Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE TAXES ON LUXURY CARS, INCREASE INCOME TAX

ARKA
Nov 2, 2011

YEREVAN, November 2. / ARKA /. The Armenian government has prepared
a legislative package to introduce a tax on luxury cars, increase
by 50% taxes on expensive alcoholic beverages and increase also the
income tax.

“We have prepared a package of legislative proposals to improve
the business environment, and have already discussed them with
our coalition partners. The main idea is to create more favorable
conditions for small and medium-sized businesses and increase the
tax burden for businesses making big profits,” Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said on Tuesday during parliament hearings on next year~Rs
budget.

According to him, the government will also introduce progressive
tax scale.

“We offer a 5% increase in income tax for companies with revenues of
more than 2 million drams, setting it at 25%,” he said, adding that
administrative procedures will be simplified for small businesses
earning up to around $25,000, while rules for large businesses and
the banking sector would be toughened.

He also said it is proposed to increase by 50% taxes on expensive
alcohol, which make 15% of the overall consumption.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the introduction of “luxury tax”,
noting that it will apply to cars costing more than $90,000 and is
expected to generate one billion drams in additional revenue.

“We also are discussing a 50% increase in fixed payments for casinos
that would increase revenues by 2 bullion drams,” he added.

“At the same time we will establish tax advantages for large investment
projects that are submitted to the government consideration,” said
the prime minister.

“We have also developed a program to introduce an electronic inventory
across the country, electronic notary, as well as the introduction
of e-shopping,” – he added.

The 2012 draft budget calls for 910 billion drams in revenues and
1.042.5 trillion drams in spending.

The amount of revenue is projected to increase by 6.8% from this
year’s budget (852.4 billion drams). The spending is expected to grow
by 41.5 billion drams. Some 86.1% of the spending (897.8 billion
drams) is projected as current expenditure; 13.9% or 144.7 billion
drams are projected as net non-financial expenditure. Some 46.2% are
projected as social spending (education, health, social security),
19.8% as defense, public order and national security spending, 13.2%
are planned for economic boost, 4.5% are projected to pay off Armenia’s
state debt. Besides, 3.1% of the blueprint budget is projected as
official grants to communities and 2% as government reserve fund.

A CHAIN RIPPED OFF THROUGH MARGAR

Lragir.am News

10:13:17 – 02/11/2011

While the public was discussing the possible resignation of the deputy
prime minister Armen Gevorgyan, the speaker of the National Assembly
announced to resign. In addition, the problem is not the office but
the caliber which that person had in the government.

Hovik Abrahamyan had a key role in the government of Armenia since
the years of office of Robert Kocharyan when he took on the post of
minister territorial administration. By the way, Kocharyan had a key
role in his startup. But he also had an essential role in the fall
of Hovik Abrahamyan.

Lragir.am learned that Hovik Abrahamyan featured in the case of
dismissal of the chief of the traffic police Margar Ohanyan.

Abrahamyan was said to have talked to Margar Ohanyan and offered him
to work for the Bargavach Hayastan Party and Robert Kocharyan together
with the traffic police staff, and instead Hovik Abrahamyan outlined
the position of the chief of police in Margar Ohanyan’s prospects as
a fee for working for the Bargavach Hayastan Party and Kocharyan.

Lragir.am learned from his source that the conversation between
Hovik Abrahamyan and Margar Ohanyan had been recorded and handed in
to Serzh Sargsyan, and as a result Sargsyan instructed the chief of
police Alik Sargsyan to solve Margar Ohanyan’s problems.

By the way, there are rumors that the recording of the conversation
was facilitated by Vova Gasparyan who was rewarded with Alik Sargsyan’s
position.

So, a very interesting domestic chain began and was ripped off with
Margar Ohanyan. Alik Sargsyan was the weak link in this chain, who was
unaware of the deals of the high-ranking officials of the system he
headed. Hovik Abrahamyan was the bridge for Robert Kocharyan to return.

Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan has decided to postpone Armen Gevorgyan’s
issue, who is the main representative of Kocharyan’s interests and he
set to handle Hovik Abrahamyan’s issue. Perhaps Serzh Sargsyan thinks
that now he is stronger than ever but later he may not have the same
resource of strength and advantage to take essential steps to form
his own government. Therefore, he has decided to handle the issue of
the bridge, postponing the issue of the last link, Armen Gevorgyan.

FBI ARRESTS 4 GEORGIA MILITIA MEMBERS IN PLOT TO KILL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

epress.am
11.02.2011 14:27

Four suspected members of a fringe north Georgia militia group were
arrested Tuesday by federal authorities and charged with plotting to
buy explosives and trying to make a deadly toxin in a bizarre plot
to attack unnamed government officials, CBS News reports.

