Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN PM STEPS DOWN, GOV’T MINISTERS TO FOLLOW SUIT

World Bulletin, Turkey
April 4 2014

Although it is not yet entirely clear why he resigned, many speculate
it is related to a controversial pension plan that saw masses of
people protest in the streets of the capital Yerevan.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Armenia’s ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has announced that
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has stepped down unexpectedly after
6 years in office for undisclosed reasons.

HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told a press conference that the
prime minister said that it is his “personal decision” and had asked
for his request to be granted.

Sarkisian also confirmed his resignation on his Facebook page where
he wrote “I wish the new government productive work for the good of
the country”.

Although it is not yet entirely clear why he resigned, many speculate
it is related to a controversial pension plan that saw masses of
people protest in the streets of the capital Yerevan.

His resignation also obliges all government ministers to resign as
well in accordance with the Armenian constitution.

RESIGNATION OF ARMENIAN PM FIRST STEP TOWARDS POWER CHANGE – OPPOSITION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 4 2014

4 April 2014 – 9:16am

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the Armenian National Congress
opposition party, said that the resignation of Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan would be the first step towards a change of power in Armenia,
as stated by Levon Zurabyan, head of the party’s fraction in the
parliament, Interfax reports.

Opposition parties the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia,
Heritage and Dashnaktsutyun said that they will declare the vote
of censure to the government and demand resignation of the prime
minister on April 28. They accuse him of inefficient economic policy
and implementation of accumulative pensions. Protests will also be
organized on April 28.

ARMENIA: NEW PRIME MINISTER WANTED

EurasiaNet.org
April 4 2014

April 4, 2014 – 9:01am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

The surprise April 3 resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian and possible options for his replacement have sparked much
speculation in Armenia.

In a valedictory Facebook message, Tigran Sarkisian said that he
actually had tendered his resignation back in February — his reasons
for staying on were not specified — and wished the best of luck to
the government team. That team, led by President Serzh Sargsyan, might
well need it, for their economic policies, including pension-reform,
energy and public-transportation fees, have been putting an increasing
number of Armenians on edge.

Under the Constitution, though, the cabinet must step down now that
the prime minister has.

Few are buying that 54-year-old Sarkisian quit because he wants,
as the line goes, to spend more time with his family. Most reports
link Sarkisian’s departure after six years in office to the looming
collapse of his controversial pet project on pension reform.

On April 2, the Constitutional Court scrapped a controversial,
mandatory retirement savings policy, that might have been dubbed
“Sarkisiancare.” The ex-prime minister had pulled the US-advised
reform through fire and water as hundreds fiercely protested
against the law in Yerevan. Failing to defeat it in the legislature,
Armenian opposition parties took the case to the Court, which deemed
it unconstitutional. The government insists that the policy can be
saved despite the court ruling. That was, in fact, one of the last
points that Sarkisian made in his official capacity.

Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov claimed that Sarkisian
has wanted to retire for quite a while now, but that President
Sargsyan (also spelled Sarkisian) asked him to stick around for
another month. Some news outlets suggested that the prime minister’s
resignation was a face-saving move by the president.

Potential replacement candidates floated in the media include Defense
Minister Serzh Oganian, Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamian and even
Yerevan’s police chief, Vladimir Gasparian.

AN UNFADING MEMORY OF A FRIEND, HERO AND TRUE PATRIOT

by David Boyajian

Published: Friday April 04, 2014

>From right: Arthur Hovsepyan, wife Astghik, Richard Boyajian, and
Arthur’s daughter Astghik at the dedication at Voghge playground in
Shirak province.

GLENDALE, CALIF. – As Armenia transforms and evolves into a new strong
and constantly improving developing country there are sometimes
disappointing setbacks that hinder excitement, such as corruption,
embezzlements or mismanagement of funds within projects. There
are many diaspora Armenians engaged in business and humanitarian
operations within Armenia and realize that contacts in Armenia can
make or break any project. This is one of many success stories of a
truly rich character that helped make those projects thrive.

This piece is dedicated to the memory of a true patriot, a gentle
soul, a highly educated professional and businessman, Arthur Karapet
Hovsepyan of Gyumri. He proved time and again to be one of those
exceptional figures and he inspired us with his personality to
strengthen our faith and devotion to our ancestral fatherland. Arthur
succumbed to a massive heart attack on August 25, 2013.

Born on April 20, 1956, Arthur grew up in a family of highly educated
parents. His father Karapet, was the president of the Gyumri State
Pedagogical Institute and his mother was a mathematics instructor.

Arthur received his Ph.D. in physics and mathematical sciences from
the Yerevan State University in 1983 with a concentration in physics.

In the same year he entered the “Avangard” scientific production
association as a junior scientist tasked with completing various
research projects.

