidly changing world,” she said

According to her, the EU is determined to do more and is set to
launch its new programme for education, training and youth, Erasmus+
next year.

Erasmus+ will replace the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes,
and deliver something bigger and better. “Erasmus+ will create more
opportunities for our institutions to work together and develop closer
contacts between people. We will, for example, for the first time open
the intra-EU Erasmus programme and offer exactly the same cooperation
mechanisms to universities in your region,” Androulla Vassiliou said.

Erasmus+, the new programme for education and training, youth and
sport, will merge seven existing programmes into one.

It will bring about simplification, making the programme’s actions more
visible and easier to understand. This will also bring more efficiency
and more coherence between the different actions within the EU and
in our increasingly important work with the other regions of the world.

Erasmus+ will build on the success of Tempus and Erasmus Mundus, and
continue the EU’s support to Eastern Partnership countries provided
before 2013. We want in particular to boost mobility between our
regions, and support partnerships between higher education institutions
which will help to strengthen their capacity.

Erasmus+ will have a strong international component, aiming to attract
the brightest global talent to Europe. It will provide funding for
more outgoing mobility, international partnerships and joint research
projects, as well as for capacity building and staff development in
partner countries throughout the world.

More higher education institutions will be able to take part in the
programme, since participation will not be restricted to a small
number of organizations participating in a call for tender.

Institutions will enjoy more flexibility when it comes to finding
partners, provided they have signed an inter-institutional agreement.

Erasmus+ will mean that neighbouring countries continue to benefit
from degree mobility through the award of high-level scholarships to
participate in joint Master programmes.

“The EU’s negotiations on the budget for the international component of
Erasmus+ have not yet finished. But I am confident that my proposals
to further invest in education and research and boost support to our
neighbouring countries will prevail. My message has been clear from
the very beginning: investment in education is an investment in our
future prosperity,” Androulla Vassiliou concluded.

PROTEST NEAR YEREVAN COVERED MARKET AMID CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION (VIDEO)

19:16 13.09.13

The civic group protesting against the reconstruction of Yerevan’s
Covered Market rallied Friday afternoon simultaneously with the crowd
of citizens who want the re-opening of the trading area.

The first group arrived at the protest site holding up posters and
chanting slogans.

Those backing Samvel Alexanyan, the businessman MP who has initiated
the construction work, protested on the sidewalk. The activists
were on the opposite side. The police were maintaining public order
throughout the protest.

No clashes occurred during the rally except for an incident that saw
one of those demanding the market’s re-opening cross to the other
sidewalk to disperse the activists.

In the meantime, the development activities continued, with the
market’s facade gradually changing its image in front of the crowd’s
eyes.

WE ACCEPTED ARMENIA’S DECISION TO BECOME CUSTOMS UNION MEMBER AS NOTIFICATION – GERMAN MP

September 13, 2013 | 15:39

YEREVAN. – During the visit to Armenia, meetings were held with the
Armenian parliamentarians as a result of which I can note that the
approach, according to which Armenia must either enter the Customs
Union, or initial the EU Association Agreement, is still acceptable
for me.

Jurgen Klimke, member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated the aforesaid during Friday’s
press conference at the Armenian National Assembly.

But the German MP added that this is his personal view.

“We accept Armenia’s decision to become a member in the Customs Union.

If Armenia has made such decision, it means this is the right [thing]
for it. We accept as a notification that Armenia has chosen the
Customs Union,” Klimke noted.

To the query as to how the Armenia-EU relations will be in the future,
the German Bundestag member replied by noting that if we consider
that the Association Agreement will not be initialed, it will be
difficult to say.

“Nonetheless, there will be cooperation with Armenia, but this will
no longer be about the quality of the cooperation. Relations with the
countries that initial the agreement will develop with other quality,
and they will receive a status,” Jurgen Klimke concluded.

PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE PARLIAMENT

13.09.2013

On September 13 the press conference of the member of the FRG Bundestag
Jurgen Klimke was held in the National Assembly, who is in Armenia
at the invitation of the Head of Armenia-Germany Friendship Group
Artak Davtyan.

The deputy of Bundestag Jurgen Klimke informed the attendees that he
had already visited Armenia for the third time. The visit is cognitive:
the deputy has a goal to get acquainted with the inner-political
situation and external political perspectives of our country.

Meetings have been held in the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, in Armenia-Germany Freindship Group, the spheres of possible
cooperation have also been discussed for that purpose.

Jurgen Klimke informed those present that he had also visited the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and had a number of meetings. In October
he will also be in the Republic of Azerbaijan as an observer, and
after that he can have an opinion on the NKR conflict.

Sharing his impressions Mr Klimke said that there is desire and
opportunity between the two countries to deepen the cooperation in
different spheres.

ARMENIAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY OF ROMANIA NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PRIZE

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

14:35, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Economy and Commerce
of Romania Varujan Vosganian has been nominated for the Nobel Prize
in Literature. As reports “Armenpress” citing Mondo News website,
the Romanian-Armenian politician announced this modestly saying that
he is not aware of his victory.

The Armenian Minister made a note in his official website and expressed
his gratitude to all those people, who believe in his victory and
noted that Writers’ Unions of three countries nominated him for the
Prize. Among other things he emphasized: “This is an unprecedented
phenomenon for the Romanian political elite, when a Romanian statesmen
is being nominated for the Nobel Prize.”

