Author: Kalantarian Kevo

COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION’S FIRST HUMANITARIAN CENTER TO OPEN IN ARMENIA IN 2015

YEREVAN, December 23. /ARKA/. The Collective Security Treaty
Organization’s first humanitarian center will be opened in Armenia
in 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at a session
of the organization’s Collective Security Council, as a correspondent
of Novosti-Armenia reported from Moscow.

“A network of humanitarian centers of the CSTO is being built with
active support of Russia, and the first will open in Armenia,” Putin
said. “A similar center will open later in Kyrgyzstan’s territory.”

—–0—–

ARMENIA’S NOC SEES NO REASON FOR BOYCOTTING FIRST EUROPEAN SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, December 23. / ARKA /. The National Olympic Committee (NOC)
of Armenia sees no reason for boycotting the first European Summer
Olympic Games to be held in Azerbaijan, secretary general of Armenian
NOC Hrachya Rostomyan said today.

“As for the games in Baku, at this moment the NOC sees no reason
for refusing to participate. All the problems, both professional and
safety-related are resolved at this stage,

ARMENIA MUST SETTLE ACCOUNTS IN AMD-RUB TERMS – ARTVIK MINASYAN

15:21 * 23.12.14

In an interview with Tert.am, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary group member Artsvik Minasyan
commented on the latest developments on Armenia’s financial market
last week.

According to him, the government should draw a number of lessons. He
proposed certain solutions.

One of the solutions is that, with 70% dollarization of Armenia’s
economy, should use AMD-RUB principle in effecting payments for a
number of products, including gas, which could prevent a rise in the
gas price on the border.

“Solution one: we all have made sure that it is the Russian ruble
that caused the greatest shock. It means that we should use AMD-RUB
principle in the case of substantial part of our trade with Russia.

Specifically, with respect to gas import, it is obvious that our
intergovernmental agreement must envisage deals in RUB and AMD terms,
not in USD terms.

“Secondly, Armenian-Russian trade turnover. In the case of essential
products for Armenia, we must achieve the aim of settling accounts
in RUB terms,” Mr Minasyan said.

“Gas imports are anchored to the USD formula, which must be replaced
with the RUB formula, which will not have any effect inside our
country. Gas-filling stations settle accounts in USD terms, which
affects ordinary Armenian citizens. And since an amount of currency
comes to Armenia, it can be predictable. But when we arrange deals
in terms of a third currency – the US dollar or Euro – we actually
shift the global economic burden onto our economy.”

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expect such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the increased price for Armenia. We are,
after all, in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot
raise the price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This
offers advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expect such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the increased price for Armenia. We are,
after all, in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot
raise the price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This
offers advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expects such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the hike for Armenia. We are, after all,
in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot raise the
price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This offers
advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

ZHOGHOVURD: GEORGIA TO LIFT VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR ARMENIANS

10:26 * 23.12.14

The Georgian visa rules, which restrict the Armenian citizens’
residence in the country to a maximum period of 90 days, are reportedly
going to change in the near future.

It comes after Georgian-Armenian lawmakers urged Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan to raise the question at talks with his Georgian colleagues,
says the paper.

The premier reportedly addressed the issue in the course of his
recent visit to the country, pointing to the concerns of the
Georgian-Armenians (some of whom Republic of Armenia citizens).

Citing its sources, the paper says that a high-ranking Armenian
official recently promised renewed procedures in a phone conversation
with Samvel Petrosyan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly. The
paper notes further that thousands of Georgian-Armenians recently
obtained Armenian citizenship to facilitate their departure for Russia
as employment migrants.

ZHAMANAK: GOVERNOR’S BROTHER-IN-LAW TO BE APPOINTED DEPUTY GOVERNOR

At the suggestion of Harutyun Sargsyan – the newly appointed governor
of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor province, member of the Republican Party of
Armenia – Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan relieved deputy governor
of the province Aram Grigoryan of his position.

‘Zhamanak’ paper writes that the governor already has a candidate for
the vacant post – his own brother-in-law Vasil Aslanyan who became
acting mayor of the city of Vayk following Harutyun Sargsyan’s
appointment as governor.

