Author: Kajoyan Gevork

WHAT WAS GEORGIA’S ADVANTAGE OVER THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA THAT IT WAS ABLE TO REDUCE CORRUPTION?

DECEMBER 6, 2012 17:33

According to the data of Transparency International, a global
anticorruption organization, Armenia’s corruption perception index of
this year is 34. This index of the Republic of Armenia is higher than
that of Azerbaijan, but Armenia hasn’t improved its positions, anyway.

inquired of experts where the underlying causes for
this situation were.

Vardan Bostanjyan, a former MP and a member of the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP), said: “The corruption in our country is caused
by irregularity, lack of responsibility, indifferent approach and
many things related to governance. In any event, not only should a
country keep an eye on those issues as much as possible, but also
employ action mechanisms while dealing with those to rule out or
reduce corruption. If that approach is not there, naturally, being
an uncontrollable phenomenon, corruption becomes the work style of
the whole society from school to the highest levels of government.”

Giving the example of Georgia, Mr. Bostanjyan noted: “Corruption was
more widespread in Georgia than in the Republic of Armenia. However,
at a certain moment, those tasks were undertaken quite consistently,
and everyone realized that they would be inevitably punished
for corruption. As a result, corruption was tangibly reduced. The
political will is in employing the means of responsibility. Guess,
a man or an official, engaging in activities against our national
interests, is just fired, and after a period of relative peace, he
is appointed to a higher office, why should he give up on corruption?”

Concluding the conversation, Mr. Bostanjyan stated: “They struggle
in vain. There is only one way of struggle. Use it, since you know
quite well which way it is. If they don’t use it, they are the very
corruptionists.”

Vahagn Khachatryan, a member of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), in his turn, noted: “There is no transparency in governance,
in customs and tax services and other fields, and, generally, the
system of governance is completely based on corruption.”

In order to avoid future “games” of the government of the Republic
of Armenia, Mr. Khachatryan stressed that the method of study had
changed and went into detail: “Let us know this, since the government
can play its games again – we were in 129th place in the 2011 report
and now we are in 105th or 113th place. Those are not comparable.”

As for comparison with Georgia, V. Khachatryan said: “It is undoubtedly
a result of political will. If the ruling party and the head of
government want to eliminate corruption, they can do it easily,
since respective laws and actions will let them do that. That is
Georgia’s advantage over us. And where should that will come from in
our country… independence of the legal system, which we don’t have
at all, is also important here.”

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

SIPAN ASATRYAN: OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING SIGHT-IMPAIRED IN YEREVAN
Sona Avagyan

11:56, December 7, 2012

“I leave the house with my cane to show society that disabled people
exist and to teach them how to lend a helping hand”

Sipan Asatryan strolls so confidently down the street by himself that
many don’t believe he has sight problems.

Once, a taxi driver told Sipan, “Not seeing is tantamount to death,
no? If I were to immediately lose my sight, I would commit suicide.”

Sipan could only laugh at the man’s remarks.

“I tried to convince him otherwise but it was a lost cause. Now,
I leave the house with my cane to show society that disabled people
exist and to teach them how to lend a helping hand.”

Sipan has been deprived of sight since the age of four. The family
resided in the town ofTchambarak.

His mother was an Armenian language teacher who urges him to attend
classes. Family members would read textbooks for him.

He then transferred to a special school inYerevan for students with
sight problems from the sixth grade onwards when the family relocated
to the Armenian capital. The Nikoghayos Tigranyan School is the only
one of its kind in the country.

Sipan now works at the National Leadership Institute run by the Ararat
Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church. He prepares articles for the
NGO’s website. He’s also taught Sunday School classes for the church
in the village of Ohanavan.

On November 25, the Forte NGO, which caters to those with sight
related issues, organized a concert commemorating the 55th birthday
of Artsakh hero Monte Melkonian. Sipan wrote the score and conducted
the concert. Sipan learnt to play the piano on his own.

This year, Sipan graduated from Yerevan State University with a
Masters in Diaspora studies and linguistics. He prepared for the
entrance exams on his own and did not attend private tutorial classes
like many other aspiring college students in Armenia.

He says that the major problem he faced at the university was the
lack of digitalized text books. Sipan also laments the fact that
sightless pupils are not provided with books in Braille.

