Author: Kalantarian Kevo

BUSES TO BE MANUFACTURED IN ARMENIA TO HAVE INDIAN ORIGIN

NEWS.AM
January 17, 2013 | 10:40

YEREVAN. – India’s Ashok Leyland Company will manufacture buses in
Armenia, the Armenian Transport and Communication Ministry informs.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the Armenian government
adopted a decision Wednesday to lease a capital city Yerevan production
area to MED A.KGmbH Company for 35 years and for manufacturing
buses. In accordance with the business plan it submitted, the
leaseholder will have to manufacture buses, by investing Armenian
drams equivalent to $7 million, over the course of seven years. But
the name of this company is not known too much.

According to the ministry, the aforesaid Indian company will
manufacture the buses in Armenia. As for MED A.KGmbH, this is probably
the Indian company’s representation in Germany.

The Indian company will import the equipment and spare parts of the
manufacturing plant, and the buses will be assembled in Armenia. Up
to 200 modern buses are planned to be manufactured in the first year
of operations.

The buses to be manufactured in Armenia will be much cheaper than those
that that are still being imported into the country. The construction
of the plant will start in the first quarter of this year.

TATUL MANASERYAN: ARMENIA HAS POSSIBILITY TO SET MINIMUM WAGES AT AMD 56,000-58,000

Source: Panorama.am
12:17 17/01/2013

“At long last, a program budget was developed in Armenia, something
that had been talked about for many years, which, unlike the previous
budgets, in principle excludes arbitrary approaches to functions,”
economist Tatul Manaseryan told Panorama.am in an interview, commenting
on the budget of the current year.

Even though some progress is noticeable, the 2013 budget does not to
sufficient extent include all possibilities, economic potential and
resources, which are very important for it, said the economist.

Referring to raising the minimum wage, Tatul Manaseryan said that
there is no law in Armenia stipulating that the minimum wages are
set based on the minimum consumer basket.

According to the economist, Armenia has the possibility to set the
minimum wages at AMD 56,000-58,000.

Adoption of industrial strategy is a great achievement, according to
Mr Manaseryan.

“I am inspired that industrial strategy was at last adopted. It is also
necessary to specify the substantiations and criteria of competitive
advantages and concept of priorities,” he noted.

Correct competitive policy is and will be one of the factors
stimulating economic development, said the expert.

“Competitive policy ensures work efficiency and, consequently, high
productivity and high payment for work. The settlement of this problem
in the state sector can be linked with the optimization of the number
of workers,” Manaseryan concluded.

NSC: ARMENIAN – POLISH COOPERATION HAS GOOD PERSPECTIVES OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Source: Panorama.am
14:43 17/01/2013 ” POLITICS

Today the Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan received Zdislav Rachinski, the Polish Ambassador
to Armenia.

National Security Council press office reported that the two discussed
issues concerning various areas of Armenian – Polish cooperation and
stressed with satisfaction that it has good prospective for future
development.

They have touched upon the visit of A. Baghdasaryan to Poland in the
near future.

At the meeting they have also discussed issues concerning RA – EU
cooperation and regional issues.

OSCE, EU TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON ELECTION FRAUD INVESTIGATION AHEAD OF FEBRUARY ELECTIONS

17:29 16.01.2013

A three-day OSCE-supported workshop for Armenian law enforcement
officials dealing with investigation and prosecution of election
fraud and corruption started today in Yerevan.

The event organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation
with the US Embassy in Armenia and with the EU funding brought
together some 60 prosecutors and lawyers, as well as representatives
of non-governmental organizations active in election-related
field. The workshop focused on the investigation and prosecution of
election-related crimes, as well as on available civil remedies,
including election-related complaints. During the event, heads of
the key relevant state agencies and law enforcement officers directly
involved in processing election-related complaints will share their
view on adequate prosecutorial response to possible election crimes.

“This event is meant to contribute to the on-going efforts of the
Armenian authorities to eradicate electoral fraud and ensure full
compliance with international standards,” said Ambassador Sorokin,
the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “I hope that the exchange of
experiences will be useful for the participants in tackling potential
violations in the presidential elections in February.”

First Counsellor of the EU Delegation to Armenia Onno Simons said:
“Enforcement of election laws and regulations is an essential element
of free, fair and reliable elections, no matter where they are held.

Effective enforcement not only ensures that the legal and regulatory
framework for elections is applied and respected, but also assures
voters of the legitimacy of the electoral process.”

The workshops are conducted by representatives of the United States
Department of Justice, including Richard Pilger, Director of the
Election Crimes Branch of the Public Integrity Section, Kenneth Taylor,
Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky,
Senior Special Agent Darrin Turpin, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and John J. Lulejian, the U.S. Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor
in Armenia.

The workshop is part of a 1.7 million euro project on strengthening
electoral processes in Armenia in line with international standards,
implemented by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and financed by the EU.

TIGRAN KARAPETYAN’S PEOPLE’S PARTY NOT TO SUPPORT ANY OF CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT

arminfo
Wednesday, January 16, 15:55

People’s Party headed by Tigran Karapetyan will not support any
candidate for president of Armenia on Feb 18. Artak Harutiunyan,
Head of the PP’s Political Board, told media, Wednesday.

