In Q1 2013 premiums of Armenian insurance companies dropped by 1% wh

In Q1 2013 premiums of Armenian insurance companies dropped by 1%
while compensations grew by 80%

2013-05-23 17:08:00

ArmInfo. In Q1 2013 premiums of Armenia’s insurance companies dropped
by 1% to 11.2bln AMD or $26.8mln, while compensations grew by 80% to
4.7bln AMD. According to ArmInfo’s Ranking of Insurance Companies of
Armenia, Rosgosstrakh Armenia collected 3.2bln AMD in premiums and
1.4bln AMD in compensations. INGO Armenia collected 2.8bln AMD and
paid 1.083bln AMD, Nairi Insurance 1.6bln AMD and 528mln AMD,
respectively. Garant Insurance collected just 604.1mln AMD in premiums
and paid 506.7mln AMD in compensations.

12 Aragatzotn Villages Protest Water Shortage: What General Owns the

12 Aragatzotn Villages Protest Water Shortage: What General Owns the
Mini Hydro-Plant Causing the Problem?
Kristine Aghalaryan

15:10, May 24, 2013
For the past two months villagers in twelve rural communities in the
Aragatzotn Province have complained that they are going without water.

Two mini hydro-electric plants are the culprits. And now, there are
plans to build a third.

Villagers say that plant operators are diverting the water of the
Amberd River to turn the turbines of the two plants.

On April 30, the villagers closed the Yerevan-Gyumri road in protest.

Residents of the twelve affected communities say there is not enough
water left for irrigation purposes.

On the day of the protest, the Aragatzotn Provincial Governor
interceded and promised to look into the matter. But with summer soon
approaching, water for irrigation will remain a top priority issue.

Orkovi village Mayor Arayik Manoukyan, where the two operating plants
are located, says that a work permit for a third plant has been
granted but that an operating license hasn’t.

The `Environmental Impact Assessment’ SNCO told Hetq that the third
plant had passed inspection.

However, when we asked to see the inspection results we were told to
put the request in writing since it was a day before a holiday and
that everyone in the office had gone home for the day. (It was only
two in the afternoon -KA)

The company owning the plants is an outfit called Amberd Hek Ltd.

According to State Registry at the Ministry of Justice, Iranian
citizen Pavriz Nosrat Alamdar owns 49% of the company’s shares.

Another 16% is owned by Robert Okhanyan. He operates two other Mini
plants in the Haghpat village in Lori Province. His name cropped up in
connection with plans to build a plant at the Trchkan Waterfall.

The remaining 30% is owned by Major-General Melsik Chilingaryan, Chief
of the Department of Arms Control of the Armenian Armed Forces

http://hetq.am/eng/articles/26793/12-aragatzotn-villages-protest-water-shortage-what-general-owns-the-mini-hydro-plant-causing-the-problem?.html

Hundreds of Cyclists to Particpate in "Get to Know Yerevan" Race

Hundreds of Cyclists to Particpate in “Get to Know Yerevan” Race

12:48, May 24, 2013

On May 26, some 300 cyclists will take part in a contest called `Get
to Know Yerevan’.

Part treasure hunt, part race, 46 teams of six cyclists each will have
to wind their way through Armenia’s capital to reach a total of five
sites (statues, gardens, famous and unfamiliar streets, government
buildings).

Clues to the whereabouts of the sites will be given in riddle form.

The Youth Fund of Armenia has organized the race with the cooperation
of the Hayasa Youth and the Hetzaniv + NGOs.

The race will kick-off at 2:30pm from Shahoumyan Square.

Artsakh defense army command staff exercises end in Martakert

Artsakh defense army command staff exercises end in Martakert

May 24, 2013 – 17:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The President of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic
Bako Sahakyan visited Martakert region on Friday, May 24 to attend the
final stage of command-staff exercises.

At the event, NKR Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan delivered a summary
report, while President Sahakyan stressed the combat readiness of
Artsakh defense among key factors in the country’s security and state
building.

The Karabakh leader further held a working consultation in the
Martakert regional center to focus on capital repair of the town’s
water supply system.
Minister of Municipal Engineering Karen Shahramanyan and the head of
the structures in charge delivered reports on the process, Central
Information Department at Artsakh President’s Office reported.

Armenia has been faced with new challenges since the election proces

16:26 – 24.05.13

Armenia has been faced with new challenges since the election process
ended, public and political figure Ashot Manucharyan told journalists
on Friday.

One of the challenges has to do with Russia, the other with European
integration.

