Author: Kalantarian Kevo

FIRE BURST IN ST NSHAN ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

Fire burst in St Nshan Armenian Church in Tbilisi late at night January
9. While extinguishing it, the south-eastern column of the monument
collapsed. Armenia’s Ministry of Culture told Armenpress that a group
of experts has been sent to Tbilisi headed by the head of the agency
of protection of historical and cultural monuments Serzhik Arakelyan
to study the circumstances of the incident on site and jointly discuss
the necessary events.

People living near the church told Times.am correspondent that
they are unaware of the causes of the fire. Instead they informed
that the church, abandoned by all, has become a place for homeless,
drug and alcohol addicts. Georgian authorities too avoid speaking
about the causes of the fire. The fire was extinguished by water,
instead of foam, which in its turn caused new damages to the walls
of the church as a result of which a column of the church collapsed.

In 2002 the church was in fire too. Before that, it was damaged
as a result of an earthquake. During the past years the Georgian
authorities have not initiated anything for the restoration of the
building. Currently the church is standing thanks to the firmness of
walls and the three remained columns.

TURKEY TO EXPEL FRENCH COMPANIES FROM SOUTH STREAM

Messenger
Jan 10 2012
Georgia

It is likely that the Turkish side of the project is going to demand
that executors of the South Stream natural gas pipeline running
through Turkey expel its members of French company EDF. It now seems
as though the NABUCCO project is looking more attractive for Turkey
as there are no French companies participating there. The Turkish
position against France was determined by the recent adoption by the
French lower chamber of parliament of a law which envisages criminal
prosecution for those who express doubt over the facts of the Armenian
genocide which allegedly occurred in Turkey in the beginning of the
20th century.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES SYMPATHIES TO RELATIVES OF LEGENDARY ARMENIAN UNDERCOVER AGENT

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 11, 2012 | 13:38

MOSCOW. – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev extended his condolences
to the relatives of well-known Armenian secret agent, Gevorg Vardanyan.

“Gevorg Vardanyan, the legendary spy, has passed away. He took part
in excellent operations which entered into history. His death is an
irretrievable loss,” the Russian President’s message specifically
reads.

A portion of the message is posted on the Kremlin’s official website.

Great undercover agent, USSR Hero Gevorg Vardanyan died in Moscow,
on Tuesday, at the age of 87. According to preliminary information,
his funeral service will be held in Armenia.

SILVA HAMBARDZUMYAN BEGINS NEW MINING OPERATIONS IN IRAN

epress.am
01.11.2012

Entrepreneur Silva Hambardzumyan, who has appealed the prosecutor’s
decision to quash the case against Syunik regional governor and owner
of major mining operations Suren Khachatryan for slapping Hambardzumyan
in public, has recently begun mining operations in Iran, at a mine
with 70 jobs, reports local daily Hraparak.

Hambardzumyan’s mine is located in the vicinity of the city of Shiraz.

Speaking to Hraparak, the entrepreneur asserted that the Syunik
governor never tried to meet with her after the incident, and as for
the equipment missing from her mine (which, according to Hambardzumyan,
was taken by Khachatryan), there’s nothing new to report – the case
is continuing. “Finally, I’m going to appeal to the European Court
with this case – this country will be completely disgraced,” she
reportedly said.

KARABAKH CONFLICT TRANSFORMED TO INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM – IRANIAN SPEAKER

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 12, 2012 | 11:25

Turkey and Iran are Muslim, fraternal countries, therefore
coordination is necessary for seeking solution to the regional
problems, Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani told Anadolu agency ahead of
his visit to Turkey.

Commenting on settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Larijani reminded
of the OSCE Minsk Group engaged in the peace process.

“As far as I know Azerbaijan wants to reach solution within this
format,” he said.

However, Larijani considers that the regional states are better to
solve regional problems.

“The Karabakh conflict has transformed into an international problem
but Iran is ready to make its contribution to the settlement of the
conflict. No one’s interests should be damaged while tackling this
problem, it is very important,” he said.

As regards joint efforts of Ankara and Tehran on the issue, Larijani
said positions of both states are close but to the certain point.

BELARUSIAN TRACTOR SERVICE CENTERS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 12, 2012 | 10:52

YEREVAN. – Along the lines of his visit to the Belarusian capital
Minsk, Armenia’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan toured the Tractor Plant of Minsk, during which the
parties discussed the establishment of Belarusian tractor service
centers in Armenia, NSC Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also in Minsk, Arthur Baghdasaryan met with the Belarusian Minister
of Agriculture and Food, Mikhail Rusy. The interlocutors examined
matters concerning food safety and bilateral cooperation in the
agricultural sector.

Baghdasaryan also met with the Belarusian Minister of Defense,
Yuri Zhadobin, during which they discussed the deepening of
Armenian-Belarusian ties in the defense sector.

Armenia’s NSC Secretary is scheduled to meet with Belarusian President
Alexander Lukashenko, too, and the Armenian National Security Council
and the Belarusian Security Council are expected to sign the 2012-2013
Cooperation Program.

LES REVENUS DE LA POPULATION DU NAGORNO-KARABAKH ONT ATTEINT 96,9 MILLIARDS DE DRAMS EN 2010
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 12 janvier 2012

La population du Nagorno-Karabakh a gagne 96,9 milliards de drams de
revenus en 2010 et a depense 98,7 milliards de drams a annonce Manush
Minasyan, le chef de l’agence nationale des statistiques du Karabakh.

