Author: Kanayan Tamar

TBILISI PUTS “GEORGIAN OIL AND GAS CORPORATION”, “GEORGIAN RAILWAY”, “GEORGIAN ENERGY SYSTEM” ON SALE

Today.az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The government of Georgia intends to sell the shares of “Georgian
oil and gas corporation” that owns North-South gas pipeline. APA
reports that Georgian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources
Georgi Khetaguri said it was discussed at the recent meeting of the
government and the draft amendments were approved.

Khetaguri said the shares will be put on sale in London, New York
and other leading stock exchanges. In the initial stage, 25 percent
of the shares will be put on sale.

“Along with the shares of “Georgian oil and gas corporation”, the
shares of “Georgian railway”, “Georgian energy system” and other
strategic companies will be put on sale in western stock exchanges.

Khetaguri said the initial process started.

“We have agreed with the investment banks to start registration for
the placement of shares in the stock exchanges,” he said.

Khetaguri’s statement caused concern in Armenia. Armenian publications
write that the fate of the Georgian part of the gas pipeline from
Russia to Armenia may be brought into question. Armenian newspapers
write that Azerbaijani companies may buy the management right of
the pipeline.

/APA/

‘FRANCE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE PROCESSES AS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR’

news.az
Gun.Az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia.

France is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group with an
opportunity to influence processes and President Nicola Sarkozy’s
visit to the region will therefore be significant.

The remarks came from Rasim Musabayov, member of the Azerbaijani
Parliament and politicial expert.

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia. France’s political interests are related
to Georgia in many cases, Musabayov said.

The expert recalled that Sarkozy appointed former ambassador to
Georgia as foreign minister when he came to power.

‘All this show that France has certain interests. But I don’t think
that the meeting visit produce any serious results. Sarkozy made great
efforts to prevent developments back in 2008. These all are related to
internal policies of France. Sarkozy does not enjoy much rating today.

But he still wants to be elected president for the next time.

Sarkozy thus wants to expand successes he has achieved so far. I
don’t think France has made much efforts in terms of Karabakh conflict
lately. Anyway, Jeaques Chirac was much more involved in the conflict
resolution. Nevertheless, France can influence processes as a Minsk
Group co-chair,’ the MP stated.

RULING PARTY ANNOUNCES AZERBAIJAN’S CONCEPT TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
T. Hajiyev

Trend
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The concept put forward by Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement is based on international law.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi is the next step in the
negotiations to resolve this conflict, Deputy Executive Secretary
of the New Azerbaijan Party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli told the official
website of the ruling party.

Gurbanli recalled the recent tripartite meeting in Kazan and said
Russia is active in resolving this conflict given Armenia’s current
situation, economic and social challenges.

He said Aliyev openly talks about Azerbaijan’s concept on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all meetings.

“The principles and norms of international law put the territorial
integrity and sovereignty in the forefront,” he said. “Azerbaijan’s
main requirement at all the talks is its territorial integrity and
sovereignty.”

COUP SUSPECTS ‘PROTECTED’ BY TOP GENERAL, SAYS CELIK

Hurriyet
Aug 11, 2011
Turkey

Former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅ~_bug “protected” suspects
in an alleged military plan targeting the ruling government, Deputy
Prime Minister Huseyin Celik claimed in critical comments Thursday.

“The Turkish Armed Forces is a 1 million-strong community, from its
chief of General Staff to the soldiers, and among them there may be
some 1,000 people who seek to stage a coup. But you put the institution
under suspicion if you institutionally protect these people,” Celik
told CNNTurk on Thursday, referring to Gen. BaÅ~_bug, who headed the
military when the alleged “Internet Memorandum” was prepared.

The ongoing Internet Memorandum case refers to an alleged document by
the General Staff about setting up 42 Internet sites to distribute
propaganda against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or
AKP, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and Greeks and
Armenians.

“Did he [BaÅ~_bug] do what was necessary? [I wish] he had handed over
those people even when they were in active service to the military
judiciary. You know the memorandum was prepared within the chain of
command in the army. If this is true, this means it was prepared with
the initiative of the top figure in the military,” Celik said.

According to the deputy prime minister, BaÅ~_bug characterized
weapons unearthed in the probe as pipes and called the memorandum
with signatures on it a “piece of paper” in a press conference, while
indicating that those who engage in anti-democratic approaches can’t
remain in the army.

“The Internet Memorandum is one of the most interesting incidents in
Turkish history. It is hard to swallow,” Celik told CNNTurk.

“I don’t want to accuse anybody. The judicial process continues,”
he added. “I hope it will reveal who is right and who is wrong and
the public conscience is relieved.”

THE RESORT TO BE BUILT IN “HAGHTANAK” PARK WON’T BE DISNEYLAND

Mediamax
Aug 11, 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The program for “Haghtanak” park reconstruction
is worked out by “Harry Goddard” American company and has nothing to
do with “Disneyland”.

Mediamax was told this in the Department of Development and Investment
Programs of Yerevan Mayor’s Office.

The program provides building modern free and paid areas in the park.

An amphitheater, children playgrounds, park amusements and other
modern entertainment facilities will be available in the park.

Landscape gardening and pavement modernization is due to be carried
out in the park’s free area.

The park’s reconstruction will last 3 years, but it will be partially
opened at the end of the first year of the construction.