Right now, Sipan is taking intensive English courses in order that
he’s able to attend university overseas, majoring in Eastern Studies
or the psychology of the disabled.

Despite the fact that Sipan believes that Yerevan isn’t “sight-impaired
friendly, he’s been maneuvering the street and sidewalks of Yerevan
with the assistance of a can for several years now and disagrees
with other sight-impaired residents that it’s impossible to overcome
such challenges.

He also laments certain stereotypes, holdovers from the Soviet period,
regarding sight-impaired citizens.

“Even when I take a bus or other public transport, adults don’t even
think of telling me if there is an empty seat or not. Some don’t even
want to sit next to me, fearing they might catch some illness. The
new generation is different in their attitude. They ask me if they
can help and escort me to my destination,” Sipan says.

On the whole, Sipan says public attitudes are slowly changing for
the better inArmenia.

“Today, most of the public is ready to assist. We constantly hear
in the media that society doesn’t accept us. But I believe that the
disabled must take the first step for the public to accept us as full
members of society,” Sipan notes.

Sipan tells me that he really likes to travel.

Two years ago he fulfilled a lifelong ambition and travelled to
Western Armeniafor a week. He visited Van and Kars, the land of
his forefathers.

“I had made up my mind to go no matter what. Me and my mother saved
up over the years and saw our dream come true.”

20% OF GYUMRI RESIDENTS IS POOR

Story from Lragir.am News:

11:41 07/12/2012

24 years have passed since the 1988 earthquake but the number of
homeless people in the disaster area still continues growing.

The state has been unable to resolve this issue over the past 24
years. According to the head of the Gyumri-based Shirak Center NGO
Vahan Tumasyan, there are 3500 homeless families in Gyumri.

Families who lost their apartments in the result of the earthquake and
are now on the waiting list for compensation are 4270. In 2010 1056
apartments were provided, this year 1756 will be ready, next spring-
420. Still, after these efforts 1034 families will still have no place
to live. There are another 300-400 families in the rural areas of
Shirak Marz. 300-400 of the 1034 families have not been included in the
housing program due to lack of certain documents, says Vahan Tumasyan.

According to him, the government’s criteria are too tough. There are
another 3500 families who are not registered anywhere and live in
temporary cottages. But this number keeps growing. There are a lot of
large families of 10-15 people who get a one or two-room apartment. 18
thousand people live in cottages and their future is vague. In other
words, 20% of Gyumri residents live in the street, says Vahan Tumasyan.

The government promises to finish reconstruction of the disaster
area in 2013 after which, they say, they will deal with the issue
of non-registered homeless people. According to official data, 50%
of Gyumree’s population is poor, 5% is extremely poor.

According to Tumasyan, people have been affected by having to live in
temporary cottages for long years. They have psychological problems
which are harder to tackle than the consequences of the disaster.

The 1988 earthquake killed 25 thousand people mainly in Spitak and
Gyumree towns. 140 thousand people suffered losses, over 500 thousand
people were left homeless.

REPUBLICAN MP CALLS FOR RESPECT TO PAP LEADER’S DECISION

tert.am
07.12.12

A lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Artakh
Davtyan, has called for demonstrating respect to any decision the
Prosperous Armenia leader may have regarding the 2013 presidential
polls.

“We should demonstrate a respectful attitude to any decision by [PAP
leader] Gagik Tsarukyan. The Republican is ready to any scenario to
run for election, and it is important to us that the polls be held
on a high level,” he told a news conference on Friday.

If nominated for presidency, Tsarukyan will differ from other
candidates, except, of course, President Serzh Sargsyan, Davtyan said.

Without elaborating on the incumbent president’s chances or plans
for participating in the polls, the RPA lawmaker said he never met
a lawful opposition party in Armenia.

“Perhaps I have missed the moment, but I haven’t seen what is thought
to be a biggest political force,” Davtyan said, adding that none of
the PAP lawmakers have so far labeled themselves as opposition members.

As for the other opposition forces, Davtyan said he thinks they are
sensible enough to realize they have little chances of proposing
their own candidates separately.

“They are seeking allies. This accounts for the activeness, dialogues
and consultations,” he added.

Davtyan noted that the Republican remains committed to its earlier
position of nominating their leader and incumbent President Serzh
Sargsyan on October 15.