Born in Craiova to a family of Armenian ethnicity, Vosganian studied
at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza High School in FocÅ~_ani. He then studied
Commerce at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (graduated 1982)
and Mathematics at the University of Bucharest (graduated 1991),
gaining a Ph.D. in economics in 1998.

In 1990, he became president of the Armenians’ Union of Romania
and he was twice (1990-1992 and 1992-1996) elected a member of the
Chamber of Deputies, and twice a Senator (1996-2000 and 2004-2008),
on the lists of the National Liberal Party.

Between 1996 and 2003, he was the leader of Uniunea Forţelor de
Dreapta, a small right wing liberal party, which was eventually merged
into the National Liberal Party.

Vosganian has written several books, especially on economics and
politics, but also fiction and poetry. He is a member of the Romanian
Writers’ Union, and since 2005, he has served as its vice president.

Vosganian is also a leading member of the Romanian Humorists’
Association.

In October 2006, he was nominated to be a member of the European
Commission after Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007.

In December 2006, he was named Minister of Economy and commerce.

a-nominated-for-nobel-prize.html

FRANCE WILL ASSIST ARMENIA MOVES IN DIRECTION OF CLOSE INTERACTION WITH EU – AMBASSADOR

September 13, 2013 | 12:55

YEREVAN. – Armenia obviously wants to continue cooperation with EU
in all areas and formats, French Ambassador said.

“We are pleased with Armenia’s determination to continue dialogue
with European structures,” Henri Reynaud said during the event in
“L’Alliance francaise d’Armenie” educational center. “We want Armenia
to remain on the EU agenda and encourage Yerevan to further pursue
policy of close interaction with the European Union.”

Ambassador Reynaud noted that Armenia realizes that France will
continue assisting all moves in this direction.

Asked about possible initialing of the Association Agreement, the
French diplomat said: “We shall see.”

Following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow between
Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin,
Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs Union and
subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

UNCLEAR HOW JOINING CUSTOMS UNION WILL AFFECT KARABAKH ISSUE – ARF

September 13, 2013 | 13:06

YEREVAN. – The arrangements that Armenia and EU had before September
3 are not feasible, since the Customs Union and initialing of the
Association Agreement is incompatible, ARF Dashnaktsutyun MP said.

Armen Rustamyan believes the Armenian authorities are trying to be
smart saying they will continue cooperation with EU and are ready to
sign the agreement.

“I do not rule out that the agreement can be signed, but it will not
be the Association Agreement, which Armenia had to initial in Vilnius.

Europe is cooperating with many countries, for example African states,
and is signing many agreements, but not the Association Agreement,”
Rustamyan told a briefing on Friday.

He also noted that if Armenia has no alternative to the Customs Union,
it is not clear what to expect in the Karabakh peace process.

“It is not clear how Armenia’s joining the Customs Union will affect
settlement of Karabakh conflict, the international recognition of
Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh should not remain outside the Customs
Union,” he emphasized.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

CONFLICT OF INTEREST?: ANTI-CORRUPTION CENTER WANTS ANSWERS ON NA VICE-SPEAKER

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

NEWS | 13.09.13 | 13:51

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Transparency International anti-corruption center has turned to the
parliament and the Ethics Commission for High-Ranking Officials of
Armenia with a motion to examine possible violation of MP ethics
by vice-speaker Hermine Naghdalyan. TI suspects that Naghdalyan has
mingled her law-making duties with her business activities, and has
asked for information on Naghdalyan’s declared property and income,
and analysis of the sources in comparison with information circulated
in the press.

Hetq investigative journalism online newspaper posted an article on
August 29, titled “A 409 million drams agreement has been signed with
a Naghdalyan-owned company”, claiming that Sisian BUAT LLC belonging
to her had signed a state procurement agreement without prior tender
and had by government decree approved 416.8 million drams’ ($1.03
million) allotment for the capital repair of separate segments of
Yerevan-Meghri highway.

“I will provide necessary explanations, since they have turned to
the ethics commission, but if you read their demand, you will see
that the issue they point to is the parliamentarian’s involvement in
entrepreneurship, which is an unfounded allegation and is not true.

As for the fact the MP had incomes, profit from that organization
of which she is a shareholder, she has never made a secret of it and
for years has openly declared it,” says Naghdalyan.

In reference to the Hetq article the Republican MP says there is a
government decree by which a decision was made, and that’s completely
legal. She had taken no actions that imply conflict of interests in
this connection, she says.

“If I ever happen to have a conflict of interests while being a
member of parliament I will act in accordance with the legislation,
the Constitution and rules of procedure of the Republic of Armenia,”
she says.

In July, the anti-corruption center turned to the Ethics Commission
for High-Ranking Officials asking to start a probe into Yerevan Mayor
Taron Margaryan’s activities.

“Has the Commission looked into the allegations circulated by media
related to Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan’s property and income sources;
has it analyzed and compared his declarations of income and those
of people related to him with the information speculated upon in the
press?”, the TI letter to the commission read in part.

The Ethics Commission has initiated proceedings, following the center’s
petition, to examine Margaryan’s property and income sources, risks
of conflict of interests, possible cases of abuse of his position
and power when administering investments.

Earlier TI had turned to the Ethics Commission to examine whether
Gagik Khachatryan, the head of the State Revenue Committee, was engaged
in business activities which would involve a conflict of interest as
far as his official duties were concerned. The Commission, however,
ruled there was “no conflict of interest”.