Author: Kalantarian Kevo

GERMANS TO RECONSTRUCT EREBUNI MUSEUM

AZG DAILY
26-05-2011

The issues related to possible cooperation in different spheres of
the capital economy were discussed during the meeting of Yerevan
mayor Karen Karapetyan with the head of “Cronimet Maining” company,
the honorable Consul of the RA to Baden Wurttemberg state of the
Federative Republic of Germany Gunter Pilarski. Speaking about the
reconstruction of “Erebuni” historical-archeological reserve museum,
Karen Karapetyan noted that an agreement had been signed with German
“KfW” bank on financing the program. He also offered “Cronimet Maining”
company to take part in that program. Gunter Pilarski said that in the
future they are going to establish a fund and they are sure to consider
their participation in the program of the museum reconstruction.

INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS’ INTERROGATION UNNECESSARY

news.am
May 25, 2011 | 14:00

YEREVAN.- Interrogation of the first and second presidents of Armenia,
Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan, is not necessary at the
current stage, investigators say.

Head of special investigative group Vahagn Harutunyan told journalists
concrete individuals, including presidents, may be called in for
questioning in the course of investigation into March 1, 2008 events.

Harutunyan noted the issue has not been tackled so far but the
presidents will be questioned if needed. Officials can be interrogated
on the issues not related to the assumed post, investigators make no
racial, gender and political differences, he added.

The Armenian opposition did not recognize official results of
the presidential election held on February 19, 2008. Leader of the
opposition Levon Ter-Petrosyan organized rallies in the Liberty Square,
in the center of Yerevan, which lasted until March 1.

Thousands took to the streets demanding that official election
results should be canceled. Ten people, including two law enforcers,
were killed during March 1, 2008 confrontation on the streets of
Armenian capital.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: CHSHMARITYAN’S PRESENCE MERE PROMOTION OF CORRUPTION

Tert.am
25.05.11

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan paid a visit yesterday to
the Elbat Company that manufactures batteries and, among others, was
greeted by former Miinister of Trade and Industry Karen Chshmarityan,
who currently is a parliament member.

“This qualifies state-sponsored promotion of corruption,” the
paper says and explains: the company operates inside the Electron
Factory, a Soviet-era factory privatized in 2005, and according to
media reports, Chshmarityan, who then was the minister of trade and
industry, acquired a 40 percent stake in the company. Currently,
he has a 24-percent stake in Elbat.

Besides, the Cooper and Molybdenum Company, one of Armenia’s giants,
was also privatized when Chshmarityan was a minister.

Now, the Cooper and Molybdenum Company owns 51 percent of the Elbat,
the paper says.

ARTSAKH TREASURE BAITS AZERIS: BAKU SEEKS TO PENETRATE INTO ARTSAKH UNDER GUISE OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 25, 2011 – 20:10 AMT

Archaeological finds dating back to 6th century B.C., which were
discovered in Artsakh, seem to be baiting Azerbaijan.

In January, a burial place of two women, along with their golden
and bronze decorations estimated at approx. USD 21,5 million, was
discovered in Artsakh’s Kashatagh region.

Right after the report, passions flared up in Azerbaijan. Baku,
having decided the treasures belong to Azeri side, made up its mind
to stop at nothing to take away the artefacts found.

Moreover, the Director of Archaeology and Ethnography institute of
ANSA Maisa Rahimova came up with an absurd idea, stating that Azeri
archaeologists intend to launch excavations on Artsakh territory. Hard
to believe she meant it: given its military rhetoric against Artsakh,
Azerbaijan cannot seriously hope to receive permission to excavate from
Artsakh authorities. It’s not difficult to see that the archaeological
excavation will be used as a mere pretext to organize diversions
and terrorist acts in Artsakh. Azerbaijan will use archaeological
excavations as a cover for diversions it couldn’t succeed in due to
the agility of Artsakh servicemen.

Artsakh, in turn, reminded Azerbaijan about the Armenian cemetery
in Jugha, completely obliterated by Azeri soldiers. Azerbaijan was
advised not to worry: Artsakh scientists are performing necessary
archaeological excavations, proving time after time that Azeris have
no historic, moral or legal relevance to Karabakh.

SPEAKER’S DISSATISFIED WITH PRIME MINISTER

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:31:10 – 25/05/2011

Today the National Assembly turned down the draft resolution
presented by the ARF Dashnaktsutyun on a vote of no confidence to
the government. 10 voted for the draft, 13 voted against it. The ARF
Dashnaktsutyun proposed the draft resolution after its motion related
to the social and economic situation in Armenia.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s Supreme Body Representative Armen Rustamyan
underlined that the government’s response to the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s
motion related to the social and economic situation, rising prices and
emigration only blamed the former prime ministers Andranik Margaryan
and Serzh Sargsyan.

The minister of finance Vache Gabrielyan stated that the strength
of the government and the Republican Party is the frankness and the
critical approach to issues. Speaker Abrahamyan complained of the
style of work of the government.

“It is difficult to understand why the response of this government
blames the former two,” he noted.

By the way, when Hovik Abrahamyan putting the draft resolution to
vote, the voting equipment failed. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction
leader Vahan Hovhannisyan said there had been precedents when the
equipment failed during the discussion of similar issues and voting
was postponed. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that they would anyway vote
against it.

“I have no doubt you will vote against it,” Hovhannisyan answered,
adding that in 4 months the parliamentary majority is going to regret
for this behavior.

According to the National Assembly bylaws, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
can make a motion in four months, in September.

ABOUT 13,000 FACILITIES POSING DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH REGISTERED ACROSS ARMENIA

/ARKA/
MAY 25, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 25. / ARKA /. Ashot Petrosian, head of the National
Center for Technical Safety of the Armenian Ministry of Emergencies,
was quoted today by Zhamanak (Time) daily as saying that about 13,000
facilities posing danger to public health are registered across
the country.