“The other political forces are in political consultations and facing
uncertainties. Within the prescribed timeframes – 70 days before the
presidential election – the Central Election Commission is to issue
a relevant statement, which will herald the most active period of
the presidential election,” he said.

ABOUT 7 DOZENS JOURNALISTS ARE IMPRISONED IN TURKEY

11:55, 7 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. On the Initiative of the Turkish
Journalists Association a conference has been held in Ankara, where
a declaration was adopted in accordance with which there are 71
journalists imprisoned in Turkey. International Press Institute (IPI)
partook in the conference. As reports “Armenpress” Turkish “Radical”
newspaper announced this.

The participants of the conference expressed their anxiety about
the freedom of press in Turkey. IPI representative Peter Preston
had a number of meetings with the Turkish authorities and claimed
on the release of imprisoned journalists. During the meeting with
the representatives of Turkish mass media IPI representative Peter
Preston stated: “The steps of the Turkish authorities directed to the
democratization are in the centre of my attention.” Notwithstanding
he underscored that undertakings of the Turkish side in this procedure
have significantly decreased.

TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN SPITAK

13:04 07.12.20120earthquake

December 7 marks the 24th anniversary of the destructive earthquake
in Spitak. The earthquake hit 40 % of the territory of Armenia,
densely populated region with 1 ml people. The cities of Spitak,
Leninakan, Kirovakan and Stepanavan, as well as hundreds of villages
were totally or partially destroyed. Twenty-five thousand people were
killed, 500 thousand were left without shelter. 17% of the buildings
were destroyed, the work of 170 industrial companies was halted.

Immediately after the earthquake Armenians all over the world united
and offered comprehensive support to the Motherland. “SOS Armenie,”
“Aznavour for Armenia” and tens of other organizations were created.

Many Diaspora Armenians rushed to Armenia, bringing food, clothes
and medicine.

Many of them – doctors, psychologists, constructors, architects –
stayed in Armenia and personally participated in the rescue works.

A number of countries of the world continued to support Armenia years
after the earthquake. Italians built a whole dwelling district in
Spitak, Norwegians built a hospital, which was named after great
humanist F. Nansen.

A school built by Englishmen was opened in Gyumri. Prime Minister of
Great Britain Margaret Thatcher participated in the opening ceremony.

LA COMPAGNIE DES CHEMINS DE FER DU SUD CAUCASE FAIT PROGRESSER LE TRANSPORT DE CARGAISON
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 7 decembre 2012

La compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud Caucase a annonce qu’elle avait
transporte 2,226 milliards de tonnes de cargaisons au cours des huit
premiers mois de 2012 soit une hausse de 11,3 pour cent sur una an.

La societe a dit qu’elle avait transporte a l’exterieur du pays 305
200 tonnes metriques de marchandises, en hausse de 11 pour cent et
avait importe dans le pays 884 700 tonnes de cargaison, soit 5,7 pour
cent de plus qu’un an plus tôt.

Le volume de cargaison a l’interieur du pays est en hausse de 16,4 %
a 1,076 milliards de tonnes metriques.

La societe a aussi dit que le poids moyen d’un train de fret a augmente
de 5 % atteignant 1437 tonnes contre 1368 tonnes l’an dernier.

vendredi 7 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

LA QUARANTAINE A VARDENIS MAINTENUE

armenews.com
vendredi 7 decembre 2012

Les mesures de quarantaine dans la region de Vardenis en Armenie,
seront prolongees en raison de cas d’anthrax malgre le fait qu’aucun
patient ayant cette infection ne soit sous traitement dans les hôpitaux
a annonce la TV Publique d’Armenie.

Pendant la periode de quarantaine, 55 personnes se sont adressees
aux structures hospitalières craignant d’etre contaminees.

Le centre regional de la securite alimentaire a enregistre 22 affaires
de perte de betail depuis le commencement des mesures de quarantaine :
les carcasses infectees par la maladie de l’anthrax ont ete incinerees
et enterrees dans des lieux speciaux avec la viande confisquee des
congelateurs.

La vaccination contre l’anthrax continue dans la region de Vardenis.