The four men in their 60s and 70s were part of a group that also tried
to obtain an unregistered explosive device and sought out the complex
formula to produce ricin, a biological toxin that can be lethal in
small doses, according to a federal complaint.

The four listed in the indictment are Frederick Thomas, 73; Dan
Roberts, 67; Ray Adams, 65; and Samuel Crump, 68. The men live in
the north Georgia towns of Cleveland and Toccoa.

They have been talking about “covert” operations since at least March
2011, according to court records, discussing murder, theft and using
toxic agents and assassinations to undermine the state and federal
government.

The four men were scheduled to make an initial court appearance on
Wednesday. Attorneys for the men were not identified, and the federal
defender’s office had no immediate comment.

US Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said the case is a reminder that
“we must also remain vigilant in protecting our country from citizens
within our own borders who threaten our safety and security.”

KIRK KERKORIAN DONATES $18M TO ANDRE AGASSI’S CHARTER SCHOOL
By Bryan Toporek

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

LAS VEGAS – Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, the former owner of MGM
studios, is donating $18 million to the Andre Agassi College
Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, Agassi announced over the weekend.

Kerkorian’s gift marks the largest donation in the 16-year history
of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which has raised over
$150 million in total.

The Foundation for Education sends funding to Agassi Prep, which has
sent every one of its graduates for the past three years to college.

The school is located in an “at-risk neighborhood in the urban core
of Las Vegas,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Agassi made the announcement at his foundation’s 16th Grand Slam
for Children Benefit Concert in Las Vegas. Including Kerkorian’s $18
million donation, another $1.5 million donation from the Engelstad
Family Foundation and $1 million from Windsong Trust (plus ticket
sales and auction proceeds), the foundation raised an estimated $26.1
million that night.

“I am both astounded and humbled by the generosity and compassion
of our community, the artists, sponsors, partners, and donors,”
Agassi said in a statement. “This record- breaking evening will make
a positive difference in students’ lives as we continue to work to
transform education.”

Agassi said that Kerkorian’s donation helped the foundation reach its
goal of guaranteeing that Agassi Prep has enough funding to continue
in perpetuity.

Earlier this year, Agassi teamed up with a group of Los Angeles bankers
to create a for-profit investment fund aimed at raising $750 million
for the construction of 75 charter schools over the next few years.

NUCLEAR POWER ADVOCATE JACK OHANIAN DIES AT 78

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2011 – 12:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Jack Ohanian, former associate dean for research and
administration and a professor of nuclear engineering at University
of Florida, died Monday, October 31. He was 78.

His family had not released the cause of death at press time, The
Independent Florida Alligator reported.

Ohanian, who retired in 2001, was a professor emeritus of nuclear and
radiological engineering and a passionate supporter of nuclear power.

During his nearly 40 years at UF, Ohanian served as interim vice
president for research and interim dean of engineering.

He was also the former chairman for the American Association of
Engineering Societies and former president of the American Nuclear
Society.

ARMY REVILERS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE – ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER

Tert.am
03.11.11

Armenia’s Armed Forces are open to society, stated Minister of Defense
Seyran Ohanyan.

Elaborating on his previous statement that the persons discrediting
the army will be punished with all the rigors of the law, the minister
said: “We meet those wishing to help us half-way. We are cooperating
with any NGOs if they wish to visit military units in connection
with army incidents. On the other hand, in case of personal insults
or illegal actions, we are dealing with such organizations by law,”
Minister Ohanyan said.

As regards Armen Moghrovyan’s sudden death in Nagorno-Karabakh, Oct.

29, Minister Ohanyan said: “He was healthy and was selected for
sergeant training courses. He was among the best soldiers and died
suddenly. What can we do? He underwent minor surgery in the army and
was healthy after it.”

Responding to a question on unhealthy young people serving in the
army, the minister said: “The republican medical commission is under
strict control on my part, on the part of the minister of health and
law-enforcers. We have repeatedly implemented joint measures and
taken actions in case of any violations. Our conscripts undergo a
three-stage medical examination.”

On Oct. 29, the body of Armen H. Moghrovyan was found at one of the
military units in Hadrut, Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to the official information, he died of an acute disturbance
of coronary circulation.

SENOR HASRATYAN SAYS NKR DA HAS NO RELATION TO THE DEATH OF AZERI LIEUTENANT

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2011
YEREVAN

The Defense Army of Artsakh has nothing to do with the death of a
lieutenant of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, spokesman for the NKR
Defense Army Senor Hasratyan told Armenpress.