According to him, large amounts are needed to check their conformity
with safety standards. According to the law, such facilities can be
inspected only once a year. For example, the cost of examining the
safety operation of an elevator in a high-rise building is 240,000
drams.

In his words, 70 elevators were found this year not to meet safe
operation standards, nonetheless, legal entities continue to operate
them.

Last year four children were injured after a merry-go-round broke
down in a Yerevan park. Ashot Petrosian said their total number
has increased from 49 last year to 108. The National Center for
Technical Safety has examined this year 42 carousels to have found
that carousels in Luna Park and Children Railway Station are in good
condition, while those in Hakhtanak Park need to undergo repairs. ($1 –
375,62 drams).

PM SAYS CURRENT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BLAME THE PREVIOUS FOR FLAWS

ARMENPRESS
MAY 25, 2011
YEREVAN

“The current government of Armenia does not blame the previous one
for flaws”, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the National
Assembly today. He shrugged off the opinion of the ARF according
to which the current government blames the former ones for some
issues. “To blame us in an attempt of burdening the responsibility
of flaws on the previous governments is unacceptable for us as we
are saying that we are responsible for the reforms carried out by the
previous governments and ensure their continuation”, Tigran Sargsyan
said. In his opinion the peculiarity of this government is that they
reveal the existing issues and pass it for the public’s judgment,
“as this is the guarantee for the solution of the issues”.

The head of the executive power said he considers it normal that
the ARF has expressed its distrust toward the government. “It is a
way of political fight our partners have chosen and the goal is to
increase the image of ARF to gain trust of people and votes at the
coming elections. But I would like to ask our partners to restrain
from ascribing us things we have not stated”, the prime minister said.

APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION WORKS TO LAUNCH IN AKHURYAN

ARMENPRESS
MAY 25, 2011
GYUMRI

Construction of apartments will launch in the coming days in the
Akhuryan community of the Armenian province of Shirak. The preparatory
works have already been accomplished.

Speaking to Armenpress correspondent the head of the community
Artsruni Igityan said the number of constructed buildings is not
decided yet. In parallel to these works, the lists of homeless people
are being specified. According to initial information, there are
182 homeless in the community. After this clarification, it will be
decided how much apartments will be built.

The construction is being carried out by “Glendale Hills” organization.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: AZERBAIJAN MUST FIRST OF ALL AGREE WITH THE OFFER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH MUST DECIDE THE STATUS OF NK

ARMENPRESS
MAY 25, 2011
YEREVAN

Azerbaijan must first of all agree with the offer of the international
community that the people of Nagorno Karabakh must decide the status
of NK through the expression of their will, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said today at the National Assembly in response to the
question of MP Gagik Melikyan. He added that the negotiations are
aimed at doing it and “the Azerbaijani leadership must prepare its
public for it”.

Referring to the question about the recent thought voiced by Azeri
foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov that Azerbaijan considers the
suggestion of the Armenian side on withdrawing of snipers funny and
such issue cannot be put for discussion, Nalbandian said he does not
know “on what Azerbaijan laughs and cries”.

“I do not think that it is also funny for the UN Secretary General,
presidents of the Minsk group co-chairing countries, leadership of
the EU. The suggestions voiced by them on reinforcement of ceasefire
regime, withdrawal of snipers is not only being ignored in Azerbaijan
but being mocked”, the minister noted.

Gagik Melikyan on his part expressed opinion that the international
community will too give corresponding assessment to the Azerbaijani
military rhetoric which is being voiced for the inner audience. In
response, Nalbandian said that such assessments and responds were
voiced by the international community and expressed hope that new
response will follow soon.

ARMENIA ADVOCATES CHANGING THE PROCEDURE OF ELECTING BSEC SECRETARY GENERAL

/ ARKA /
May 25, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenia and a number of member countries of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation organization (BSEC) would like to revise the procedure
of electing secretary general of the organization, Gagik Minasian,
an Armenian parliament member from the ruling Republican Party and
head of the Armenian delegation to BSEC, told a news conference today.

He said the election of secretary general is a complicated and lengthy
process, and besides chances of member countries are not equal.

He explained that the election proceeds in two phases – in the first a
candidate is voted separately by delegates from member countries and in
the next stage, each country is entitled to one vote. The winner is the
candidate who receives at least half the votes of the member states.

Minasian said this issue was a subject of fierce debate at the
recent enlarged meeting of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, with six
candidates from 12 countries being nominated for the post. Armenia
nominated him and Oleg Ghukasyan.

“With so many candidates nobody has been able to collect the necessary
number of votes,” he said.

According to Minasian, the delicacy of the situation is that the
number of a country delegates depends on the number of its population.

“For example, Armenia, Moldova and Albania are represented by four
delegates, whereas Russia has a delegation of 12 people, and voting
results are directly dependent on the number of delegates, creating
an uneven playing field,” Minasyan said.

Therefore, he said, representatives of some countries made a proposal
to radically change the system of electing secretary general,
demanding a rotational principle. As a result a special group,
consisting of one representative from each member country was set up
that will convene 13-14 June in Istanbul to discuss issues related
to the proposed changes. The election is scheduled for June 30 at a
BSEC Parliamentary Assembly session in Kiev, Ukraine.

“For Armenia, it is very important to have a representative in Turkey,
and with a diplomatic passport, especially in the capacity of secretary
general of BSEC,” he said.

Black Sea Economic Cooperation was founded May 1, 1999. Headquartered
in Istanbul the Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC includes Azerbaijan,
Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania,
Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.