Author: Kajoyan Gevork

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE NKR ELECTIONS PROCESS

ARMENPRESS
19 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 19, ARMENOPRESS: Today the fifth presidential elections
are being held in Artsakh. The replacement of the government head in
NKR and Armenia takes place with constitutional order and democratic
norms. In both republics only once special elections were held,
which passed in very quiet conditions.

The Karabakh current presidential elections differ from others with
the fact that both the central election commission and the district
election commissions are well prepared which pleasantly surprises the
international observers. The European Parliament Deputy from Austria
Johann Stadler noted that the commission members’ professionalism is
just admirable. “We expected such a thing, but they really did a good
job”, reported Stadler in the interview with “Armenpress”.

“Armenpress” correspondent was in Martuni, Martakert, Shushi and
Askeran to get acquainted with the experts’ assessments at first hand.

The elections are really held in peaceful conditions and no
infringement is recorded. Two-three policemen are on watch in each
polling station, there is also an ambulance.

People vote for their future knowing that the further development of
Artsakh depends on it.

Nagorno Karabakh people take into consideration the fact that if
there is inter-political tension in the country, the enemy will take
advantage of it. The citizens actively participate in the elections,
but none of them mentioned who he voted for.

The observers noted that they were pleasantly surprised by the election
process. In their definition, they did not come to show how to “live”,
but simply to help the young democratic republic to overcome the
inevitable growth pains.

We should particularly mention about the high level organization of
the press centers. The information is provided to the journalists
on time, there are ten computers in the hall, and the Internet is
very good. These may seem minor details, but they create the general
impression of the elections.

The polling stations will close at 20:00 and the process of counting
the votes will start. The preliminary results will be known in the
morning of July 20. At the same time the observation groups will make
their statements.

SETBACK FOR ARMENIA’S LAKE SEVAN
By Arpi Harutyunyan

Environment News Service

July 17 2012

YEREVAN, Armenia, July 16, 2012 (ENS) – Armenia’s parliament has
ignored objections from environmentalists and gone ahead with changes
to the law that will double the amount of water drawn off from Lake
Sevan, the largest freshwater resource in the Caucasus region.

The change is a setback for a long-term project to raise the lake’s
waters back to levels last seen in the 1950s, when industrial
development started depleting the lake.

Lake Sevan, Armenia (Photo by sidvim136) Officials say it is essential
to increase the annual volume of water taken from Lake Sevan from
170 to 320 million cubic meters a year to counter a drought in the
agriculturally important Ararat Valley.

“The Ararat Valley is under threat,” Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
told a June 14 government meeting. “If we want to secure a decent
supply of irrigation water, then we are forced to take these measures,
in order to ensure that this area of 40,000 hectares is not left
un-irrigated.”

Andranik Andreasyan, head of the State Committee for Water Management,
said the drought had been severe, and reservoirs around the country
were running low. The volume of water in the Aparan reservoir, for
example, was now just a third of last year’s level.

Yuri Javadyan, deputy head of a special presidential commission for
Lake Sevan, said limited snowfalls over the winter means there is
not enough meltwater feeding the rivers.

Parliament passed the bill by 93 votes to 12, overruling objections
from opposition members worried for the future of Lake Sevan.

Environmentalists dispute the argument that Armenia is suffering
from drought.

“This bill was adopted without public discussion,” said Inga Zarafyan
of the Ecolur group. “Climatic conditions this year aren’t much
different from previous years.”

According to Knarik Hovhannisyan of the Environmental Public Alliance,
“There’s a lot of grass and mushrooms this year. That doesn’t happen
in drought conditions, which means this explanation is groundless.”

Lake Sevan fell by a meter a year from 1949, when schemes to channel
off water started operating, and the pace increased after Armenia
became independent in 1991.

Home on the shore of Lake Sevan (Photo by Dr. Anto Youssef) After 2002,
however, the trend was reversed thanks to a World Bank-backed program,
and water levels have risen by more than four meters since then. The
plan is to achieve an annual rise of 20 centimeters until the ideal
level is reached within 30 years.

However, official estimates suggest the rising waters will flood roads
running alongside the lake, and dozens of lakeside homes – many of
them owned by senior members of Armenia’s political and business elite.

That, say some environmentalists, is the real reason for draining
off water – the drought is just a pretext to prevent rising waters
inundating top officials’ holiday homes.

“Since most of these properties belong to oligarchs and officials,
the government is doing everything it can to stop them being flooded,”
said Hakob Sanasaryan, chairman of the Union of Greens of Armenia.

Environmentalist groups say that if the planned volume of water is
drawn from Lake Sevan this year, the water level will fall by 11
centimeters, endangering fish species by interrupting their breeding
cycle.

Mher Mkrtumyan, head of the financial department at the government’s
water management agency, denied that the decline would be a steep
as suggested.

“We’re only talking about two or three centimeters,” he said.

