Author: Kajoyan Gevork

R. HAKHVERDYAN: WHAT CAN I DO? SHOULD I WRITE SONGS?

05:00 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Singer Ruben Hakhverdyan showed up at today’s press conference with
chewing gum to show his attitude towards the media. As the singer
said he was offended by fabricated and erroneous reports published
by some media outlets.

However, after a few minutes, he threw the bubble gum saying he did
not seek to insult everyone because of several journalists.

Speaking about the post-election developments in Armenia the
singer gave his reasons for supporting Heritage party leader Raffi
Hovannisian.

“Raffi Hovannisian is a broad-minded and well-educated person who
knows several languages. He has no links with any oligarch while
Serzh Sargsyan and his brother have their shares everywhere,” said
Mr Hakhverdyan.

The singer also explained his statement uttered in one of the rallies
led by the Heritage party leader in which he said that Serzh Sargsyan
had come from a remote Azerbaijani province.

“As a political figure Serzh Sargsyan began his career in Azerbaijan.

During Kevorkov’s tenure in office, Sargsyan was the secretary of the
Komsomol in Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh was still part of Azerbaijan
and it was in those years that Armenians began leaving Karabakh. The
Karabakh war was won by our people and not by Serzh Sargsyan. He
is a simple-minded, provincial person who [with his arrival] added
grey colours to our culture and granted titles to people who had not
connection with culture,” said the singer.

Hakhverdyan also expressed his concerns over the escalating migration.

“People could withstand the dark and cold years, they could withstand
Robert Kocharyan but they cannot withstand this pervasive atmosphere
of adulation and greyness. Armenia has become a country of cajolery.”

Regarding Armen Mazmanyan’s statement that Hakhverdyan was ignoring
the people who gave him food, the singer said, “First President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan did not give me money for treatment, I was
treated free of charge. Second President Robert Kocharyan gave me a
four-room apartment instead of three-room. If they give, they do a
right thing, why shouldn’t I take? …Serzh Sargsyan sponsored the
release of my disk, giving $ 30,000. He was Defense Minister then but
when appointments are being made during Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency
I have no right [as a citizen] to keep silence.”

Speaking about Republican MP Shushan Petrosyan who was critical about
political satirist and comedian Vardan Petrosyan, Ruben Hakhverdyan
said, “I cannot hide my admiration for Vardan Petrosyan. Shushan
Petrosyan and Vardan Petrosyan are incomparable as artists. The
Republican Party is real pest for us. What can I do? Should I write
songs?” he concluded.

ARMENIAN LAWS DO NOT HELP IT STARTUPS

YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. Armenian laws do not facilitate development
and growth of technological startups, president of Armenia’s Union
of IT enterprises (UITE) Hovhannes Avoyan said.

“Our legislation is better adapted to the needs of major businesses.

Rules of the game are such as if everyone is in equal conditions,
high risks of startups are not taken into account,” Avoyan said in
Novosti international press center.

For improving the situation, UITE has developed a concept of
technological business development and submitted it to the government.

The concept is currently under discussion.

In 2000, Armenia’s government set IT sector as an economic development
priority. Today there are about 350 companies in the country’s
information and communications technology market with their staffs
totaling 10,000 people.-0-

FIRST AND ONLY DOLPHINARIUM IN ARMENIA CLOSED

March 6, 2013 – 17:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The fist and only dolphinarium in Armenia has been
closed following completion of its operation term.

The dolphinarium building is currently being dismantled, with dolphins
taken back to Ukraine after the last performance on February 9, the
dolfinarium director Lilit Sahakyan told PanARMENIAN.Net Ever since
its opening, the dolphinarium activity had been widely criticized by
ecologists who suggested that dolphins weren’t provided with normal
conditions and could go blind because of chlorinated water.

ARMENIA’S FINANCIAL SYSTEM ONE OF BEST DEVELOPED IN THE COMMONWEALTH

Exclusive interview of director of Eurasian Development Bank (EDB)
Yerevan office Sergey IGNATOV to ARKA Agency

ARKA: What are EDB’s projections of Armenia’s macroeconomic development
for 2013 bearing in mind the current global economic situation and
WB’s and IMF’s global GDP decline estimates for 2013-2014?

Ignatov: In 2013, amid lasting weakness in the global economy, and the
European economy in particular (45% of Armenian exports as per 2011),
Armenia’s economic growth should be expected to slow down. According
to the consensus-forecast that includes the estimates of IMF, WB and
EBRD, Armenia’s GDP is to stand at 4.6% in 2013. The economy will
slow down if foreign demand weakens and metal prices reduce.