In 1989 after the devastating earthquake which hit Armenia he was
elected as the president of the “Avangard” scientific society,
which later in 1995 was named “Magnon” special technological design
engineering bureau. Having established his own company with the
same name, he engaged in the planning and production of playground
equipment. A year later, they restructured and under a new management
agreement being led by Arthur, it was registered as an Open Joint
Stock Company.

The next decade brought more growth and recognition for “Magnon” and
its founder for professionalism, precision, honesty, fair pricing
and commitment. Between 2002-2013, “Magnon” leveraged its talents
from starting as a modest playground equipment manufacturing company
into producing large scale sports grounds, park equipment, decorative
doors, metal fences, gates, major metal structures, design and planning
services, plus crafting outdoor furniture. Since Magnon’s inception,
the company has installed more than 300 playgrounds in 10 regions of
Armenia, 20 cities and 57 villages.

In 2012, the Boyajian Foundation board members and I capitalized on
the opportunity to visit and see the newly dedicated Magnon Business
Center located in the heart of Gyumri. We were delighted to see
Arthur’s proactive forward thinking hard at work as he embarked on
a new project ushering his company to fulfill the need for a GREENer
Armenia. Magnon had begun importing and installing Alternative Energy
(Solar) Systems, and at the same time introducing innovative ideas
to its playground equipment projects.

The Nish Boyajian Memorial Foundation was extremely fortunate, and
blessed to come to know Arthur, his dedicated staff and family from
the early years of its activities in Armenia over the past decade
starting form 2001.

While many of us who invest in Armenia have to take a number of trips
to see their dreams and projects realized in Armenia, with Arthur
it was only a matter of a simple phone call, an email or a fax. We
owe the realization of all our projects, predominantly playgrounds
to Arthur and his company’s dedicated staff and employees.

The “Magnon” planned, built and installed twelve playgrounds for us,
starting with the ones in Yerevan, Zeitun (2001) and Nork- Marash
(2007) neighborhoods, Ghukasavan (2012), village in the vicinity of
Yerevan to Sisian (2006) in the distant Siunik district, south of
Armenia, Hnaberd (2010) and Margavan (2012) villages both in Ararat
district as well as the villages of Arevik (2012), Voghji and Akhuryan
(2013) in the Shirak district near the Turkish border. No matter how
far, no matter how arduous the task and challenging the environment,
Arthur never hesitated to provide his company’s services, providing us
with wise advice, and all the support and guidance for the successful
implementation and realization of our projects.

Today, the Magnon torch is proudly carried on by his daughter Astghik
in direct cooperation with his two sons, Artyom and Karapet and the
future looks bright with 3 grandchildren Gayane, Arthur and Meline.

The company forges ahead with the same abundant qualities and
values of their beloved father. With his untimely departure, the
Nish Boyajian Memorial Foundation lost a great friend and a true
cherished gem in the middle of a sea of sometimes disappointing
unknown business environment. Arthur inspired hope and optimism with
all of our projects. His modesty and humility always shined through
his smile and voice. Armenia lost a true patriot in the real sense of
the word. His unconditional dedication and hard work for his beloved
Armenia will not be forgotten and we look forward to working with
his family on upcoming new projects.

May his soul rest in peace and his legacy inspire more patriotism
within his immediate circle of friends, family, colleagues, and the
public in and around Gyumri, which was his hometown, where he was
loved and respected by many, both near and far.

Magnon Head Office: Shirak Marz, Gyumri, Alex Manoogian St. 1 (+37493)
– 421769, (+37493) – 058998

YEREVAN OPERA HOUSE’S POTENTIAL DIRECTORS NAMED

20:55 * 04.04.14

Armenia’s Ministry of Culture has announced the names of the Yerevan
Opera House’s possible directors.

Two candidates, Andranik R Arzumanyan and Gagik Z Manasyan, are said
to have won the contest for the vacant post.

According to a press release by the Ministry, the corresponding
conclusion will be submitted to the minister who is to make a final
decision within three days. An employment contract will be signed
with one of the winning contenders.

Armenian News – Tert.am

DAVUTOGLU WARNS OF RETALIATION IF SYRIA ATTACKS

Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 3 2014

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has vowed to respond to
attacks against the tomb of Suleiman Shah as it would to any other
part of Turkish soil

Daily Sabah Published : 03.04.2014 22:59:20

ISTANBUL — Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has vowed to respond
to attacks against the tomb of Suleiman Shah as it would any other
part of Turkish soil. “When a missile is [launched] into Turkey by
the Syrian regime, the [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] (ISIL)
or any other element we will equally act in return,” said Davutoglu.

Davutoglu, in New York for meetings on Turkey’s provisional membership
on the U.N. Security Council, was answering questions about Syria and
referred to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s balcony speech on
the night of local elections.