Armenia markedly worsened its relations with Russia by `cheating’ its
long-standing ally, which may cause harsh responses both inside
Armenia and in terms of fundamental questions.

`Russia sees most Armenians view it as their friend, while the select
few do not. Russia will try to make the people do away with the select
few. On the other hand, Armenia is paving the way for its integration
with Europe. Our parliament has adopted six bills,’ Manucharyan said.

According to Manucharyan, integrating with Europe is tantamount to
integrating with the LGBT community, which accounts for Russia’s anger
against Armenia.

Russia was dissatisfied with Armenia – particularly with President
Serzh Sargsyan – before the elections and had an army that would have
probably overthrown the Armenia’s authorities.

`But something happened at the last moment. Serzh Sargsyan visited
Moscow and they talked. We do not know what the talk was about, but we
know the result. Not only did Serzh Sargsyan get an opportunity to act
freely, but also all the [opposition] parties dropped out of the
election campaign. That meant full confidence in Serzh Sargsyan. But
now Armenia seems to be doing something, speaking of the European
Union, participates in meetings outside the agreements. And strong
anti-Armenian steps have been made for the last 20 days,’ he said.

To substantiate his words, he pointed to the expected gas price rise.
In this context he said that, if Russia’s strategic problems are
settled, it exports gas at its domestic prices, that is, at lower
prices than have now been set for Armenia.

`But if Russia takes other steps, it means something’s wrong,’
Manucharyan said.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/05/24/ashot-manucharyan/

Government members and governors to help Armavir farmers

Government members and governors to help Armavir farmers

In accordance with the agreement reached with farmers of Armavir
province hit by the recent hailstorm, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
all members of the Armenian government, the heads of the bodies
adjunct to the Armenian government, and the governors of all Armenian
provinces will transfer money from their personal incomes to the
relief fund for farmers affected by natural disasters, the government
press service reports.

Those who want to help hailstorm-hit farmers may send money to the
following accounts:

Converse Bank
1930047127690100 /AMD/
1930047127690101 /US dollars/

###

Armenian government officials to make personal contributions to farmer
support fund

YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. Armenia’s prime-minister Tigran Sargsyan, all
cabinet members and heads of government agencies, as well as governors
of the country’s regions will make personal contributions to a special
fund of support to farmers affected by natural disasters, press office
of Armenian government reports.

Transfers will be made in pursuance of the agreements reached with
farmers who suffered damage from hailstorm in Armavir region,
according to the report.

Anyone who would like to help the farmers can transfer money to
1930047127690100 account number (in drams) and to 1930047127690101
account number (in dollars) in Conversebank. -0-

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2013/05/24/gov-armavir/
http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_government_officials_to_make_personal_contributions_to_farmer_support_fund/

Armenia without Armenians is what Russia wishes, says expert

Armenia without Armenians is what Russia wishes, says expert

12:46 – 24.05.13

With its political presence in our region, Russia is trying all its
best to raise barriers to Armenia’s development, according to a
regional expert.

`The Armenians have never needed a third power to rely on, and they
always had a victory,’ Sargis Hatspanyan told reporters on Friday. `We
have always managed to solve our problems when left to ourselves, and
the solution was always in our favor.’

To the journalists’ remark that Russia is supplying weapons to Armenia
today, Hatspanyan responded that the country is carrying out a
migration program, by taking Armenians to the remote region of
Siberia.

`Russia implements the `Armenia without Armenians’ program. Migration
in my country has reached such a level that one doesn’t have to even
offer a weapon. There has to be someone to use it,’ he noted.

Speaking about the Russian plan to impose higher gas tariffs on
Armenia, the activist described it as a political decision.

`That’s something to be settled by the authorities, like in all other
countries. Everything falls to the people here. Once the people are
unable to cover the expenses, the migration problem comes up,’
Hatspanyan added
.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/05/24/hacpanyan/

Azerbaijan plans purchase of Ukrainian radars

Azerbaijan plans purchase of Ukrainian radars

13:18 * 24.05.13

Azerbaijan has launched negotiations with the Ukrainian scientific
manufacturing enterprise, Isrkra, over the purchase of the 80K6 mobile
radars, the APA News Agency reported.

The Ukrainian representatives have offered Azerbaijan the updated
version of the radars – 80K6í – which is designed for anti-aircraft
forces’ radio-technical and anti-missile subdivisions.