Changing demand and export prices will have a direct impact on
export-oriented sectors of mining and processing industries, as
well as on export and fiscal revenues and macroeconomic stability in
Armenia. On the other hand, global economic weakness may affect also
economies of countries that are the main source of money transfers
and direct foreign investments. Hence, an additional risk exists that
domestic demand may weaken, both in terms of consumer demand spurred
by money transfers and investment demand that has remained low since
the 2009 crisis.

ARKA: What was EDB’s investment portfolio in Armenia as of the end
of 2012? What investments are planned for Armenia in 2013, and which
sectors of the Armenian economy the bank has prioritized and considered
attractive for now and up to 2015?

Ignatov: EDB’s investment portfolio in Armenia reached 109mln USD
by the end of 2012, including the redeemed projects. The current
portfolio is 79mln dollars that includes projects on SME financing
and microfinance in a form of target credit lines to financial
institutions.

Currently the bank is considering several projects in agriculture,
mining, transport infrastructure and other sectors.

ARKA: How do you assess the investment climate in Armenia and expected
investments in the projects currently implemented in the republic?

Ignatov: The investment climate of Armenia is one of the most
favorable among the Bank’s member states. It is due to a pretty stable
macroeconomic situation, relatively high GDP growth at low inflation
rates, AMD strengthening and some other macroeconomic factors.

Armenia’s financial system advances at one of the best rate in the
CIS due to the strict banking control policy conducted by the Central
Bank, a single credit register, commitment to the best world experience
and relatively small market size.

In the last rating of Doing Business, Armenia improved its positions
inching up from 50th to 32nd place (for comparison: Kazakhstan
ranked 49th, Russia-112th) as it advanced the indices in three most
important categories: protection of investors, taxation, connection
to electricity networks. Such business environment is considered to
be one of the best among the Bank’s member states.

ARKA: Does EDB plan entering new segments of the Armenian economy,
for example, the agro sector?

Ignatov: EDB is considering financing several large commercial
projects in Armenia, including those in agro sector, mining, transport
infrastructure and more.

ARKA: Today Armenia is actively implementing Strategic industrial
policy targeted at export. Could you, please, assess the prospects
of Armenia in this direction?

Ignatov: Export boost and its diversification through improving
foreign competitiveness are one of the most important aspects for
economic policy. Armenia mainly exports raw materials what increases
the republic’s vulnerability to external shocks. The main priority
of Armenia for the near future should remain the development of the
republic’s export potential through designing export-oriented and
import-substitution mechanisms.

It is also important to note that Armenia has high export potential
in agro-industrial complex. This potential is partially realized
in food industry. As to processing industry, Armenia should move up
through the production-chain. However, the successful implementation
of this industrial policy will be possible if the authorities
are persistent and apply to a systematic approach to export
development. The authorities should foster export boost supporting
exporters, creating for them an appropriate institutional environment
(business environment, transport infrastructure, legislature, foreign
investments, etc.) as well as reducing the transport blockade,
facilitating the access to the strategic markets of Russia, EU, etc.).

ARKA: EDB is actively cooperating with some Armenian banks in SME
financing. Do you have any intentions to expand this cooperation
considering SME as an important tool for economy development?

Ignatov: Currently, EDB finances two projects -SME support project
and microlending. In 2012, new demanded products appeared which we
were happy to offer: energy efficiency support and farmers support
programs. This is a targeted financing of the banks for further
lending to real sector enterprises that resolves the issues related
to loan resources accessibility. -0-

SINGER RUBEN HAKHVERDYAN ACCEPTS PRESIDENTS’ ASSISTANCE BUT STILL CRITICIZES THEM

TERT.AM
15:14 ~U 06.03.13

Getting assistance from authorities and then criticize them is more
than natural, renown singer Ruben Hakhverdyan told the reporters on
Wednesday. “Criticizing is one thing, accepting the assistance quite
another,” he said.

Starting from the first president, Hakhverdyan said, “Levon
Ter-Petrosyan did not give me money for treatment, I was treated free.

Kocharyan [Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan] gave me
four-room apartment instead of three-room, I have expressed my
gratitude. If they give, they do a right thing, why won’t take? But
when a person commits a mistake like March 1 when own people were
gunned down, would you keep silence?”

As to taking 30,000 US dollars from Serzh Sargsyan for a disk,
Hakhverdyan said, “That time Serzh Sargsyan was Defense Minister,
I said we need a disc for our children grow as Armenians. I have
many times expressed my gratitude, but when appointments are being
made during Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency I have no right as a citizen,
as a known person keep silence,” he said.

