Author: Kalantarian Kevo

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY DELEGATION IN BAKU FOR CIS RAIL TRANSPORT COUNCIL MEETING

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. The delegation of the South Caucasus
Railway company is participating in the 61st meeting of the rail
transport council of CIS member countries in Baku on October 21-22.

The meeting is attended also by heads of rail transport departments
from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, by associated member
countries (Georgia, Latvia, Bulgaria and Finland), as well as
representatives from Lithuania, Estonia and Iran.

The meeting will finalize the 2014 performance at railways, traffic
norms for 2015/2016 and international freight tariff policies for 2015.

The rail transport council of CIS member countries was founded in
February 1992 and aims at coordinated rail transport policies and
operations. Its member countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Associated members are Bulgaria, Georgia,
Latvia and Finland. Lithuania and Estonia are involved in the council
on contractual basis. The International Confederation of Railway
Workers’ and Transport Builders’ Unions and the Railways of the
Islamic Republic of Iran enjoy an observer status in the council.

South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, runs
Armenian Railway, which was handed over to the South Caucasus Railway
on February 13, 2008 for 30-year concession management with a right
to prolong the management term for other 10 years. -0–

TRAININGS OF AIR DEFENSE FORCES OF CIS COUNTRIES START IN ARMENIA

Tuesday 21 October 2014 13:00
Photo: Press service of the South Military District

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Joint trainings of forces and staff of joint air
defense system of CIS countries started in Armenia. Anti-aircraft and
air subdivisions of Russian military base of South Military District
and Armenian Armed Forces take part in them.

During the command trainings, issues of interaction of CIS Joint Air
Defense system on detecting, intercepting and destroying conventional
air rivals, covering air borders and subdivisions stationed in the
republic and supporting aircrafts in distress are worked out, the
press service of the South Military District reports.

About 25 unites of air equipment – MiG-29, Su-25 fighters and Mi-24
and Mi-8 helicopters- over 100 unites of special military equipment
of anti-aircraft rocket subdivisions and over 500 military servicemen
take part in the trainings. They are assigned to fulfill the exercise
and military tasks of destroying about 30 control targets all in all.

“We fly by two or flights of three planes. Almost the whole air staff
from the second class is trained to hold maneuver air battles within
a pair. Besides, two flights of three planes are prepared for the
maneuver battle. All the pilots are capable to carrying out the battle
by themselves”, stated the Commander of “Erebuni” Russian Air Base,
Colonel Alexander Petrov.

ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN MISSING THE POINT ON MARCH 1ST, SAYS MP ARAM MANUKYAN

10.21.2014 14:28 epress.am

The country can have no sector that is in great condition, when all
other sectors are in a poor one, we need to have a comprehensive
approach to this, said Armenian National Congress (HAK) MP Aram
Manukyan in Parliament yesterday during discussions about Human Rights
Defender, Karen Andreasyan’s report. Manukyan began his speech by
expressing his dissatisfaction that Andreasyan was not present in
Parliament to listen to MP’s remarks; he later stated that the Human
Rights Defender cannot be against the system, or bring an entire
system into order.

Nevertheless, he noted, that there were very positive excerpts in
the report, and that the Ombudsman had done a very meticulous work.

Meanwhile, Manukyan brought up an important issue that, according to
him, should have been a priority in the report.

He meant the “Case of March 1”; Andreasyan had written in his report
that for 6 years there has been no registered progress, the rights
of the successors of those dead have blatantly been violated, and
that effective means need to be taken in order to speedily resolve
this case.

“This is absolutely not a solution. Here it is not a deadline that
is the issue but the revelation,” noted Manukyan.

According to the latter, the relatives of those who died and were
victims on March 1st do not believe in justice; some parents of those
killed have passed away and some have left the country, while the
case is still not revealed.

Manukyan reminded that former Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan
stated that everything has already been discovered, which, according
to the MP, is a shameful lie.