23.12.14, 11:54

MUTUAL TRUST KEY FACTOR IN EXPANSION OF IRAN-ARMENIA COOPERATION

IRNA – Islamic Rep. News Agency, Iran
December 19, 2014 Friday

Tehran

The official news agency of Iran (IRNA) has issued following news:
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Yervand Zakharian
said mutual trust between Iran and Armenia is a key factor in expansion
of bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at Iran-Armenia joint economic cooperation session, he said
the Republic of Armenia attaches great importance to relations with
Iran which is based on bilateral interests and friendship between
the two countries.

He said each of the two sides has played its role and used its position
in the advancement of previous targets as well as in proposing new
plans and as presidents of the two countries have acknowledged –
despite the good bilateral political relations – that economic
relations are not in satisfactory condition and only a small part of
economic potentials has been activated.

Stressing that proper cooperation will lead to multifold increase
in economic relations, Zakharian noted that the 12th session of the
joint economic cooperation commission has high potentials for the
development of economic, industrial, tourism and trade cooperation and
provides a good ground for expansion of economic and trade relations.

He said now the attention should be concentrated on major economic
plans such as the third high voltage electricity transmission line,
railway link between the two countries, Magri hydroelectric power
plant and other major programs.

Zakharian concluded by saying that trade transactions between the two
countries are low, adding that success in increasing and developing
economic activities depends on the activities of the commission and
“we are bound to take effective measures in this regard for trust of
the two governments.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian hoped that agreements
between the two countries will open a new chapter in bilateral
relations adding that support of the two sides of the private sector
will provide a proper ground for the expansion of exchanges of private
sectors of the two countries and provide welfare and calm for the
two nations.

He said Iran will employ all capacities available for the development
of bilateral relations and cooperation with Armenia, adding that proper
mechanisms should be developed for the development of cooperation
and putting agreements into effect.

HIDDEN DANGERS OF LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL’S GOLD MINE. CYANIDE

Lragir.am
Country – 22 December 2014, 15:36

People who are concerned about the environmental issues in Armenia
one more time got convinced that the environmental examination in our
country does not serve its intended purpose, but only automatically
confirmd the political decisions that have been made for realizing
this or that program. Another evidence of this was the environmental
impact assessment report #76 given on October 17, 2014 by the Ministry
of Environmental Protection of Republic of Armenia (RA) to the mining
complex working draft presented by Lydian International/Geoteam CJSC.

There was no professional analysis and evaluation of the environmental
hazards of this mega and disastrous project done by the ministry
experts, but there was only a documentation study done and a ten-page
summary was established which doesn’t give much information to
the public.

As the authorized state bodies did not do their duties assigned to
them by the laws and decisions of the RA, we have to reflect on the
uncontrolled dangers of Amulsar mine in series of analytical short
articles, so that the public will be informed of the true situation.

In these first series of articles we will present the hidden dangers
of the method of sodium cyanide heap leach gold and silver mining.

Sodium cyanide (NaCN) is an extremely strong and fast-acting toxic
substance, which penetrates into human organism within 2-4 hours and
causes a painful death. For an adult only 0.3 grams of cyanide is a
deadly quantity. If it passes to the lungs through breathing it will
cause almost instant death within a minute.

“Geoteam” CJSC owned by Lydian International Limited, registered in
offshore zone, is planning to carry out the extraction of gold using
this highly toxic substance, only 1km away from Arpa River which feeds
the whole Vayots Dzor region, 1.2 km away from the nearest village
settlements Gndevaz and 7.6 km away from Jermuk rehabilitation center.

We should note that 2000 tons of sodium cyanide and 1,000 tons of
hydrochloric acid (HCl), will be used per year and, 18 000 tones
of cyanide, or 60 billion lethal dose during the nine years of mine
operation.

Let’s try to understand how reliable is this method and what advantages
and disadvantages it has and in general, why to use cyanide? Cyanide
leaching method has been used for more than 100 years, but only in
the last 30 years it got to be widespread, due to the possibility of
large volumes of ore processing as a result of installation of the
so-called closed systems.

Only the application of this method makes it a profitable deal to
operate mines with less than one gram per ton gold content (in the case
of Amulsar it’s 0.7-0.8 g / t). And this is the only and most important
reason why Lydian / Geoteam have chosen this method of extracting gold.

But behind the cyanide leaching method serious primary and secondary
risks are hidden which in many cases are uncontrollable. Primary
risks include fires in cyanide warehouses, accidents in technical
constructions, the emissions of toxic solvents, natural disasters,
terrorist acts and other related accidents, the consequences of which
can be very serious both for people and the environment.