“The Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh maintains the ceasefire regime
on the line of contact and the news spread by Azerbaijan is a regular
misinformation that does not correspond to reality,” Hasratyan said.

The Azerbaijani mass media reports that lieutenant of the Azerbaijani
Armed Forces Aliev Emin Elmaroglu died November 2 near the Koropotkino
village of Khojavendi region as if from the bullet of the Armenian
side.

DAVID HARUTYUNYAN NOT INTERESTED IN PARLIAMENT CHAIR POSITION. POSSIBLE CANDIDATES NOT YET DISCUSSED

epress.am
11.02.2011

The position of National Assembly Chair is not yet vacant, and the
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has not discussed any names of
possible candidates, said HHK MP David Harutyunyan (also spelled:
Davit Harutyunayn), responding to reporters’ questions in parliament
today as to whether the party is preparing to appoint him to the
position, following current parliamentary speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s
announcement that he will be resigning.

“I think this matter will be an opportunity for political discussion
yet. There has been no discussion as of this time,” he said, noting,
however, that assuming the seat of parliamentary speaker is not on
his list of preferences.

“Nevertheless, I’m not interested in that position. I hope that such
an offer won’t be made to me,” he said.

Harutyunyan also commented on Abrahamyan’s resignation and the HHK
decision to appoint the latter to head the party’s election campaign
headquarters.

“In politics it’s necessary to mobilize forces already, considering
that quite a heated political struggle awaits us. From this standpoint,
it seems, this issue was discussed in the party and all had a united
position,” he said.

Recall, Abrahamyan will submit his resignation officially on Nov. 14,
the first day of parliament’s four-day session.

DEPUTY PM RESIGNS – PRESS REPORTS

Tert.am
02.11.11

Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan has reportedly resigned from
office.

According to the local newspaper Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun, the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has not discussed the possibility
of appointing him to a new post, with Gevorgyan disagreeing to a
lower status.

The paper says further that President Serzh Sargsyan may also demand
the resignation several regional governors’ in the near future.

PARIS : HEURTS ENTRE KURDES ET TURCS PLACE DE LA BASTILLE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 2 novembre 2011

La police est intervenue dimanche a coups de gaz lacrymogènes place
de Bastille (XIe), a Paris, pour mettre fin a des heurts entre
des partisans du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan et de jeunes
manifestants turcs. Ces derniers, au nombre de 150, agitant des
drapeaux turcs et entonnant des chants patriotiques, se sont rassembles
sur les marches et le parvis de l’Opera Bastille pour protester contre
” le terrorisme en Turquie “.

Ils ont ete attaques a coups de projectiles par des groupuscules se
reclamant du PKK, un parti rebelle considere comme une organisation
terroriste par de nombreux pays. Les manifestants ont alors replique
et la police a dû intervenir pour mettre fin aux heurts. La prefecture
de police (PP) a indique que les jeunes kurdes avaient ete disperses
a coups de gaz lacrymogènes.

Les policiers ont ensuite dresse un cordon de securite sur les marches
de l’Opera et la place de la Bastille etait partiellement paralysee
vers 15H30. La place etait alors jonchee de paves et un abribus a
ete vandalise.

La manifestation des Turcs etait declaree

Selon un organisateur de la manifestation, Hakan Fakili, membre d’une
association d’echanges culturels entre la France et la Turquie, ”
dix manifestants ont ete blesses, lynches par des terroristes du PKK
venus du quartier de Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, armes de projectiles et de
battes de base-ball “. La Prefecture, selon laquelle la manifestation
etait declaree, n’a pas confirme ce bilan.

Les manifestants pro-gouvernementaux se sont disperses dans le calme
vers 16H30 et la circulation a repris sur la place de la Bastille.

Des affrontements entre partisans et adversaires du PKK se sont
egalement produits ce dimanche aux Pays-Bas, a La Hayre. La police
neerlandaise a procede a deux arrestations.

Ces heurts interviennent au lendemain d’un attentat-suicide qui a
fait deux morts et douze blesses a Bingol, dans l’est de la Turquie.

Perpetree par une femme-kamikaze munie d’une ceinture d’explosifs,
contre le siège provincial du parti au pouvoir, cette attaque utilise
le meme mode operatoire que celles deja menees par le PKK contre les
forces de securite turques. Par ailleurs, l’armee turque vient de
mener une operation de represailles contre le PKK dans le sud-est du
pays après une serie d’attaques dans lesquelles 24 soldats avaient
ete tues a la frontière avec l’Irak.

LeParisien.fr