“The March 1st incidents needed to be the main points of Ombudsman’s
report, because similar criminal acts and slaughters have not taken
place in recent years. This is also a test for the Ombudsmans’ office,”
said the MP.

Manukyan concluded his speech by stressing that the Ombudsman’s report
has positive excerpts, however, the human rights system is in a poor
condition, and has political motives and is dependent on the ruling
authority’s policies.

Recall, that on March 1st, 2008, early in the morning, police
violently dispersed an opposition camp site in Freedom Square. After
the Presidential elections on February 19, 2008, there were 10 days
of peaceful protests at Freedom Square. On March 1st, protesters
gathered on Grigor Lusavorich St. for many hours. During the evening
hours, the protesters were shot at. 10 people were murdered: 2 police
officers and 8 citizens. Until this day, no one has been accused or
tried for the March 1st deaths.

EX-GEORGIAN PM GIVEN NEW JAIL TERM

10:02 * 21.10.14

Former Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili has been sentenced to
three years in prison in connection with the 2006 killing of Georgian
banker Sandro Girgvliani.

A Tbilisi court on October 20 found Merabishvili guilty of falsifying
evidence in the case. He was the country’s interior ministry at
the time.

Merabishvili, a political ally of former Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili, is already in prison serving other sentences. On
February 17, he was sentenced to five years in prison for attempting
to bribe voters.

Ten days later, he received 4.5 years in prison for his role in
dispersing an opposition demonstration in Tbilisi in 2011.

Armenian News – Tert.am

“MONTE MELKONYAN CYBER ARMY” HACKS AZERBAIJANI WEBSITES

YEREVAN, October 21./ARKA/. Armenian “Monte Melkonyan Cyber Army”
hacker group hacked a number of Azerbaijani websites, including those
of banks and embassies, says the group’s statement.

Among sites defaced are websites of two Azerbaijani embassies –
in Poland and Belgium – a bank website, the site of the ministry of
justice and a commodity sale web resource, according to the statement.

On Monday, Armenian cyber security expert Samvel Martirosyan warned
of intensified Azerbaijani hacker attacks and a dozen of Armenian
websites hacked. -0–

168 ZHAM: UKRAINE REFUGEES FLEE TO ARMENIA AS CRISIS CONTINUES

09:14 * 21.10.14

Ukraine is said to be the last in the list of the countries from where
people have sought refuge in Armenia in the wake of a warlike crisis
since the independence period.

The armed clashes in the country’s east have caused not only Armenians
but also thousands of Ukrainians to flee from the country, says
the paper, adding that 285 people have left their home amid the
continuing tensions.

The paper notes that there are also many Armenian families among the
180,000 Ukrainian citizens who have fled to Russia.

Of the 150,000 Armenians residing in Donetsk and Luhansk, 112 are
said to have moved to Armenia.

Citing its sources from the Ministry of the Diaspora, the paper says
further that their list of refugees does not provide exhaustive data
as many do not simply apply to the corresponding government bodies
for registration.

Armenian News – Tert.am

IRAN TO BUILD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS IN ARMENIA

16:24, 20 Oct 2014

Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri announced that based on an
agreement cut by Tehran and Yerevan, Iran will construct hydroelectric
power plants in Armenia, Fars News Agency reports.

“We have agreed to launch the third power transmission line and also
build hydroelectric power plants for Armenia,” Jahangiri said in a
joint press conference with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan in Tehran on Monday.

He pointed to exchanges between Iran and Armenia in different areas,
and said, “The value of exchanges between the two countries is around
$300 million; we export gas to Armenia and import electricity from
that country, but there are other goods for exchange purposes as well.”

Jahangiri noted that the two sides have also agreed to launch joint
commissions to help widen the ties and exchanges.

Also speaking in the same press conference, the Armenian Prime Minister
pointed to the need for setting up a joint commission, and said, “We
have a lot of work to do to develop and complete the joint projects
of the two countries.”