Le service veterinaire a suggere de vacciner le betail contre l’anthrax
deux fois par an. Environ 20000 tetes de betail et environ 8000 tetes
de petit betail ont ete vaccinees.

vendredi 7 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN QUALIFIE LA DECLARATION DE BAKOU ” D’IMPOSTURE ”
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 7 decembre 2012

Le president du Parti Heritage Raffi Hovannisian a envoye une
lettre aux co-presidents de la Conference internationale des partis
politiques asiatiques (CIPPA) Jose de Venecia Jr et Chung Eui-yong
exhortant les dirigeants a annuler une declaration pro-azeri adopte
par la conference.

Raffi Hovannisian s’est rendu a Bakou le week-end dernier et a pris
part a la session de la CIPPA, où, dans un discours, il a invite
l’Azerbaïdjan a reconnaître la Republique du Haut-Karabagh.

Dans sa lettre Raffi Hovannisian ” Je soussigne, formaliser mes
remarques orales faites pendant et après la seance de clôture de la
7ème Assemblee Generale. La ” declaration de Bakou ” est une imposture
et une contrefacon. Elle a ete imposee aux delegues de l’Assemblee
avec un manque de respect flagrant de leurs droits et de leur dignite,
en violation intentionnelle des procedures de l’organisation qui
affirme la necessite d’une adoption a) par consensus ( je me suis
oppose publiquement et en termes non equivoques) et b) distribution
de son projet final a tous les delegues avant la session de clôture
(qui ce n’a pas ete fait deliberement), et dans ce qui semblait
etre une conspiration premeditee de la commission (au moins par le
distingue senateur du Pakistan qui a dirige le comite de redaction et
a ete informe a l’avance de ma demande, conformement aux conditions
mentionnees ci-dessus de procedure, de voir le projet de declaration
et de parler en reference a elle si elle s’averait etre a sens
unique, partisane et / ou mensongères). Comme vous le savez bien, non
seulement je n’ai pas eu le droit de repondre quand au cours de la 4e
session plenière au moins cinq delegues azerbaïdjanais m’ont attaque
nominativement par des mensonges calomnieux (…) mais on m’a refuse
expressement mon droit fondamental d’exprimer ma position alors qu’un
consensus est necessaire pour l’adoption d’une declaration. En bref,
il n’y avait pas de consensus, la règle du droit a ete raille en plein
jour, et, ce qui est pire, le texte du document final comprenait une
section sur le Haut-Karabagh qui a ete discrètement ajoute au dernier
moment, declaration standard de la propagande de l’Azerbaïdjan qui
etait non seulement fausse et egoïste, mais a efficacement soutenu
leur rhetorique de guerre et l’incitation a la violence au lieu de la
cause de la paix, de la securite et de la reconciliation. Quelle ironie
“. Raffi Hovannisian conclut sa lettre en exigeant ” que vous fassiez
la bonne chose, corrigez votre faute, et annuler la corruption appelee
” declaration de Bakou ” ainsi que sa publication, sans delai et dans
son integralite “.

Si l’ICAPP ne le fait pas ” je vous demande de supprimer le mot ”
Armenie ” de ce morceau de papier falsifie ” ajoute-t-il ” Si la
direction CIPPA souhaite rester complice de cette tromperie, affaire
belliqueux, et veut s’associer a la guerre et non au règlement
pacifique, c’est votre choix. Je ne veux pas en faire partie “.

vendredi 7 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

TREMBLEMENT DE TERRE A TOKYO : 7 DECEMBRE JOUR MAUDIT

Desormais la date du 7 decembre restera inscrite dans les memoires
des peuples armeniens et japonais. Un violent tremblement de terre de
magnitude 7,3, ressenti jusqu’a Tokyo, a eu lieu vendredi au large du
nord-est du Japon et une alerte au tsunami a immediatement ete lancee,
a annonce l’agence de meteorologie japonaise, precisant peu après
qu’une vague de 2 mètres etait redoutee sur cette partie de l’île.

Le seisme, fortement ressenti aussi a Tokyo, a eu lieu a 17 h 18
locales au large des côtes nord-est, avec un hypocentre estime a 10
kilomètres de profondeur, a precise l’agence meteo. Il a violemment
secoue de très nombreuses regions du Japon, en premier lieu les
prefectures sinistrees par le tremblement de terre de magnitude 9 du
11 mars 2011.

vendredi 7 decembre 2012, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com