Elle affirme que le revenu est en hausse de 9,7 % et les depenses en
hausse de 11,8 % en 2010 compare avec 2009.

La population du Karabakh a depense 94,3 milliards de drams pour des
achats et pour des services. Les prelevements obligatoires se sont
eleves a 4,9 milliards de drams et les versements volontaires pour des
prelèvements complementaires se sont eleves a 4,9 milliards de drams.

L’OPPOSITION VEUT FORCER UN DEBAT AU PARLEMENT SUR UNE REFORME DU CODE ELECTORAL
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 12 janvier 2012

Les deux partis de l’opposition representes a l’Assemblee nationale ont
annonce qu’ils veulent obtenir un debat au Parlement sur une reforme
du code electoral qu’ils permettrait selon eux d’augmenter les chances
de justes elections lors des prochaines elections parlementaires.

Dans une declaration commune parue a la fin du mois dernier, la
Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne (Dashnaktsutyun) et le parti
Heritage (Zharangutyun) ont appele a l’abolition des elections a
mandat simple.

Selon Armen Rustamian, un des leaders du parti Dashnaktsutyun ”
Nous verifierons ainsi le point de vue officielle de la majorite
parlementaire ” ajoutant ” Il ne faut pas etre guide par des
declarations faites [par des representants de la majorite] ici et la “.

Selon la loi armenienne, l’opposition a l’Assemblee nationale peut
inclure la moindre question a l’ordre du jour du Parlement une fois
par mois sans le consentement de la majorite.

Armen Rustamian a dit que les deputes des partis Zharangutyun et
Dashnaktsutyun emploieront ce droit si la majorite progouvernementale
s’oppose a un debat sur la question.

Armen Rustamian a pretendu que le rejet du projet de loi de
l’opposition ” signifierait que ceux-ci [les declarations du
gouvernement] sont des declarations vides et que leur unique but
reste l’assurance de la reproduction de leur regime “. ” La balle
est maintenant dans leur camp ” a-t-il dit.

L’idee de supprimer des circonscriptions electorales a mandat simple
est aussi fortement appuyee par le Congrès National Armenien N(HAK),
un autre groupe de l’opposition non represente dans la legislature
actuelle.

Ruben Hakobian, vice-president de Zharangutyun, a confirme que les
deux partis sont prets a cooperer avec le HAK a la fois sur une
reforme du code elecorale et la conduite des elections.

WHO WILL ASSUME THE MOUSE’S ROLE
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:38:42 – 10/01/2012

The main intrigue of the Armenian political life is the relations
between the Bargavach Hayastan Party and the Republicans. It became
tenser when the ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan made his famous
“political analysis” on the BHP. Here, another tactical scenario
by Levon Ter-Petrosyan can be discerned. Understanding that the
Congress seems to have run out of the resource for sustaining the
home political intrigue, Ter-Petrosyan tried to blame the government
for the intrigue. Moreover, there was a greater potential in the
BHP-RPA sector.

It is also evident that the Bargavach Hayastan Party and the
Republicans justify Ter-Petrosyan’s scenario, surely if it exists.

None of them wants or is able to close the chapter by expressing
their clear approaches in the political field.

In addition, the Republicans are in a more favorable position because
it is the ruling majority and arguing all the allegations in its
address it keeps affirming that it is going to hold free and fair
elections. It is another issue whether its words are convincing
or true.

The situation of the BHP is becoming more and more incomprehensible.

This party refuses to specify its attitude towards the RPA, the
policy of the Armenian leadership, the government, Robert Kocharyan,
the civil society and the opposition. The attitude “Guys, let’s live
in peace” can hardly be considered as political approach in a country
where there are many fundamental issue requiring clear assessments,
diagnosis, clear definition of the frame of those responsible.

The BHP avoids all this. But everyone keeps staring at the BHP,
many even keep “fighting” for it. Apparently, this is what the BHP
considers as its success. Gagik Tsarukyan has perhaps been persuaded
that the more he keeps the “floating rate” and the more others “fight
for it”, the bigger the likelihood that Tsarukyan will win in the end.

A situation has been created when those who “fight” for the BHP also
benefit from Tsarukyan’s “floating rate” – “let him float as much
as he wants, he will not find a place in any harbor”, this way think
those who “fight” for him.

Everyone can be the mouse, but the society is perhaps destined to
assume the role of the cat. Consequently, it will be more beneficial
to the political subject, instead of “fighting” for BHP, to fight for
the society. And it will be beneficial to BHP, instead of enjoying
the role of the apple of discord, to join the fight for the society
in order not to become the mouse.

HARABIN: SLOVAKIA TO JOIN SARKOZY’S SUGGESTION

Panorama.am
10/01/2012

“I appeal to the President of France’s Senate and to its members saying
the law to be approved is a great necessity and I think Slovakia will
join French President Sarkozy’s suggestions of passing a similar law
in address to the EU member states. I will also appeal to Slovakia’s
Security Council to support French Senate in adopting Armenian Genocide
denial bill and to share our experience with EU parliaments in adopting
a similar bill and in a fight against Turkey,” the Chairman of Supreme
Court of Slovakia, Stefan Harabin said in his address to the Assembly
of Armenians of Europe.

AAE President Ashot Grigoryan said once Turkey was holding a extensive
campaign to demolish Armenian Genocide monument erected in the center
of Bratislava, but when Slovakia passed a bill criminalizing the
denial of Armenian genocide, Turkey stopped its demands.

AAE launches an extensive campaign to encourage through its members
EU parliaments to pass a bill criminalizing the denial of Armenian
Genocide.