Author: Kalantarian Kevo

REINFORCING BUILDINGS VERY CHEAP AND EASY – SPECIALIST RESPONDS TO EARTHQUAKE CONCERNS

10:56 * 08.07.14

In connection with the population’s increased concerns caused by
the recent earthquakes in Armenia’s north, Tert.am has talked to
Academician Mikael Melkumyan, a doctor professor in technical sciences.

How do you estimate the seismic resistance of buildings in Armenia?

The buildings in Armenia date mainly from the Soviet period. The
seismic threat on Armenia’s territory was underestimated then; that’s
why buildings were being designed to resist quakes measuring seven or
maximum eight points. The seismic norms today are designed for 9-point
earthquakes. So the conclusion is that the seismic resistance of the
buildings in Armenia does not conform to the norms in effect.

The buildings, especially those in Yerevan are thought to be weak
enough to resist a possible powerful earthquakes. What’s your opinion
on that?

I have expressed that opinion. Should an earthquake – as powerful
as the one in Spitak [1988] – ever strike Yerevan, eighty percent
of the buildings will collapse, claiming 300,000 lives and leaving
countless others crippled and without home.

What’s your opinion on the [building] reinforcement activities,
projects and investments by the Ministry of Emergency Situations?

I find that the Ministry of Emergency Situations is carrying out
considerably serious work, but it has to focus preventive activities.

The must request money from the Government to do all that. People
here seem to have totally forgotten that we live in a seismically
sensitive country. They speak of anything and carry out any work,
painting shattered buildings and paving streets with asphalt ten times,
but they do not seem to understand that it is necessary to reinforce
hospitals and government buildings.

Is it possible to reinforce rather than rebuild our buildings?

There are now numerous methods of building reinforcement today. One of
them I have created myself; it is based on an earthquake-proof system.

The method helps to cheaply and quickly reinforce constructions. We
already have such an experience and are known as a world leader with
our seismic isolation technologies of reinforcing buildings. So having
such brilliant technologies today, is it possible to sit and wait
until the next earthquake occurs? No large-scale program is being
implemented. I find that a national security problem.

What will you say about the seismic resistance of the buildings
constructed in the [post]-independence period.

The buildings constructed in the [post]-independence period are
certainly more quake-resistant compared to the old constructions. And
though buildings are projected in accordance with the [new] norms,
it is necessary to keep in mind that we have the corruption problem in
our country. I personally do not hope that the constructions are very
well-built. Design companies in our country have grown like a mushroom
after rain, as it is very easy to obtain a license today. So anyone
is granted a license to carry out development work regardless of the
ability to do so. I have personally witnessed several poor projects.

So I cannot be one hundred percent confident that the newly-built
constructions are quake-resistant.

Armenian News – Tert.am

WHO WILL BE BROUGHT TO POWER IN ARMENIA BY PUTIN?

Haikazn Ghahriyan, Editor-in-Chief
Comments – Monday, 07 July 2014, 17:21

The Armenian-Russian relations have reached an interesting point. On
the one hand, it is much, on the other hand, the game has become
quite complicated in our region, and it is difficult to draw clear
conclusions regarding developments, including the future nature of
the Armenian-Russian relations.

Russia is not in a hurry to involve Armenia in the Eurasian Economic
Union. On the other hand, it is trying to absorb Armenia at minimal
costs.

For its part, Russia’s responsibility is to hand over everything,
including social and economic matters, security, the right to internal
and external political decisions.

Armenia is not doing anything, it is just waiting. Both the
government and other political forces, consciously or in order not
to anger Moscow, it does not matter, actually are not participating
in Russia’s political plans. In this regard, there is a peculiar
“sabotage” which is the consequence of Moscow’s policy of blackmail.

Against this background, it is clear that the Armenian problems are
becoming a too heavy burden for Moscow or a factor which, aside from
other international problems, is not just interfering with its plans
but has begun to work against them.

>From this perspective, Moscow needs to “get rid” of Armenia. In
addition, there are two options, either abolish the Armenian state or
set up partnership with Armenia. The first will not resolve Russia’s
problems and will aggravate them. In the second case, partners are
needed who will come up with different initiatives relating to the
Armenian-Russian relations and regional issues.

Armenia’s current political system with all its sectors is not
a partner but groups which expect only power from Moscow and are
not capable of any initiative. Moscow has become convinced of this,
having got familiarized with the waiting list in the Kremlin corridor
and drawing a relevant opinion which is not subject to disclosure.