The catastrophic consequences of cyanide related incidents in different
parts of the world over the last 20-25 years only confirm this claim
(Romania – 2000, 2004, Kazakhstan – 2011, Kyrgyzstan – 1998, 2004,
Russia – 1998, 2009, 2012, Ghana – 2006, Turkey – 2011, Japan 2013,
Mexico – 2014, USA, Canada, etc.).

As for the secondary risks, their nature is much more complex and
their negative impact stays forever. During the operation the gold
and silver containing ore is being crushed and as a result all of the
elements or metallic and non-metallic compounds are extracted. This
mass is processed by cyanide and water mixture, and as the result of
the chemical reaction gold is disconnected. However, cyanide comes
into reaction not only with gold but also with ore-free and many
other materials, elements and heavy metals, which result in nitrates
and other chemical compounds. In the case of Amulsar the ore contains
many precious and heavy metals such as cobalt, copper, iron, nickel,
mercury, zinc, tungsten, bismuth, chromium, lead as well as harmful
toxic elements such as arsenic, selenium, beryllium, cadmium, which
will stay in the waste and in the future will pollute and endanger
both the environment and people’s health as well as ecosystems.

Currently, the scientific world has not come up with a means of
neutralizing these compounds and hazardous wastes that are dumped
directly into the environment and forever remain as a “gift”
for generations to come. Therefore, the extraction of gold or
silver through the use of cyanide is only profitable if the mining
company does not pay any fees for the generated waste. If the future
generations attempt to neutralize the compounds and hazardous wastes,
then it will most likely cost them a lot more than the profits
generated from extraction and sale of gold. Residents of Armenia
will receive 100 million tons of extraction waste containing heavy
metals and toxic elements as a “gift” in return for 60 tons of gold
extracted from the Amulsar mine.

In response to the 2000 Romanian Baia Mare cyanide spill that resulted
in an environmental disaster, the European Parliament and the European
Council adopted Directive 2006/21/EC, which discusses the management
and regulation of waste generated by the extractive industry. Article
13 clearly prohibits the deposit of waste containing more than 10
grams of weak acid dissociable cyanide per ton into the environment.

In accordance with the requirements of Article 14, the extractive
companies are required to provide financial guarantees for clean-up,
rehabilitation and restoration of the contaminated areas after the
closure of the mine. Of course, these and many other liabilities set
by international standards have been neglected by Lydian International
Limited, Geoteam and Armenian public authorities.

We conclude that the extraction of gold through the use of cyanide is
not effective for mankind, and to permit the construction of cyanide
heap leach in the immediate vicinity of rivers and settlements is
simply insane, and the resulting effects on the environment and mankind
is not possible to predict nor to manage, not to mention the daily
environmental pollution occurring as a result of the gold extraction.

And we keep hearing verbal promises, such as “Nothing is going to
happen, “This is a safe technology, “We are working in accordance with
the international standards”, etc. Can they guarantee safety? Are we
obligated to listen to them? How can people exposed to this danger
sleep peacefully? It seems the longing for immediate profit has
blinded everyone and for the sake of profit they are ready to “play”
with cyanide. Yes, to “play” with cyanide, because it is with the
help of cyanide that they can get more money.

Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF)

OFFSHORE LABYRINTH: FORMER ARMENIAN PM AND CHURCH PRIMATE HAVE YET TO BE QUESTIONED

Edik Baghdasaryan

12:25, December 22, 2014

Here’s a photo taken awhile back of Ararat Diocesan Primate Navasard
(Samvel) Kjoyan proudly standing next to his famous Bentley.

Archbishop Kjoyan always claimed that the car was a gift, but never
revealed from whom. The primate says he’s now sold the car.

We know that the Bentley was a gift from businessman Ashot Sukiasyan
who, in turn, purchased it with loans received from Ameria Bank
for which another businessman, Paylak Hayrapetyan put up his assets
as collateral.

The case looking into the offshore labyrinth involving the primate
and the former prime minister of Armenian exposed by Hetq isn’t
getting anywhere.

Ashot Sukiasyan, the third player in the multi-million dollar drama,
remains under arrest.

But that’s about it. The state investigative body supposedly looking
into the case has yet to question either Primate Kjoyan or former
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who has since been appointed
the country’s ambassador to the U.S.