17 PACKS OF DRUGS REMOVED FROM THE BOWELS OF A YOUNG IRANIAN WHO DIED IN ARMENIAN HEALTH CENTER ON MAR 5

ARMINFO
Wednesday, March 6, 13:55

17 packs of drugs were removed from the bowels of a young Iranian
who died in Armenian Health Center on Tuesday.

The young man was brought to the hospital on Mar 2. The doctors washed
his bowels and removed 17 packs.

The police are investigating the case.

THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN PARUYR HAYRIKYAN AND VARDAN SEDRAKYAN

2013-03-06 13:17:20

In accordance with the March 5 decision of the Court of General
Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts,
former presidential candidate, specialist on epos Vardan Sedrakyan
was subjected to two months detention.

The National Security Service introduced the petition. A group of
people had launched some checking in former candidate’s office, located
in “Mitk” analytical centre on March 5. Later he was taken to the
Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative
Districts and the decision about detention followed then.

In an interview with Lurer.com responsible for the international
relations of “National Self-Determination” Party Karo Yeghnukyan rule
out the opinion there might be a connection between Paruyr Hayrikyan
and Vardan Sedrakyan.

“I do not see any connection, I know only what the media writes. I know
that these people are renovating Sedrakyan’s apartment, and how it is
connected with the assassination attempt, the police or the National
Security Council has not determined yet. But there is no connection
between Paruyr Hayrikyan and Vardan Sedrakyan,” Karo Yeghnukyan said.

According to Karo Yeghnukyan, even if Sedrakian has any connection
with with the assassination attempt, the latter could not act alone,
and did not rule out the customers’ of the assassination. And what
forces are behind Sedrakyan, Karo Yeghnukyan was undecided. “It’s hard
to say exactly who ordered the attack, but in Armenia there are Soviet
agents who have not been disclosed, their exposure comes from there.

They may operate in Armenia, until they found a logical approach to the
issue. If this is an agent from America, the National Security Council
will immediately detect him, but he is an agent from Russia, the case
is complicated for NSS, as they are people of the same network.”

To note, that the former presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikian was
attacked at night on January 31. The criminal case was prosecuted under
Art. 34-305 of RA Criminal Code (attempt to murder state, political
or public figure, which has committed to stop his activities).

LARISA ALAVERDYAN: MANY COULD NOT PREDICT SUCH POST-ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA

14:33 06/03/2013 ” ANALYSIS

One forms an impression that no one doubts that the elections were
rigged. Now it remains to find out what the purpose of it was, first
Ombudsperson of Armenia, former secretary of Heritage parliamentary
faction Larisa Alaverdyan told reporters in Yerevan.

Many could not predict such post-election developments in Armenia,
she said.

According to Alaverdyan, it is more important whom the people voted
against, rather than whom they voted for.

“With all talks about this or that leader who, according to the people,
won the presidential elections in the several past years, their number
reaches five (Raffi Hovannisian is the fifth),” said the former MP.

In 2013, the negotiations are more open and more transparent, and
they will not look like arrangements, Alaverdyan said.

“We must hope that Raffi and the opposition supporting him will reject
the way of arrangements,” she concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

FELIX TSOLAKYAN APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF ARMENIA’S SHIRAK REGION

YEREVAN, March 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government approved Thursday
Felix Tsolakyan’s candidacy for Governor of Shirak region.

Former Governor Ashot Giziryan submitted a resignation application
on February 22, and the government approved it on February 28.

Felix Tsolakyan, 61, holds a position of deputy director of the
National Security Service. From 2003 to 2007 he was chairing State
Tax Service of the republic.

Tsolakyan was born in Nerqin Jrap village of Shirak province.-0-

NATURE PROTECTION MINISTRY DEMANDED FULL INFORMATION ON NOMINEES FOR POSITION OF KHOSROV RESERVE DIRECTOR

ARMINFO
Thursday, March 7, 11:11

PanArmenian Environmental Front (PAEF) demands the Nature Protection
Ministry to provide full information on the nominees for the position
of the Khosrov Reserve director.

The PAEF’s statement reads that only the names of 11 nominees are
available on the website of the Ministry. In this context, activists
applied to the Nature Protection Ministry on March 6 with official
letter demanding full information of the education, scientific degrees,
work experience, achievements and possible political activity of all
the nominees.

The position of the Khosrove reserve director has become a large
stumbling block. Last year a poacher Gabriel Poghosyan (nickname Nono)
was due to get that position. Then, the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF)
suspended funds of the Khosrov reserve as a sign of protest, with
WWF-Armenia terminating its work in the protected area. After that
scandal, the Ministry of Nature Protection expressed readiness to
announce a new contest for the post of the director for March 15 2013.

At present Hrachya Hovakimyan, deputy director of the reserve in
1992-1994, is acting director.