{Arpi Harutyunyan is a reporter for Armnews TV. Her report was
originally published on July 16, 2012 by the Institute for War and
Peace Reporting.}

ARMENIA : 49% OF GOLD ORE PROJECT ACQUIRED BY LLC SBERBANK CAPITAL

Equities.com

July 17 2012

Allwyn92 Al Bawaba Ltd.

Sberbank of Russia s subsidiary LLC Sberbank Capital announced that
it has acquired 49% of shares in Armenia CJSC Paramount Gold Mining,
which owns the license to construct the the Lusadzhur gold ore deposit
in Armenia Kotayk Province.

Paramount Gold Mining added that the industrial operations at the
deposit will begin by the end of this year. A 51% controlling stake
is held by the Armenian businessman Mr Tigran Arzakantsyan.

A beneficiation plant has already been established at the deposit
which is capable of producing 150,000 tonnes of ore a year.

“Sberbank Capital has come to Armenia for the first time as a major
investment partner, whose participation is a guarantee of the joint
project’s success. Our cooperation has broad prospects, since the
Russian investor is interested in developing other ore deposits in
Armenia as well,” added Arzakantsyan

NKR PRESIDENTIAL POLLS TO STRENGTHEN REPUBLIC’S POSITION ON INTERNATIONAL ARENA – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 18, 2012 – 16:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Political analyst Sergei Shakaryants believes every
election in Artsakh to be benefiting the republic in Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement talks.

“2012 presidential polls will allow Artsakh to strengthen its position
on international arena,” the expert told a news conference.

“The election is another chance for the Armenians of Artsakh to prove
they are the ones to choose their leader in their own country.

Clearly, it’s impossible for Artsakh to become a part of Azeri
territory, with the polls as another proof to the above,” the expert
stressed.

ARTSAKH PEOPLE OWNERS OF THEIR FATE, EXPERT SAYS

tert.am
18.07.12

Presidential elections conducted in Artsakh reinforce the country’s
position in the international arena, political analyst Sergey
Shakaryants told the reporters Wednesday.

According to him, the people in Karabakh do not care who will recognize
their elections and who will not. “Today Nagorno Karabakh has no
right to remain without legal authorities even for a day. It is very
important for Artsakh people,” he said, claiming that Artsakh elections
prove the world that Karabakh people are the owners of their fate.

He considered it strange that there are still people who think a
nation that enjoyed 20 years of independence may be subjected to them.

“During the past 20 years a number of newly independent republics have
been recognized. The latest example is South Sudan,” the political
analyst said, adding that in reality everyone understands that it is
impossible to make Karabakh part of Azerbaijani territory.

“The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs were in Artsakh recently and none of
them criticized the conduction of presidential elections there. Just
the opposite, we heard them welcoming the reopening of the airport,”
Sergey Shakaryants said.

WHERE ARE FIRST FACES?
YEGHISHEH METSARENTS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:24:53 – 18/07/2012

The People reported that the government has instructed the police
not to issue passports to prevent people from leaving Armenia and to
spend their holidays in Armenian resorts.

In Armenia, most resorts are run by high-ranking officials or the
oligarchs coalesced with them. Hence, the passport deficit is aimed
to ensure customers for resorts.

The newspaper notes that the Police has refuted this information.

However, the Police has not explained the cause of the lack of
passports, why new passports are not issued.

In any other state a similar situation lasting for several weeks would
escalate to a state scandal but none of the high-ranking officials
of Armenia cares, while the Armenian high-ranking officials do not
care that the citizens cannot get their passports in accordance with
the procedure defined by the state. Hence, the doubts about ensuring
customers for resorts seem quite credible despite official refutations.

At least, an official refutation cannot be considered sufficient unless
there are clear explanations, thorough clarifications, officials held
responsible for the lack of one of the state symbols, the passport.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced before the parliamentary
elections that they have set to improve public services. Is this the
improvement he promised? Is it proper service of the state to citizens
to tell to come later because there are no passports now? Is this the
new quality of police pledged by the Chief of Police Vova Gasparyan?

Is this Serzh Sargsyan’s promise to focus on the police reforms on
a daily basis?

WHAT BOOSTED ARMENIA-IRAN COMMUNICATION
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:35:13 – 18/07/2012

A free trade zone is planned to be set up on the Armenian-Iranian
border. According to the Iranian IRNA news agency, the agreement
on the establishment of the zone has been signed by the director of
the Iranian free trade zone Sadek Najafi and Syunik governor Surik
Khachatryan during Najafi’s three-day visit to Armenia. A market will
also be opened at the border.

At the same time, an agreement was reached to create a forest zone
at the Armenian-Iranian border.

There is something that boosted the Armenian-Iranian relations. So far,
it has only been spoken about projects, while nothing concrete was
done mainly because Armenia could not ignore the Western countries
which strengthened sanctions on Iran. Besides, Russia is jealous
about the Armenia-Iran relations especially regarding gas issues. It
is possible that the West approved the Armenian and Iranian ties in
order to weaken Armenia’s dependence on Russia.

But the activation of ties may also be related to Iran’s feeling of
the danger in the result of the solution of the Syrian issue. On July
10, the spiritual leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, called on the people
for the first time to get ready for the war and the end of the world.