The 80K6 missiles have a capacity of accompanying targets at a maximum
distance of 400km, indicating aircraft coordinates and measuring their
speed.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Compte rendu de la réunion organisée avec la mère de Sevak Balekçi

NAZARPEK
Compte rendu de la réunion organisée avec la mère de Sevak Balekçi – Photos

Pour Sevag, contre l’oubli

Rencontre avec Ani Balekçi au Centre de Jeunesse Arménien

Le samedi 4 mai 2013, Ani Balekçi, la maman de Sevag, jeune arménien
assassiné le 24 avril 2011, alors qu’il ne le lui restait que
vingt-trois jours pour finir son service militaire dans l’armée
turque, était l’invitée de l’association NAZARPEK Jeunesse HENTCHAKIAN
à Alfortville, au Centre de Jeunesse Arménien.
La salle était comble. Les invités étaient venus écouter le témoignage
d’une mère, à qui l’on avait arraché son enfant, son « printemps ».
Après le mot de bienvenue prononcé par Sarkis Ichkhanian, porte-parole
de l’association organisatrice, il a été demandé aux invités
d’observer une minute de silence à la mémoire de Sevag. Puis un film a
été diffusé, rappelant les moments forts de la commémoration du 24
avril 2013 à Istanbul.

Anjel Dikme, la modératrice, a rappelé les faits avant de laisser la
parole à Ani Balekçi.
« Mon fils, mon printemps, allait revenir, il ne lui restait que
vingt-trois jours pour rentrer, ils l’ont assassiné, le jour du 24
avril, il y a maintenant deux ans, pour nous rappeler que le 1915
n’est pas fini » a-t-elle dit.
Ani Balekçi a alors relaté comment les membres de sa famille et
elle-même ont été informés de la mort de Sevag. « On m’a dit d’aller
sur internet et de chercher de ses nouvelles. Il y a du nouveau
m’ont-ils dit. J’ai tapé SEVAG sur Google et je n’ai rien trouvé. J’ai
tapé le nom de sa caserne et là, il y avait une information de
dernière minute qui disait : un soldat nommé Sevag, a été transféré à
l’hôpital pour une autopsie. Je ne comprenais pas ce qui se passait.
Quelques jours auparavant, il nous demandait de lui envoyer des
vêtements blancs, même des chaussures blanches pour le jour de son
départ, c’est la raison pour laquelle j’ai toujours quelque chose de
blanc dans mes vêtements. Mon mari disait qu’il devait y avoir une
erreur. Ma mère, la grand-mère de Sevag, depuis ce jour- là a perdu la
raison, elle est toujours hospitalisée. Moi, j’ai compris que mon
Sevag était parti à jamais… »
Malgré l’émotion, Ani Balrekçi a voulu continuer. « On a pris l’avion
avec l’avocat et on est parti à Diyarbakir. On était cinq. Arrivés sur
place, il n’y avait ni trace de sang, ni vêtements de service
militaire. Tout avait été nettoyé, aseptisé, neutralisé. L’arme du
crime était là. L’assassin était là. Aucun aveu. Que des mensonges !
Apparemment, le fusil enrayé s’était débloqué accidentellement et le
coup était parti. Les témoins des premiers moments ont raconté comment
l’assassin, qui avait trente ans au moment des faits, interpellait
Sevag en lui disant que s’il y avait la guerre avec l’Arménie, il le
trouverait et le tuerait de ses propres mains. Je vais te tuer mon «
tomboulig » lui disait-il ».

Anjel Dikme a demandé à Ani Balekçi de parler du procès. « A la fin,
j’en avais marre de l’indifférence du juge, qui n’arrêtait pas de
jouer avec ses lunettes et son stylo. Et même à un moment, il s’est
écroulé sur le bureau, en signe de fatigue et d’ennui. J’ai donc écrit
une lettre destinée au juge que j’ai lue au tribunal. C’était une
lettre ironique. Dans cette lettre je demandais pardon pour les
agissements de Sevag, je demandais pardon pour notre présence à ce
tribunal, je demandais pardon au juge du désagrément causé par cette
affaire ».

Après ce témoignage bouleversant, la parole a été donnée à l’auditoire
pour poser des questions à Ani Balekçi. A la question de savoir s’il
était opportun de porter le procès devant les tribunaux européens de
Strasbourg, Ani Balekçi a répondu que « cela dépendait de la décision
du procès en appel ». Il est à noter que l’avocat des Balekçi est l’un
des avocats de la famille Dink.