Moscow needs to “get rid” of Armenia in order to pursue its own
interests which are not in line with the interests of Armenia, which
is a constant issue for the Armenian-Russian relations. It should be
solved, otherwise not only Armenia will suffer but also Russia since
there cannot be one-sided dependence, and everything is interdependent.

Moscow seems to have understood this situation and they will hand
over power to the forces which will act on behalf of the sovereign’s
domestic and foreign policy of Armenia, there is no other way out.

– See more at:

TURKISH LEADER UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT INVITATION TO VISIT ARMENIA: EXPERT

19:12 07.07.2014

Artak Barseghyan
Public Radio of Armenia

The Turkish Taraf daily reported a few days ago that Prime Minister
Recep Tayyop Erdogan had given official instructions to get through
with preparations to open Alijan checkpoint on the Armenian border.

Although the Turkish Foreign Ministry dismissed the reports, expert of
Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan sees theoretic grounds to trust Taraf.

“It was Taraf that revealed the details of the famous Ergenekon case.

It has good relations with the authorities and sometimes specially
leaks information to test the public opinion,” he said.

At the same time, Shakaryan doubts that the border will be opened
in September. He links this publication to the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide to be marked next year. “The opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border months before the genocide centennial will
be a nice gesture to show the world that it has no hostile feelings
towards the Republic of Armenia,” he noted.

The expert said that the opening of the border is easier for Ankara
than the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, because the
Justice and Development Party does not have the necessary number of
Deputies at the Grand National Assembly to ratify the protocols.”

Meanwhile, the opening of the border is easier, as it can be closed
again under some pretext after the 100th anniversary.

Speaking about Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to the
Turkish leader to visit Yerevan on April 24, 2015, Shakaryan said it
would be turned down. “The best cause for this is the 100th anniversary
of Turks in Battle of Gallipoli to be marked on April 25,” he said.

“Even if the Turkish President (most likely Erdogan) accepts the
invitation to visit Yerevan, he may come forth with statements
unacceptable to the Armenian side,” Shakaryan said. He believes that
as President Erdogan will try to strengthen his positions, but one
should not expect great concessions from him.

Post-Periodical, W. San Fernando Valley
July 6 2014

Armenian-American Festival Begins Today at Birmingham

By Post-Periodical on July 2, 2014.

The 39th Homenetmen Navasartian Games & Festival begins today at
Birmingham Community Charter High School in Lake Balboa.

Approximately 3,200 Armenian-American athletes from 18 chapters of the
Homenetmen Western U.S. Region participated in an eight-week
Olympics-style tournament which culminates with this week’s final
events and festival. The festival was launched in East Los Angeles in
1975 and has become one of the largest community events for
Armenian-Americans.

During the day, athletes will compete in a variety of sports,
including basketball, soccer, volleyball, table tennis, track and
field and swimming.

The festival includes live entertainment Wednesday through Friday from
7 p.m. until midnight. There will be a carnival with games and rides
for kids from 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at 2:30 to 7:30
p.m. on Saturday.

Closing ceremonies will take place Saturday afternoon and evening with
a parade of athletes and scouts, the distribution of championship
trophies and a fireworks show.

Regular admission tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for children. A
$2 discount is available for purchasing online.

Bako Sahakyan partook in a ceremony of founding a new park after
philanthropist Andrey Rappoport

17:35 06.07.2014

Artsakh Republic-Stepanakert

Today, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan partook in a ceremony
of founding a new park named after philanthropist Andrey Rappoport to
be laid out in capital Stepanakert by charitable means, Central
Information Department of the Office of NKR President informed.

The Head of the State considered demanded having such a park,
emphasizing its aesthetic and practical significance for the residents
and guests of the capital.

The President highlighted the input of the philanthropist who was
present at the event in the development of Artsakh, noting its
importance both from the economic and moral perspectives.

National Assembly speaker Ashot Ghoulyan, deputy premier Arthur
Aghabekyan, other officials and foreign guests partook in the
ceremony.

Chorrord Ishkhanutyun: Armenia electricity price hike’s real reason

July 05, 2014

YEREVAN. – Reflecting on the recent decision on increasing the price
of electricity in Armenia, prominent sociologist Aharon Adibekyan
stated that this is a good lesson for the market so that the country’s
residents may become rational, a bit more like the Germans, and save
every penny, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun newspaper reported.

“In actual fact, they have increased [the price of] our electricity
for educational and disciplinary considerations. And the objective was
quite honest: to craft rational creatures out of the Armenian nation.