Davutoglu answered that incidents in Syria are far beyond any war,
as even war has rules. He added that the Syrian regime has used the
most relentless methods in history and committed huge crimes against
humanity. “Hundreds of thousands of people died and millions became
refugees,” he said. “The Turkish border was violated many times.

Within the framework of the inhumane attitude which was pointed out
by our prime minister and the violations of Turkish borders, what
we are talking about is that Turkish Armed Forces, who changed the
rules of engagement, shot down a Syrian war [plane]. Thus, we think,
the matter should be seriously monitored. This is what the prime
minister was pointing out.”

Davutoglu commented on the seizure of a village in the region of
Kesab near the tomb of Suleiman Shah, which was seized by ISIL, a
militant organization formerly linked to al-Qaeda. Noting that the
tomb of Suleiman Shah has been recognized as Turkish soil since 1921,
Davutoglu added, “This place belongs to the Republic of Turkey. Our
soldiers in the region protect Turkey’s soil. Any attack against them
will be regarded as one against Turkish soil and will be reacted duly.

Turkey is determined to protect the rights of its citizens and its
own soil and is able to do this.”

Davutoglu highlighted that Turkey is not going to intervene in
skirmishes in Kesab. “As long as there is not any action against us,
Turkey will not intervene,” he said.

Davutoglu also said that Syrian-Armenians may come to Turkey when they
face troubles. “Turkey is ready to help. From Kesab or anywhere else,
Armenians are welcome in Turkey.”

The minister noted there were negotiations between Turkey and Israel
recently and added, “We expect positive [developments] in the future.

However, time will show when.”

Davutoglu also replied to a question about the timing of the
normalization in relations with Israel. “Out of the three main
principles set for the improvement in the relations, one was
fulfilled last year, which is the apology. When it comes to the issue
of compensation, serious ground was covered recently. In addition,
there are some ongoing negotiations about lifting the embargo on
Palestine and Turkey’s communication with Palestine.”

The minister also spoke on the process of Turkey’s provisional
membership in the UNSC. He explained that he came to New York to join
an array of activities for the provisional membership of Turkey for
the 2015 to 2016 term. He noted that he participated in the meeting
of Alliance of Civilizations and will come together with the Africa
group to explain Turkey’s relations with African countries and the
African Union and seek support.

Davutoglu added that he will later work to forge greater ties with
Caribbean countries and the Pacific Islands.

The minister expressed his desire to get a positive result in the
elections of provisional membership to UNSC in October. “This will
be a quite rare example, a country being a member of UNSC for the
second time after five years. We are trying to achieve this goal if
God permits,” he concluded.

SYRIA OPPOSITION DENIES IT ATTACKED ARMENIANS

Turkish Press
April 3 2014

Thursday, April 03, 2014

ANKARA – Syrian opposition has refuted claims that its fighters
attacked the Armenian community of Kasab in the northwestern coast
after capturing the town in late March.

Leading armed opposition group Free Syrian Army commander Anas Abu
Malik told AA on Thursday that opposition fighters were “making a
great effort” to meet the needs of the local community.

The town of Kasab, in Syria’s main port city Latakia, has over 2,000
inhabitants, who are mostly of Armenian origin.

Malik warned against a media campaign by the Syrian regime, which seeks
to pressure the opposition by claiming the residents were attacked
after the town was captured by the Free Syrian Army two weeks ago.

Malik said the regime wanted to create the image of a conflict between
“extremists and minorities” in Syria.

“The war in Syria is between the oppressed Syrian people, who want
freedom, and the oppressive regime which killed 150,000 people in
three years,” he said.

Abdel Wahed Estifo, a Christian member of the main opposition group
Syrian National Coalition, said Thursday opposition fighters were
sensitive in their treatment of the communities in areas where they
hold control.

“The regime of [Syrian President Bashar] Assad is raining bombs on
its people – Alawites and Sunnis, Muslims and Christians, Arabs and
Armenians alike,” Estifo said. “The people of Kasab need protection
not from the opposition, but from Assad.”

‘NATO MAKING BEST EFFORT TO SHOW IT’S DOING SOMETHING ABOUT CRIMEA’

Russia Today, Russian Federation
April 3 2014

Crimea is being used as pretext to increase Western defense budgets,
although what’s happened there really has little impact on the vital
national interests of NATO-members, security analyst Charles Shoebridge
told RT.

RT: NATO says it wants to protect member states against what it calls
“Russia’s aggression.” Its top military commander claims Moscow is
ready and able to take Ukraine within three to five days. Are his
fears justified?

Charles Shoebridge: This threats supposedly of Russia invading the
remnants of Ukraine or rather the bulk of Ukraine, since, after all,
the Crimea has gone to Russia has been in the air some time. The
Security Minister of Ukraine many weeks ago started saying that Russia
was about to invade. Then there was another warning about two weeks
ago, now this is yet a third warning that it’s maybe about to happen.