A une autre question concernant le soutien apporté par la communauté
arménienne d’Istanbul, Ani Balekçi était très émue d’avouer que le
Patriarcat lui-même ne montrait aucun signe de soutien à la famille de
Sevag. On a même demandé à celle-ci de déplacer le portrait de Sevag
au cimetière car il « dérangerait les passants ». Le plus grand
soutien qu’elle reçoit est « celui des activistes et militants des
Droits de l’Homme, en majorité des Turcs ». A la question concernant
la commémoration du 24 avril en Turquie et la présence arménienne lors
de ces commémorations, Ani Balekçi s’y réfère par désarroi pour avouer
que le nombre des Arméniens lors de ces manifestations ne représente
qu’un pourcentage très faible. « La majorité sont des Turcs. Les
Arméniens ont peur. Il n’y a pas de raison d’avoir peur. Ils ont pris
tout ce qu’il y avait à nous prendre. Ils continueront à tuer s’ils le
veulent. Quand la décision vient du haut, tout le monde obéit. Mais
nous devons ne pas avoir peur. On doit rester là. Sinon tout est
perdu. Il y a des Turcs aujourd’hui avec nous. Pas tous. Mais un
nombre de plus en plus croissant. Nous devons être de plus en plus
nombreux. C’est notre combat tout de même ! »
Le débat s’est poursuivi avec la salle et à la question « Comment
pouvons-nous, en tant que diaspora arménienne de France, vous aider ?
», Ani Balekçi a répondu : « Soyez de plus en plus nombreux à
participer à nos côtés, comme le fait depuis plusieurs années
l’historien Ara Sarafian, à la commémoration du 24 avril en Turquie.
Et puis, de parler autour de vous de notre combat, de mon combat pour
Sevag, pour que l’écho soit de plus en plus fort et pour que mon Sevag
ne soit pas oublié, car si Sevag est oublié, d’autres Sevag suivront
».

Un engagement a été pris par Saro Mardiryan du Parti Social-Démocrate
Hentchakian, pour mobiliser le maximum de personnes à aller commémorer
le 24 avril 2014 en Turquie. Kevork Satchlian a rappelé que l’Armenian
Council of Europe, travaille étroitement avec les intellectuels et les
démocrates en Turquie, car « nous croyons que le changement ne peut
venir que de l’intérieur ».
Il est à rappeler que Kivanç Agaoglu a été condamné à la prison pour
quatre ans. Dans dix-huit mois il sera libre.
Si cet acte avait été commis par un arménien, le verdict aurait
été…de vingt-quatre ans.

vendredi 24 mai 2013,
Ara ©armenews.com

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=89891

Russia, Azeri FMs to discuss NK settlement, bilateral relations

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 21, 2013 Tuesday 10:43 AM GMT+4

Russia, Azeri foreign ministers to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement, bilateral relations

MOSCOW May 21

– The Foreign Ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan – Sergei Lavrov and
Elmar Mamedyarov – will discuss in the Russian capital on Tuesday the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, in which the Russian Federation acts
as one of the leading international mediators, the RF Foreign Ministry
reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Azerbaijan is an important
strategic partner of Russia in the Caucasus and in the Caspian region,
and Moscow is set to deepen multi-faceted cooperation with Baku in the
political, economic and humanitarian fields.

“We also hope to implement other important joint projects, including
in the energy sector. Preparations for the signing of the
intergovernmental agreement on measures to ensure parallel operation
of the Unified Energy System of Russia and Azerbaijan’s energy system
are underway,” the RF Foreign Ministry added.

Russia, the ministry recalled, is leading among the countries
exporting to Azerbaijan and at the same time is one of the four major
importers of Azerbaijani goods. The volume of mutual trade turnover in
2012 reached a record high figure of 3.4 billion US dollars.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu told Itar-Tass on
Monday that Baku plans that the visit of the Azerbaijani foreign
minister to Moscow will be held in a constructive way and will benefit
the development of bilateral relations. According to the diplomat, he
was surprised to see a number of media reports that Elmar Mamedyarov
is going to the capital of Russia ostensibly to correct existing
problems between the two countries. “This is absolutely not true. It
is a planned, official visit, there is no need to look for anything
unusual in it, it is not aimed at settling some problems between the
two states,” the ambassador said. “We, at least the Embassy, have no
problems with the Russian Foreign Ministry, we resolve all issues in a
businesslike, constructive atmosphere.”

The ambassador said that during the talks the ministers will discuss
the problems of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, bilateral
relations, as well as regional issues on the agenda.