“But the educational and disciplinary method, which Mr. Adibekyan has
indicated, has a drawback. If as a result ‘we [the residents of
Armenia] become a bit like the Germans,’ the foundations of the
[Armenian] statehood will shatter.

“In any case, the Germans definitely would not have tolerated such
authorities. And then, Germans do not rig elections. So, the
authorities will hardly like this method,” Chorrord Ishkhanutyun
wrote.

The Public Services Regulatory Commission on Tuesday unanimously
decided to increase the electricity price in Armenia by 3.85 drams
(approx. $0.01), or by about 10 percent, as of August 1. Accordingly,
the daytime rate will increase from 38 drams (approx. $0.09) to 41.85
drams (approx. $0.10), and the nighttime rate will rise from 28 drams
(approx. $0.07) to 31.85 drams (approx. $0.08), per kilowatt hour, for
the households in Armenia.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Key Summit On Armenia’s Eurasian Union Bid Cancelled

By MassisPost
Updated: July 4, 2014

YEREVAN — Raising more questions about Armenia’s accession to the
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamian has announced the cancellation of a summit of ex-Soviet
states which was due to discuss Yerevan’s membership bid.

“There was an agreement that the presidents will meet on July 3. But
the meeting will not take place,” Abrahamian told reporters late on
Thursday.

He did not clarify whether the meeting was due to involve the
presidents of only Armenia and Russia or also the EEU’s two other
member states: Belarus and Kazakhstan. The EEU’s most recent summit
took place on May 29 and the leaders of three ex-Soviet states
announced no plans to meet again this summer.

Abrahamian stressed the importance of the July 3 meeting last week
when he commented on an increasingly obvious delay in Armenia’s
accession process which President Serzh Sarkisian had hoped to
complete this spring. “Things will be clear after the July 3 meeting,”
the premier said on June 26.

“We don’t know the reasons [for the delay] but … we have fulfilled all
of our obligations,” Abrahamian told reporters on Thursday. At the
same time he expressed confidence that Armenia will join the EEU
“before the end of this year.” “I see no political problems,” he said
in reference to mounting speculation that Moscow is currently not
interested in the quick signing of an accession treaty with Yerevan
despite having forced the latter to abandon an Association Agreement
with the European Union last year.

Abrahamian further announced that he will meet with Russian Prime
Minister Dmitry Medvedev on July 11 to discuss this and other issues
of mutual interest. “We will have an answer on my return,” he said. “I
also know that the presidents of Armenia and Russia will meet in the
future.”

Politicians and experts point to a number of possible reasons for the
difficulties on the way of Armenia’s Eurasian integration. For
instance, Prosperous Armenia Party MP Mikael Melkumyan mentions
failure to agree on the issue of customs exemptions on 900 basic types
of commodities. Duties on these goods were to rise after Armenia’s
entry into the Russian-led trade bloc, which would have caused a
socio-economic collapse in the country.

Others point to Russia’s failed plan for a simultaneous integration of
Armenia and Azerbaijan into the Eurasian Union. For example, member of
the opposition Heritage party Stepan Safaryan links Armenia’s
“insurmountable difficulties” with Eurasian integration to the
Karabakh problem. Experts say that Russia intended to introduce
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces
into Karabakh and, by dividing Karabakh, attract Armenia and
Azerbaijan to the Union.

Armenia’s neighbor Georgia also showed a tough stance. It is through
this country that Armenia has the only path towards Russia. Despite
the June visit by President Serzh Sargsyan and the warm welcome that
he got in Tbilisi, Georgia categorically refused to authorize a
customs duty-free transit of goods to Russia from Armenia and back.
This means that attempts to secure a land link between Armenia and the
EaEU have also failed.

EDITORIAL
Haut-Karabagh et Nakhitchevan : l’étau pan turc se resserre, par Ara Toranian

Le 5 juin dernier, deux soldats arméniens ont été assassinés par un
sniper de l’armée azerbaïdjanaise sur la frontière sud-ouest de
l’Arménie avec le Nakhitchévan. L’événement est passé presque inaperçu
sur la scène politico-médiatique, malgré quelques dépêches d’agences
de presse, dont une de l’AFP. Cette agression contre l’Arménie, sans
aucun lien avec la question du Haut Karabagh, constitue pourtant une
initiative criminelle particulièrement grave. Non seulement, dans ses
conséquences humaines, puisqu’elle s’est soldée par le meurtre de deux
jeunes gens, Antranig Yehoyan (25 ans) et de Boris Kasparian (22 ans).
Mais aussi sur le plan du droit international où elle est assimilable
à un casus belli.