He said that the outcome of the election is evident and the incumbent
president will sweep the election. Therefore, there is senseless
supporting any candidate.

The CEC registered eight candidates for President on Jan 14: incumbent
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Hrant
Bagratyan, leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisian, leader of
Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan, leader of National Accord
Party Aram Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh
Arman Melikyan, political expert Andreas Ghukasyan and folklore
specialist Vartan Sedrakyan.

FREEDOM HOUSE: ARMENIA AND NAGORNO KARAABKH “PARTLY FREE”

16:03 16.01.2013

The non-governmental organization Freedom House, which conducts
research on the current state of political rights and civil liberties,
published its annual report of 2013, according to which Nagorno
Karabakh improved its rating, moving from “not free” country to
“partly free.”

This change, according to the organization’s report, is mainly
stipulated by the competitive presidential elections held in the NKR
in July 2012, which were the fifth in succession.

Freedom House assesses the policy of the authorities of the world’s
states per two criteria: political rights and civil liberties. Each
of these dimensions is assessed on a scale from 1 (maximum) to 7
(minimum). According to both criteria, the Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic
got “5.”

“Nagorno-Karabakh’s political rights rating improved from 6 to 5,
and its status improved from Not Free to Partly Free, due to the
participation of a genuine opposition in the July presidential
election,” the report reads.

According to the report, “Armenia’s political rights rating improved
due to the absence of postelection violence following parliamentary
balloting in May and the entry of an authentic opposition party into
the legislature.”

ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS ARE DEVELOPING DYNAMICALLY: MPS WRAP UP NA SPEAKER VISIT TO BRUSSELS

14:02, 16 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: All the goals scheduled in the frame
of National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s visit in Brussels
January 8-10 were implemented. RPA faction MP Koryun Nahapetyan had a
briefing with the journalists on January 16 summing up the activities
of the delegation in Brussels, Armenpress reports.

“The meetings held with EU representatives were rather interesting,
various issues of mutual interest have been touched upon. Issues
referring to Armenia-EU , Armenia-Turkey relations and Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic topped the agenda” Nahapetyan came forth with. In the words
of RPA MP Armenia-EU relations are developing dynamically and the
results are obvious. The MP stated in the meeting with European
Parliament chairman Armenia undertakes rather bold and constructive
steps aimed at normalization of relations with Turkey.

According to him European Parliament chairman has expressed willingness
to launch Euronest plenary session of 2014 in Armenia.

In the words of delegation member, RPA MP Artak Zakaryan the
significant achievement is establishment of Armenia- EU friendly
group by the direct participation of NA Speaker. European Parliament
31 MPs from various countries and party affiliation joined Armenia-
EU friendly group. The visit of Armenia-EU friendly group is scheduled
in the nearest future. Negotiations to finalize negotiations over
Armenia-EU Association Agreement as soon as possible have also been
envisaged during the official visit.

8 YEAR-OLD GIRL – A VICTIM OF SOLDIER’S VIOLENT ACTIONS

Wed, 01/16/2013 – 13:02

Contractual soldier is arrested and charged with violent acts of
sexual nature towards a 8 year-old girl.

According to the information of “Pastinfo”, the incident happened
months ago, on August 12, 2012. According to the indictment, the
resident of Yeghvard, a contractual soldier, A. Araqelyan, tried
to commit a sexual violence towards 8-years-old Lana (the name is
changed), forcing her to touch his sexual organ.

Arakelyan is charged with Section 3 of Article 139 (Violent sexual
actions done against a minor) of RA Criminal Code. If his guilt is
proved, he will be charged with 8-15 years imprisonment.

The investigation chose arrest as a preventive measure.

GALLUP: ARMENIA LEADER IN SOUTH CAUCASUS IN TERMS OF INTERNET ACCESS

arminfo
Wednesday, January 16, 11:30

Worldwide, 32% of adults in 2011 reported having home Internet access,
according to Gallup surveys conducted in 148 countries. This is
up from 29% in 2010 and 25% in 2009, marking the continuation of a
steady uptick each year that Gallup has conducted surveys worldwide,
Gallup website reports.

In 2011 33% of respondents in Armenia said they have Internet access
at home. Armenia is not among top countries in the list, but it is
the leader in the South Caucasus in terms of Internet access. In
Georgia 29% of the respondents said they have Internet access, while
in Azerbaijan this indicator is only 15%. In the neighbor Turkey and
Iran Internet access is higher than in Armenia, Gallup reports, –
38% and 40%, respectively. The highest Internet access is in Sweden
and Singapore – 93%.

Results are based on telephone or face-to-face interviews with at least
1,000 adults in each country, aged 15 and older, conducted in 2011.

MOUNT ARARAT AT WINDOWS PHONE STORE

11:54 16.01.2013

On the 5th of January, 2013 a new game entitled “The Gardener” appeared
at the Windows Phone Store. The main character of the game is the
gardener who defends his garden from worms and other dangerous insects.

The actions are taking place in Armenia: Mount Ararat, a flowering
apricot tree are seen in the background, and the gardener is an
Armenian.

The game took a prize at the ‘Best Windows Phone App’ nomination at
Microsoft Hackathon[YAN] 2012 contest.