If Kjoyan hasn’t been interviewed then the Bentley matter isn’t a
part of the investigation.

In a letter sent by to Armenia’s Prosecutor General and Hetq explaining
how the names of Primate Kjoyan and former PM Sargsyan appeared on
the registration documents of the Cypriot offshore company Wlispera
Holdings Ltd, Ashot Sukiasyan wrote the following:

“I stood as the godfather of the cross at the blessing of the water
ceremony at Saint Sargis Churchlocated in the Ararat Diocese. The
secretary was Tigran Sargsyan and the diocesan primate, Archbishop
Kjoyan. I wish to raise the issue of the offshore company Wlispera
Holdings Limited. First, let me say that I founded this company and I
registered T. Sargsyan and N. Kjoyan as shareholders, without their
knowledge and without their agreement. I took this step to protect
my business from various threats. It never occurred to me that what
I did could have such consequences.”

After Hetq broke the story, then Prime Minister Sargsyan declared
that he had no connection to the company. Archbishop Kjoyan denied
any connection as well. The two also stated that they had no idea how
their names appeared on Wilspera’s registry document as shareholders.

Kjoyan had merely stated that he visited Cyprus once, accompanied
by Sukiasyan.

Following the pronouncements of Ashot Sukiasyan’s lawyer to the
press we can infer that the investigative body is only looking into
Wlispera Holding; just one of the Cypriot off-shore companies involved
in the case.

But this approach neglects two other companies intricately tied to
the matter.

The first, A.B.S. Global Limited, was the prime facilitator of the
shady off-shore transfers.

Readers will remember that $9,370,450 of the loans issued by Ameria
Bank were transferred by Ashot Sukiasyan to the accounts of several
offshore companies held at the Hellenic Bank Publik Company of Cyprus.

The loan monies were transferred to:

A.B.S. GLOBAL LIMITED- $7,020,450 WLISPERA HOLDINGS LIMITED- $350,000
STR EMERALD LIMITED- $2,000,000

A.B.S. Global Limited, the company to which the largest amount was
wired, is 66% by Wlispera Holdings Limited.

It turns out that A.B.S Global Ltd has had commercial transactions
with companies of other countries.

Thus, an end to the investigation isn’t only awaited in Armenia.

DEPARTEMENT D’ETAT : LES RELATIONS AMERICANO-ARMENIENNES INCHANGEES MALGRE L’ADHESION A L’UEE

ARMENIE

La collaboration de Washington avec Erevan continuera après que
l’Armenie soit devenu officiellement membre de l’Union economique
eurasienne (UEE) a declare un porte-parole du departement d’Etat
americain.

“Les Etats-Unis vont continuer a travailler avec l’Armenie pour
soutenir les reformes democratiques et economiques et preserver
les progrès realises a travers la relation Etats-Unis-Armenie >>, a
declare Jen Psaki lors d’une conference de presse la semaine dernière.

Le porte-parole a souligne que tous les pays ont le droit de choisir
leur propre voie d’integration economique et de developpement
conformement a leurs interets nationaux.

“Aucun pays n’a le droit de determiner l’orientation politique et
economique d’un autre pays, ni decider de ces alliances et de ces
accords commerciaux” a souligne Jen Psaki.

lundi 22 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

OPPOSITION GROUP BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR LATEST ATTACK ON ACTIVIST

HUMAN RIGHTS | 22.12.14 | 13:14

Photo: Via Facebook

A new opposition movement called “100th Anniversary without the Regime”
has condemned the weekend attack on its activist, describing it as
the latest evidence that “the criminal regime is trying to cling to
power at any cost, including by means of violence.”

Civil activist Vaghinak Shushanyan said he was attacked and beaten up
by two unknown men in the center of Yerevan on Saturday evening. He
claimed it was retribution for his statements against the president
that he made during a protest near the government office earlier
that week.

The radical opposition movement that seeks a change of government
before or on April 24, when the nation will observe the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, said this was the latest
“joint step of the state administration and criminal elements to
intimidate citizens.”

Several attacks against civil activists and other public figures
known for their opposition views, including opposition lawmaker Aram
Manukyan, took place in Armenia in recent weeks.

The opposition blamed the government for orchestrating the beatings
of opposition figures, including several Karabakh war veterans,
but government representatives have denied any involvement of the
authorities in the attacks.