Se situant totalement en dehors du thétre des opérations du Haut
Karabagh, cette action se distingue en effet des multiples violations
du cessez-le-feu (plus de 2000 pour le seul mois de mai), qui
déstabilisent de plus en plus la ligne de contact. Elle se différencie
également des tirs récurrents contre les villages du Tavush, au
nord-est du pays, limitrophes de l’Azerbaïdjan. Prenant l’Arménie à
rebours, sur sa frontière sud-est, cette agression s’apparente plutôt
à l’ouverture d’un nouveau front, qui ciblerait au sud le couloir du
Zanguezour, et qui viserait à établir cette fameuse continuité
territoriale entre la Turquie, le Nakhitchevan et l’Azerbaïdjan, qui
constitue l’un des fondements du panturquisme et l’un des mobiles du
génocide des Arméniens.

Se trouve-t-on donc face aux prémices de cette guerre totale que nous
avait promises Zakir Hasanov, ministre de la Défense azerbaïdjanais,
en déclarant le 26 juin : > ? En tout état de cause, cette provocation donne une dimension
particulière à la logorrhée d’Ilham Aliev qui depuis plus d’un an
répète à l’envi que l’Arménie s’est construite sur des terres qui
appartiennent à l’Azerbaïdjan. Une rhétorique qui peut être non
seulement considérée comme l’expression de revendications
territoriales à l’égard de l’État arménien, mais également comme une
remise en cause de son droit à l’existence. S’inscrivant de surcroît
dans le prolongement de l’explosion du budget militaire de
l’Azerbaïdjan, ces événements devraient mobiliser les communautés
arméniennes, stimuler la vigilance internationale et pour le moins
permettre de dénoncer les conséquences criminelles des ventes d’armes
à Bakou.

C’est dans cet esprit que Nouvelles d’Arménie a demandé le 2 juillet
au porte-parole du Quai d’Orsay quelles initiatives comptaient prendre
la France pour prévenir les risques liés à cette escalade ? Sa réponse
s’est révélée en l’occurrence en deçà du niveau de réaction
qu’imposent en principe de telles exactions. Pour mémoire, le
ministère des Affaires étrangères avait clairement condamné le meurtre
d’un soldat israélien tué le 16 décembre 2013 par un tir venant du
Liban. Pourquoi dans le cas du Nakhitchevan un simple appel à la
retenue alors que, mutatis mutandis, les circonstances sont
comparables ? Cette modération, qui se veut peut-être opportune pour
un pays médiateur dans le conflit, ne risque-t-elle pas d’être
interprétée par les agresseurs comme un signe d’apathie, voire
d’indifférence ?

La diaspora qui s’était mobilisée à juste titre pour dénoncer
l’occupation de Kessab en Syrie par les djihadistes devrait quant à
elle se maintenir en état d’alerte par rapport à cette nouvelle
menace. Qu’y a-t-il en effet à attendre, sinon de la haine et des
actions criminelles, de cette république autonome d’Azerbaïdjan, fief
du clan Aliev, qui s’était tristement distinguée en procédant en
décembre 2005 à la profanation du cimetière arménien de Julfa ,
laquelle s’était soldée par la destruction de milliers de Khatchkars
(grandes croix de pierre), datant des XVe et XVIe siècles qui
représentaient un des trésors de la culture arménienne. On se souvient
qu’en 1914, cette région (historiquement un canton de la province
arménienne du Vaspourakan), hébergeait 81 300 Azéris et 53 700
Arméniens. En 2009, elle ne recensait plus aucun Arménien et comptait
400 000 Azéris.

Ce double mouvement de développement démographique pour les uns et
d’éradication totale pour les autres donne la mesure de l’espérance de
vie à laquelle nous vouent le clan Aliev. Le risque que fait peser
l’axe Ankara-Bakou sur le destin de l’Arménie est certes réduit du
fait de l’alliance stratégique qui lie Erevan à Moscou jusqu’en 2044.
Mais il demeure néanmoins réel pour la République du Haut-Karabagh,
dont l’absence de statut diplomatique fragilise la sécurité.