Let’s be clear for all we know Russia may be about to invade Ukraine,
but on the political level it seems unlikely and there may be many
other reasons why there is build-up of troops and resources along
the border with Ukraine, one of which could be that Russia needs,
or feels it needs to have the resources in place to intervene in
Ukraine should that be necessary in terms of political disorder,
chaos within Ukraine as may happen, and indeed, it was perhaps even
more likely to have happened a few weeks ago.

Secondly, of course it may be that these forces are in place as a
bargaining ploy. After all, the West, NATO is also ramping up the
rhetoric and backing it up with deployment of extra forces in the
Baltic States. And even yesterday announcing that there would be some
form of NATO presence now in countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Moldova, all of which, of course, if Russia was doing the same
would be called in the Western media ‘escalation’ and ‘provocation’.

RT: Russia insists everything it is doing is internationally legal. It
has given full access to observers, yet their reports are ignored.

Why?

CS: I think there is a political imperative to make the threat from
Russia seem very real at the moment. We have already seen in the last
week or so defense chiefs and interested media parties in the West
use the Crimean example as a means of saying that defense cuts that
have happened in some Western countries ought to be reversed, that we
need to be very careful about the threats towards it. In fact, what’s
happened in Crimea really has had very little impact on any of the
vital national interests of those Western countries involved in NATO.

By the same token, of course, the West wants to express its displeasure
about what happened in Crimea. The West is still kicking out at what
happened because they realize they can do very little about it on the
ground; it’s been made clear by Obama and others that military action
from NATO at the present time is really out of a question. After all,
Ukraine has got no formal relationship with NATO that would require
NATO to intervene. Also the West has very few options now, they have
ruled out, understandably, military action.

What it can do is to announce limited sanctions, travel bans, etc,
but of course it is looking for items that it can put on the agenda
to say that it is actually doing something.

Maybe these new measures in terms of restricting cooperation between
Russia and NATO would be as damaging for NATO, for a number of
reasons, as they will be for Russia, and maybe [they will be] quite
short-lived. It looks like what is happening is that NATO along
with the EU and the US is really trying to make its best efforts to
show that it is doing something about what’s happened in Crimea,
irrespective of the lack of connection in terms of its cause and
effect.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

GAZPROM HIKES GAS PRICE FOR UKRAINE

17:08 01.04.2014

The price of Russian natural gas for Ukraine will make up $385.5
per 1,000 cubic meters from April 1, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller told
reporters on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reports.

Under the effective gas supply contract, the gas price for Ukraine
will be $385.5 per 1,000 cubic meters in the second quarter, Miller
said, adding that Gazprom’s “December discount” for Ukraine can no
longer be used.

Ukraine has failed to meet its commitments to pay its 2013 gas debt,
and there is no 100-percent payment for current supplies, which
further increases Ukraine’s gas bill, he said.

“As of now, the debt has reached $1.711 billion,” Miller said.

According to the Gazprom CEO, the price of gas transit across Ukraine
will increase by 10%, as envisioned by the pricing formula in the
gas transportation contract of 2009.

Miller underlined that “Gazprom will pay a higher tariff for gas
transit, fully meeting its obligations under the contract.”

ILHAM ALIYEV: ARMENIAN NPP MUST BE CLOSED

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
March 31, 2014 Monday

Azerbaijan has made great efforts to prevent the use of the country as
a transit route in the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. This
was stated by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on March 25 in
his speech at the III nuclear security summit in The Hague.

According to him, Azerbaijan, working closely with this purpose
with international partners, generates the appropriate international
standards based on the effective legislation to develop a national
export control system .

The President said that in the recently adopted Maritime Security
Strategy Azerbaijan identified proliferation of nuclear and other
weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and related
materials as one of the ” greatest threats to maritime security .”

However, Aliyev noted that due to the continuing occupation of 20
percent of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan the
country has no ability to control part of its borders properly. This
situation creates the conditions for transnational organized crime,
illegal transport of nuclear and radioactive materials , as well as
contamination of Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan by the
disposal of radioactive waste.

Next Azerbaijani President drew attention to the fact that the old
nuclear power plant in Armenia built almost 40 years ago is a big
threat to the entire region and the nearest neighbors. Consequences
of any accident on it will be tragic. But instead of eliminating the
international concern and closing the power plant, Armenia adopted a
decision on continuation of the nuclear power plant by 2026, despite
the fact that it is located in a highly seismic zone and is based on
an outdated and extremely dangerous technology.

“We are committed to continuing cooperation with international
organizations and with our partners in strengthening nuclear security
in the region and around the world, to reducing the threats of illicit
trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials,” said Aliyev.

During the summit, Aliyev met with the President of Kazakhstan
Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland David Cameron, the Prime Minister
of Italy, Matteo Renzi , and the Turkish President Abdullah Gul .

-06D-