According to the Press Service of the Armenian Government, the
parties also stressed the importance of maintenance and restoration
of the rich historical-cultural heritage. The Armenian Prime Minister
availed himself of the opportunity to express gratitude to the Iranian
authorities for the careful attitude towards the Armenian community
and its historical-cultural legacy.

ARMENIA AND IRAN HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC COOPERATION, HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN SAYS

YEREVAN, October 20. / ARKA /. Armenia and Iran have a great potential
to enhance their economic cooperation, Armenian prime minister Hovik
Abrahamyan said today in Tehran during a meeting with Iranian first
vice president Eshah Jahangiri.

Abrahamyan has arrived in Iran on Monday on a two-day official visit
at the invitation of Jahangiri.

The Armenian government office reports that Abrahamyan spoke also
about what should be done to give new impetus to joint Iranian-Armenian
projects in order to materialize them.

The two men were said to have reiterated the need for strengthening
bilateral economic cooperation and development of partnerships in
a number of areas. According to Abrahamyan, Armenia’s accession to
the Eurasian Economic Union will open new perspectives for further
development of its economy, as well as new opportunities for foreign
investments.

The parties also stressed the need for cooperation in the field
of energy, agriculture, telecommunications, culture, education,
emergency and tourism.

After the meeting, Abrahamyan invited Jahangiri to visit Yerevan with
an official visit.

The two countries have arrangements to implement a number of major
joint projects, particularly construction of hydroelectric power
stations, power lines, railways and highways. -0

MARGE MARDISALU-KAHAR: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS BE AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE

Monday 20 October 2014 14:45
Photo: eceap.eu

Marge Mardisalu-Kahar

Yerevan/Mediamax/. “Informing the Public about EU-Related Issues and
EU-Funded Activities in Armenia” training organized for journalists,
representatives of the civil society and PR experts is held in Yerevan
on October 20-21.

Director at Estonian Center of Eastern Partnership Marge
Mardisalu-Kahar told Mediamax that there are a number of programs in
Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries and they aim to bring together
specialists to hold joint discussions to understand how they can
properly inform the public about the EU.

“The EaP states have opted for the EU Association Agreement, the other
three countries, among them Armenia, have taken another path. Despite
that, it is highly important for us that Armenia-EU relations be as
deep and mutually beneficial as possible. We should find the format of
the legal cooperation document, but the absence of the document does
not mean there are no relations at all”, said Marge Mardisalu-Kahar.

During the training, Founding Director of the Regional Studies Center
(RSC), political scientist Richard Giragosian expressed an opinion
that presently the Armenian government should pay more attention
to relations with the EU, and human rights dialog to which Armenia
remains loyal should be the main touchstone.

“We should deepen relations in all areas”, he said.

According to Head of European Department in the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia Mher Margaryan, Armenia’s relations with the EU extend beyond
discussions over a legal document. He noted that there is already
broad cooperation within EaP framework.

“Discussions over the updating of the legal framework are expected
in the near future”, he said.

Armenia-EU relations currently normalize by the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement which entered into force in 1999 and expired in
2009. It was automatically extended over the past five years and was
to be replaced by the Association Agreement. After Armenia’s refusal
to sign the Agreement, discussions over a new legal document have
been launched.

ARMENIA’S PREMIER TO HEAD TO IRAN ON OFFICIAL VISIT

YEREVAN, October 20./ARKA/. Armenia’s premier Hovik Abrahamyan
is heading to Iran today on an official visit, invited by first
vice-president of the Islamic Republic Es’haq Jahangiri, the government
press office reported.

Abrahamyan will have meetings with the president of Iran Hassan
Rouhani, first vice-president Es’haq Jahangiri and the chairman of
Majlis (parliament) Ali Larijani on Monday.

Armenia premier’s meetings with governor of Isphahan Rasul Zargarpuri
and the Armenian community in Iran are scheduled for Tuesday. The
premier-headed delegation will attend the ceremony on 350th anniversary
of Saint Hovsep Armenian church in New Jugha. -0–