Author: Kajoyan Gevork

RUSSIAN POLITICAL EXPERT: HAYRIKYAN IS FIGHTING “WINDMILLS”

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 5, 15:33

Looking for the “Russian trace” in the attempt on a candidate for
Armenian president, Paruyr Hayrikyan, is at least strange, Russian
political expert, Andrey Areshev, said over today’s televised bridge
Yerevan-Moscow “Shot on candidate. Armenian campaign under threat?”.

“I have got an impression that Hayrikyan has been still fighting the
USSR and KGB, having forgotten that they do not exist any more for
more than 20 years. Moreover, any electoral worsening of the situation
in Armenia is not beneficial to Russia, as Armenia is its military
and political ally in the Caucasus”, – Areshev said and added that
Russia has been always conducting the policy of non-interference in
the internal affairs of Armenia.

He also added that the contacts between Russia and Armenia have become
more active for the last period of time, but not everybody are pleased
with it. In this context, such a strange attempt and its interpretation
by certain mass media, cannot but cause questions. “I have got an
impression that domestic political tension in Armenia is beneficial to
somebody and may be used for manipulation with public mood”, – he said.

To recall, Paruyr Hayrikyan said that the assassination attempt on
him was organized by Russian secret services.

HAYRIKYAN KEEPS BLAMING RUSSIA FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

TERT.AM
16:08 ~U 05.02.13

Presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan thinks the assassination
attempt against him may have been perpetrated by Russian forces
seeking to spoil the Armenia-Russia partnership.

The candidate’s earlier statement blaming straightforwardly the
Russian imperialism for the gun attack had sparked criticism by the
Russian media and officials, who considered his words a provocation.

Speaking at a Tuesday news conference, where he had made a sudden
appearance from hospital, the candidate said the authors of such
criticism are also representatives of the Russian imperialism.

“The same provokers now spead such statements. I have received phone
calls from four Russian colleagues. I appreciate the positive side
of what is Russian. We must never forget that the Armenian nation the
first to launch a self-determination movement in the Soviet despotic
regime. And it was the Russian imperialists under the leadership of
[Mikhail] Gorbachov, that expelled Hayrikyan to Ethiopia then,”
he said.

Hayrikyan later addressed a recent statement by Nikolay Borduzha,
the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s secretary general,
who questioned the attempted assassination scenario. “So Mr. Borduzha
either possesses data which he hasn’t reported to our National Security
[Council] or he is a representative of the Russian imperialism. It
would be more decent of Borduzha to ask [NSC Secretary] Artur
Baghdasaryan about that, although I am not supposed to teach him
things,” he said.

Hayrikyan disagreed to the opinions that his gunman was not a
professional. “Just to think of a bullet penetrating through your body
a from 25 cm distance and leaving you alive. I survived, thanks to
God’s will. But that doesn’t mean the opposite side did a wrong thing.

Angels prevented [my death], so I still have to be useful,” he said.

SOME 800MLN DRAMS WORTH MALT PRODUCTION FACILITY TO OPEN IN GIUMRY OF ARMENIA BY END OF 2013

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. Yerevan brewery says it is planning
to start operating a big malt production plant in Giumry in 2013,
the government press service reported.

The plant is under construction now and it will be the only modern malt
producing facility in the region. The cost estimate of the production
building where the overall technological process of malt production
(procurement, drying, refinement, barley sprouting and sorting)
will be carried out is 750-800mln drams, according to the report.

The company intends to form its own supply due to logistics problems
and upward trends on the international markets. About 30% of the
produce is expected to be sold on the local market; the rest will
be exported.

Loans and company’s profit is used to carry out the construction.

The plant is expected to be commissioned this year and to provide about
200-250 jobs. About 6,000 hectares to be used for providing local raw
materials will create additional 800 jobs during agricultural season.

The plant will be equipped with modern European equipment to ensure
up-to-standard and competitive produce. A total of 2.3mln euros are
attracted in loan for buying and installing the required equipment
and technologies.

The company reported to the government that its investments programs
made the exports grew by 2.3 times over the last three years. Exports
amounted to $2.2mln in 2012 only. Total amount of investment programs
implemented is about $9mln.

The company’s own research showed that some $7.3 mln worth investments
are needed for doubling the exports and increasing the output by 40%.

The company is also planning to implement a program on
agro-processing. ($1=406.54drams). -0-

IRANIAN PRESIDENT IN CAIRO ON HISTORIC VISIT

February 5, 2013 – 14:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Cairo on
Tuesday, Feb 5, for the first trip by an Iranian head of state to
Egypt since the 1979 revolution, underlining the more open ties that
have developed since Egyptians elected an Islamist head of state.

President Mohamed Mursi kissed Ahmadinejad as he disembarked from his
plane at Cairo airport, footage broadcast by Egyptian state television
showed, according to Reuters.