Alors que le monde s’apprête à commémorer les cent ans du génocide, un
parfum de précarité continue donc de flotter autour des Arméniens de
la région. Comme si aucune leçon n’avait été tirée des tragédies du
passé, comme si le devoir de mémoire n’induisait pas naturellement une
exigence de prévention. Incorrigible, le pouvoir en place à Bakou, qui
s’avère autant totalitaire à l’intérieur qu’il est belliqueux à
l’extérieur, n’a jamais été aussi éloigné des valeurs démocratiques
que depuis qu’il a pris au mois de mai la présidence tournante du
Conseil de l’Europe. Une fonction dont on aurait pu espérer qu’elle
l’amènerait à faire preuve de plus de sens des responsabilités, mais
dont, en bon tyran, Alyev a visiblement cru qu’elle lui conférait plus
de droits et de pouvoir. Il y a donc urgence à lui apporter un démenti
en ce domaine. Et à le faire redescendre sur terre.

Ara Toranian

samedi 5 juillet 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com

Armenia Needs Open Border with Nakhijevan, Not Turkey

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – Saturday, 05 July 2014, 13:23

The Turkish Taraf reported that the Turkish prime minister running for
president has ordered to open the Armenian-Turkish border in
September. Later, the information was refuted. It is not known yet
what this trick was meant for.

Earlier in spring Erdogan was rumored to open the border as part of
his electoral campaign. Turkish analysts said the Armenian issue is a
bone stuck in Erdogan’s throat, and he knows that sooner or later he
will have to resolve this issue, especially ahead of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. However, he must do it in a way
to get the utmost of it in terms of political dividends.

Turkish presidential elections will be held in August. Erdogan is
“threatened” by establishment of a Sunni Caliphate and Kurdistan at
the Turkish borders. These two formations may extend into the Turkish
territory. Erdogan is currently trying to do everything to preserve
Turkey’s ethnic identity because Turkey’s fragmentation will indicate
the end of his career.

But it will not be so easy to do. If the borders in the Near East are
revised, the Treaty of Lausanne which had replaced the Treaty of
Sevres will end. Although there is an opinion that an experiment is
performed in the Near East which consists in creating supranational
formations which have no state borders. If Kurdish autonomies are
created in Syria, Iraq and Turkey, they may afterwards unite in a
confederation, without demarcation of borders.

One way or another, Erdogan will become the president of a state with
borders disputed from every side. Armenia which did not get anything
from the division of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Lausanne has
the strongest rights. Erdogan will try to prevent claims from Armenia,
or more exactly, the Armenian Diaspora.

What will Turkey’s “favor” bring to Armenia? It is no good because
there everything will be controlled by the Russian-Turkish alliance,
and it may be blocked any time. Moscow is patiently waiting for the
opening of the border. The head of Russian Railways Yakunin visiting
Armenia announced that Kars-Gyumri railway is ready for operation.

Now Yerevan should focus on routes via Iran and Nakhijevan rather than
the Turkish border. If the Turkish border is opened, it will
facilitate “closure” of Armenia. Nakhijevan National Political
Initiative has released a research on the existing situation in
Nakhijevan where Iran’s influence is strengthening while the link with
“mainland” Azerbaijan is almost intangible. Notably, escalation on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border followed a proposal by Iranian officials
to set up a free trade zone in Nakhijevan. The proposal did not come
to the liking of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia which will thus lose
their monopoly of regional routes. In this situation, Armenia should
reject opening of the Turkish border because it will not bring us
anything.

– See more at:

PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CENTER in YEREVAN
30 Saryan str.
Tel: +37460 505 898
+37499 755 898
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Electricity Price Rise: Expert Overview

On July 7, at 15Ö=8900, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting will
hold a panel discussion on the government’s decision to raise
electricity prices from August 1 in cooperation with the Media
Center. The discussion will take place at the IWPR office located on
30 Saryan Str., 2-nd floor.

Vahagn Khachatryan, economist and member of the Armenian National
Congress, Gagik Makaryan, Chairman of the Repblican Union of Employers
of Armenia, Ashot Yeghiazaryan, economic expert and Mane Tandilyan,
activist of Dem.am civic initiative, will be the panelists.

The Commission for the Regulation of Public Services (CRPS) has raised
electricity prices by more than 10 percent, with officials saying they
needed to close a gap of 20 billion drams to save the power network
from bankruptcy.

The decision will come into effect on August 1, and although the
government claims this is a temporary arrangement, it has sparked
public disgruntlement in Yerevan. The Commission for the Regulation of
Public Services raised the electricity tariff by 10 percent, from 38
drams to 42 drams. The given increase followed the gas and electricity
tariffs increase which took place exactly a year ago.

This discussion event is part of IWPR’s Building Bridges/Building
Capacity project, supported by the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Norway. The event is organized in cooperation with Public
Journalism Club’s Media Center project.