In his speech, Khamenei said. “With the help of Allah and his invisible
support, we will ensure the victory of the Islamic civilization in
the world war”.

In August, Serzh Sargsyan is planning to visit Iran upon the
invitation of his Iranian counterpart. Besides, it has been stated
that the implantation of large-scale projects is urgency stemming
from common interests.

The Armenian party is going to enhance the scales of the trade
circulation between Armenia and Iran, said the vice-prime minister
of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan at his meeting with the Iranian internal
affairs minister on July 9. A number of ambitious projects such as the
construction of a thermal power plant on Arax River and construction of
the Armenia – Iran railway have been included in the bilateral agenda.

But, apparently, Armenia and Iran are discussing not only economic but
also security issues. No accident, the minister of internal affairs
of Iran visited Armenia and met with force structure representatives,
including the minister of emergency situations. Most likely, prospects
related with the Iranian developments and the possible flow of refugees
were discussed.

Armenia and Iran couldn’t but discuss the Karabakh issue. As we know,
Iran disagrees with the deployment of foreign forces in the conflict
zone and says ready to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Apparently, in August, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will meet
in Tehran.

CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST VANO SIRADEGHYAN DISAPPEARED, CRIMINALIST SAYS

tert.am
18.07.12

The criminal case against Vano Siradeghyan has disappeared while
transporting it from one court to another, criminalist, writer Sergey
Galoyan told the reporters on Wednesday.

“The forensic materials on Vano Siradeghyan disappeared about 6 months
ago,” the criminalist said, adding that it means no criminal case
has been evoked against Siradeghyan. “It is a criminal case against
Armen Ter-Sahakyan and his band,” Galoyan stressed.

Asked how he treats the signature gathering initiated for bringing
Vano Siradeghyan back to homeland, the speaker said “we have Vano’s
must today.”

“In 90s Vano Siradeghyan did here what Mussolini did in 1923 and what
Saakashvili is doing in Georgia now,” Galoyan said, explaining that
Vano annihilated the criminals’ roots.

Vano Siradeghyan, was former Minister of Interior and close ally of
Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. He is on the Interpol
wanted list.

ARMENIA TO INCREASE THE EXPORT OF KISHMISH

ARMENPRESS
18 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS: Five thousands hectares kishmish
vineyards are scheduled to be establisbhed in Armenia in coming 5-7
years. As Armenian Harvest Promotion Center briefed Armenpress the
program is being implemented by the support of Yerevan Brandy Company
and is aimed not only at expansion of the volumes of orchards but
Armenian kishmish type grape, which is in great demand abroad.

This type of grape may serve the high quality raw material for raisins
( dried grapes ) and wine production.

Armenian National Academy of Sciences, State Agrarian University,
Yerevan State University, and “terrace d’ Armenia’~R company are
partaking in the implementation of the works.

Kishmish is a group of grape varieties with small seedless fruits. The
best-known varieties are the white oval and black. The fruits, which
are small, white, and seedless, are tasty and very sugary. They are
dried, used to make wine and vacuum-obtained must, and eaten fresh.

U.S. AND EU IN WMD FIELD TRAINING EXERCISES WITH ARMENIA AND GEORGIA
By: Mark Rockwell

Government Security News

July 18 2012

The U.S. Departments of State, Defense and Energy and the European
Commission participated in a series of field training exercises with
the Republics of Armenia and Georgia from July 9-13, 2012.

The exercises, said the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
used realistic scenarios to demonstrate and strengthen internal,
bilateral and international notification and response procedures
activated in the event of illegal trans-border movement of weapons
of mass destruction (WMD)-related materials.

The governments of Armenia and Georgia collaborate with the U.S.

Department of Energy’s Second Line of Defense Program, the U.S.

Department of Defense’s International Counterproliferation Program
and Proliferation Prevention Program, the U.S. Department of State’s
Export Control and Related Border Security Program and the European
Commission Joint Research Centre to prevent the illicit trafficking
of WMD, WMD-related items, and advanced conventional weapons.

The exercises, said NNSA, strengthen the collaboration and build on
existing protocols of the Georgian and Armenian governments for cross
border communication and coordination procedures in response to the
detection of the movement of nuclear and other radioactive materials.

“The field training exercises represent a significant milestone in
the U.S., EU, Armenia, and Georgia’s shared efforts to combat nuclear
terrorism,” said Anne Harrington, NNSA’s deputy administrator for
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “The radiation detection efforts in
Georgia and Armenia demonstrate the need to work with our partners in
the international community to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism,
President Obama’s key nuclear security objective,” she said.

The exercises follow the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South
Korea, in March, where world leaders, including representatives from
both Georgia and Armenia, reaffirmed commitments to international
nuclear security. U.S. and EU cooperation with Armenia and Georgia,
said NNSA, reflects a shared commitment to preventing nuclear and
other WMD-related materials from falling into the hands of terrorists,
smugglers and proliferators.