Such a visit would have been unthinkable during the rule of Hosni
Mubarak, the military-backed autocrat whose 30 years in power
safeguarded Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel and resulted in deeper
ties between Cairo and the West.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA LEADER IN PARLIAMENT FOR FIRST TIME SINCE QUITTING COALITION

TERT.AM
14:15 ~U 04.02.13

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia party (PAP) made on Monday his
first appearance in the National Assembly since pulling out of the
coalition government in May.

But sources say Gagik Tsarukyan attended only the opening of the fifth
parliament~Rs spring session . Secretary of the PAP faction Naira
Zohrabyan confirmed that he left shortly after, avoiding a meeting
with journalists.

Tsarukyan’s party withdrew from the ruling coalition after the 2012
parliamentary election.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: ARMENIAN-IRANIAN ‘SHEEP-BREEDING’ RELATIONS FULL OF ODDITIES

TERT.AM
09:05 ~U 05.02.13

The paper writes during the recent days hot discussions are taking
place over the prospect of giving Syunik lands to Iranians for rent.

The paper says a memorandum and agreement has been signed over it on
January, but the Armenian officials refute the information which makes
it clear that these are dark deals.

The paper reports that the Armenian-Iranian initial agreement on sheep
breeding has been reached three years ago on January 27, 2010. The
issue entered the agenda of that day’s sitting of the Armenian-Iranian
inter-governmental commission unexpectedly causing the session’s delay
for few hours.

In general, the paper conhtinues, the Armenian-Iranian
‘sheep-breeding’ relations are full of oddities.

TODAY FLORA MARTIROSYAN WOULD TURN 56

11:08, 5 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Today, on February 5, prominent and
talented singer Flora Martirosyan would turn 56. Notwithstanding the
beloved singes is not with us anymore, but the public keeps still
admiring her songs.

Flora Martirosian was born on February 5, 1957 in Gyumri to a family
of an athlete and a housewife. She inherited her vocal skills from
her mother. Martirosian studied at the Gyumri Musical School. Her
participation in the Garun 73 contest in 1973 brought her the first
prize. A graduate of the Yerevan State Conservatory, she later
married Hrahat Gevorgyan, a journalist, in 1987. The family moved to
Los Angeles, US, in 1987 and returned to Yerevan in 1997. Martirosian
was the principal of Yerevan’s Armen Tigranyan Musical School between
1997-2001. Martirosian founded the Komitas Musical Academy in Los
Angeles in 2002.

People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia Flora Martirosyan was the
founder of the International Musical School after Komitas, “Artists
for Peace” Charity Organization and the initiator of the cultural
movement “Never Again”.

The singer passed away on November 20, 2012. Complications of a
gallbladder surgery are thought to be the cause of her decease. The
singer was buried in Yerevan’s Komitas City Pantheon on December
12, 2012.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS BEHIND STEPANAKERT AIRPORT LAUNCH DELAY?

February 4, 2013 – 18:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In early January, the Head of NKR Civil Aviation
Service Dmitry Adbashyan said Stepanakert airport will operate its
first flight in the coming month.

In conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, David Babayan didn’t
specify dates of airport opening, noting that works are in progress.

Today, Feb 4, Mr Adbashyan told a PanARMENIAN.Netreporter, that some
technical problems still remain unsolved causing delay in airport
operation.

“The solution to the problems doesn’t depend on us only,” he said,
refraining from specifying dates.

During his election campaign ruling party candidate Serzh Sargsyan
said Stepanakert airport will launch operations soon.

“Work is currently in progress to ensure every necessary condition
for the airport operation,” he said.

Earlier Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said Armenian
air defense forces will ensure the security of Artsakh-bound civil
aircrafts.

Meanwhile, political expert Ara Papyan said the reasons behind the
delay bear technical, rather than political character.

At a press conference, he called attention to the destabilizing
atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whose president doesn’t seek to avoid a war.

“Armenia must issue a relevant response, in case Azerbaijan shoots
down a civil airport,” Mr Papyan said.

TRAINING OF DIASPORA TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, TO CONTINUE THIS YEAR

16:08, February 4, 2013

The RA Ministry of Education and Science says that it will continue to
train teachers and principals working in Armenian schools overseas.

Training sessions will be available in Armenia and on-line.

There will also be a “Training of Trainers course open to those
teachers who have already passed a minimum of one basic training
session.

The training of overseas teachers began in 200 and to date 640
teachers have taken the course.

BAKO SAHAKYAN INSTRUCTED TO IMPROVE SOCIAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF POLICE STAFF

17:57, 4 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEVRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: Artsakh Republic President Bako
Sahakyan on February 4 participated in the reporting meeting of the
Police board summarizing the results of the 2012 operative activities.

As Armenpress was informed from NKR presidential press service,
head of the Police Robert Shaferyan and responsible representatives
of the structure delivered corresponding reports.

According to the Head of State during the reporting period Police
overall conducted its functions effectively, recording positive
developments.

At the same time, as NKR President noted, there was still much to be
done for the continuous improvement of the Police work effectiveness.

President Sahakyan underlined that current potential of the system and
recorded positive results would leave a ground to expect that police
can implement its activities successfully, adding that country’s
authorities would undertake necessary measures in order to improve
social and working conditions of the structure’s staff.