The program will be financed by Russian resident, Armenian businessman
Ruben Vardanyan, and the total volume of the investments will make
about USD60mln.

ARMENIA TO HAVE SEISMIC HAZARD PROBABILITY MAP

news.am
Aug 11, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian government approved on Thursday the “Seismic hazard
probability map of 1:500000 scale in the territory of Armenia” project.

The map will be drawn based on probability approaches to seismic
hazard assessment accepted by the international seismologic practice,
government press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The unique
computer programs will allow using alternative seismic models.

Besides, the executive body made amendments in its previous two
decisions. According to it, each employee will have fair terms of
vacation for five or six days’ working mode.

ST. RIPSIME CHURCH REPAIRED

ARMENPRESS
August 11, 2011
KAPAN

“Dino Gold Mining Company” CJSC has started repair works in St.

Ripsime Church of Geghanush region, Kapan. The Church has been built
in 1870 by 6 Armenian refugees.

“It is the first time the company implements repair works of a church.

We received the proposal by responsible entities of the church. It is
already 10 days we have started the works, and we will finish them
by the end of the month,” PR Manager of the company Norayr Aghayan
said in an interview with Armenpress’ Syuniq correspondent.

According to the clergyman of the church Aharon Melqumyan, a plenty of
work has been carried out in the church during the previous 3 years
by philanthropists from abroad and ZCMC. “Dino Gold Mining Company”
also supports the Sunday school adjacent to Geghanush Church.

ARMENIA SAILING VESSEL LEAVES LEBANON FOR CYPRUS

Noyan Tapan

11.08.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 11.08.2011) On August 10, the Armenia sailing vessel
which had arrived in Lebanon from Egypt on August 6, having completed
its round the world cruise has left for Cyprus.

The Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan, the head of the
Armenian Diocese of Lebanon, Archbishop Gegham Khacheryan, heads of
Armenian organizations, participants of pan-Armenian games, hundreds
of Lebanese-Armenians saw off the crew of the Armenia sailing vessel.

The Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan and the head of
Armenian Diocese Gegham Khacheryan noted in their speeches that
the vessel carried out its historical mission by conveying the
symbols of Armenian people’s history to our compatriots in different
continents around the world. They wished the crew members success
and new victories.

VIC DARCHINYAN “I’M DEDICATING THIS VICTORY TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA”

armradio.am
11.08.2011

There are many difficulties of organizing such a meeting fight. First
of all, there are financial difficulties, but still there are people
who contributed to the professional box.

Vic Darchinyan said month ago he told about the idea of organizing such
a fight to the Presidential apparatus of Armenia and received approval.

Athletes from different countries of the world will be present on
the day of fight. Vic Darchinyan doesn’t underestimate his opponent
Evans Mbambo. Darchinyan said that it would be wrong to underestimate
his opponent, because it may interfere the fight. Vakhtangn also said
that psychologically it does not matter where the fight is held. Gone
are the times when the location of the ring had a psychological
impact of the fight. So, psychologically, it does not matter for a
professional boxer.

He is provided by Victory and will do everything to ensure the
victory. I’m dedicating this victory to the 20th anniversary of
Independence of Armenia”, – concluded the famous boxer.

ARMENIA MIGRATION EXODUS CREATES WOMEN-ONLY VILLAGES

Huffington Post

Aug 10, 2011

An estimated 60,000 Armenians are leaving their country each year in
search of a better life, and the mass exodus has caused a startling
new trend: whole villages populated almost entirely by women.

While many men are leaving the former Soviet nation to go to Russia
to earn enough money to support their families, women and children
are usually left behind to work in the fields, the BBC is reporting.

One mother-of-two said that many women fear their husbands will set
up second families in Russia, which has happened often. As Milena
Kazaryan, a resident of Dzoragyugh, tells the BBC:

“All of the women are really scared. We phone every morning and
every evening, to find out what our husbands are up to. It’s always
really stressful wondering whether he’ll come back or not. A lot of
the women here worry because they think that in Russia all the girls
are beautiful. And the problem is that the men work very hard so of
course they also want to relax. That’s why they’re scared.

It’s really tough because the whole family is just waiting and
waiting for the men to come back. All we want is jobs in Armenia
so that our families can stay together and so that fathers can see
their children grow up. A family is more than just the mum. We need
the dads here too.”

As one human rights activist writes, the lack of men is starting to
be felt throughout Armenian society, and the birthrate is already
starting to be affected. “There’s a new generation of girls growing up
who have no chance of getting married because all the boys are leaving
the country,” Karine Danelyan wrote in a letter to the government,
according to the BBC. “So birthrates here in Armenia are now too low
to keep the population stable.”

Meanwhile, Armenia’s prime minister recently tried to downplay
speculations about the mass exodus, and said the government has
had success in promoting the nation’s birthrate. “Today we have 3
million permanent residents in Armenia, and twice as many Armenians
living outside the country,” Tigran Sarkisian is quoted by the Arka
News Agency as saying. Noting that migration was not as large as
has been previously claimed by the media, he added, “This reflects
the mobility of our nation, that is, our citizens can move freely,
since there are favorable conditions for it.”

Many of those migrants, Sarkisian said, were seasonal workers who
eventually return home, according to Radio Free Europe. When the
Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Armenia had an estimated 4 million
residents, at least one-quarter of which have since emigrated for
employment abroad.