Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN PM OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

15:54 16.07.2014

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan sent a cable of condolences to his
Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on yesterday’s tragic event in
the Moscow subway, which reads as follows:

“Dear Dmitry Anatolevich,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and on my own
behalf, I express deepest condolences on the tragedy that occurred
in the Moscow subway on July 15, 2014.

Sharing in your sorrow, we would appreciate conveying words of support
and sympathy to the victims’ families and relatives, as well as
wishing speedy recovery to all those who suffered from the accident.”

AMB. TIGRAN SARGSYSAN MEETS WITH LEADERS OF AMERICAN ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS

14:19 16.07.2014

Armenian Ambassador to the United States Tigran Sargsyan held meetings
with the leaders of the leading Washington-based Armenian organizations
– the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA).

During the meeting with representatives of ANCA, the interlocutors
referred to the agenda of Armenian-American relations, the further
reinforcement of Armenia-US ties, the process of international
recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and a wide range of issues concerning
the American Armenian community.

During the meetings the parties expressed willingness to continue
the future cooperation.

500 TREES CUT ILLEGALLY IN ARMENIA IN JAN-JUNE 2014

YEREVAN, July 16. /ARKA/. Some 500 trees were illegally cut in Armenia
in the first half of this year, Ruben Petrosyan, chief forest warden
of Hayantar governmental noncommercial organization, said Wednesday
at a news conference.

“To reduce the illegal cutting 8 cubic meters of wood shredding are
provided for free to every family living five kilometers far from
forests,” he said. “Some 60,000 cubic meters were provided to them
in 2013.”

Petrosyan said that 25,000 cubic meters are planned to be cut in 2014.

Starting from 2013, the whole wood is being marked to see its origin
and to prevent abuse.

The authorities embarked on institutional and legislative changes this
year to tighten grip on the cutting and ensure a reasonable usage of
these natural resources, he said.

According to Hayantar governmental noncommercial organization, 928
trees were cut illegally in 2013 and 1,320 in 2012.

Lori and Tavush, Armenia’s provinces rich in forests, accounted for
the largest number of illegally cut trees.

The size of a fine for cutting one tree ranges from AMD 20,000 to
$1,500 and depends on a type and diameter of the cut tree.

The country has 332,333 hectares of forests now. –0—- – See more at:

SKEPTICISM IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS COSTING BILLIONS

13:29 * 16.07.14

Investments projects for renewable energy resources are treated with
a kind of skepticism in Armenia as opposed to the billions of Dollars
worth foreign grants proposing maximum a pilot project.

Tert.am arrived at such a conclusion after talking to several
economists and experts and studying the situation in the sector.

Solar and renewable energy sources are expected to little by little
pave their way to the Armenian reality, yet there is no confidence
at all that private investors will have enough interest in funding
projects of the kind, says Khosrov Harutyunyan, a lawmaker from the
ruling Republican parliamentary faction.

The possible use alternative energy became a hot topic in Armenia after
the recent surge in the electric power prices. A quesetion of inerest
was why the authorities do not consider such a possibility given that
Armenia is an energy-dependent country, with the estimated price for
nuclear power being 100 times higher compared to solar energy.

Harutyunyan said he knows several hotels and restaurants that partially
rely on solar power, but he stressed the importance of making the
systems more powerful.

Asked to comment on Iran’s interest in using a corresponding device
invented by Vahan Hamazaspyan, an Armenian scholar, the Republican MP
said he has no confidence about the seriousness of the country’s plans.

“I am not sure they attract Iran, given especially that it is an
energy carrier,” he told Tert.am.

And despite the general lack of confidence, Armenia’s Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources has elaborated a concept of renewable
energy sources and made the document available on its official website.

In particular, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
in 2003 developed a map of Armenia’s wind energy resources. The total
estimated capacity of cost-effective wind-power stations was found to
be 450 Mwt, with the annual electricity production being 1.26 billion
kilowatts per hour.

A network wind power station in the Pushkin mountain pass – the first
ever in Armenia and the Caucasus region – was handed over to operation
in 2005. Its total power is estimated to be 2.6 megawatts. There are
now plans for launching a wind power station (20 Mwt) in the same area.

In the frameworks of the EU-funded TACIS project, Support to Armenia’s
Energy Policy, a monitoring activities was conducted in the Semyonovka
mountain pass of Sevan and a justification was later submitted for
funding construction of a 35Mwt wind power station.

It is further mentioned that Armenia produces solar heat collectors
with standard sizes of 1.38 – 4.12 m2 and that the American University
of Armenia uses solar-powered cooling and air-conditioning systems.

Asked by Tert.am about the significance of the studies in question,
a spokesperson for the Energy Ministry, Lusine Harutyunyan, said they
are just pilot projects.

According to Armen Avagyan, a member of the Public Chamber
Sub-Committee on Economic Development and Investment Polices,
the government-proposed projects are not based on properly made
calculations. “The Government projects are not properly calculated;
I say it, because I have personally been involved in different
development projects. They do not comply with international standards,
so the investors who come and see the projects are not properly
prepared, no longer delve deeper into it,” he told our correspondent.

LE MINISTRE ARMENIEN DE LA DEFENSE INSPECTE LES UNITES MILITAIRES

ARMENIE

Le Ministre armenien de la Defense Seyran Ohanian a rendu visite aux
unites militaires et aux postes situes dans le nord-est de l’Armenie.

Selon le service de presse du ministère de la Defense, le ministre
a inspecte les conditions des soldats servant dans les postes de
la defense ainsi que les travaux de construction dans les unites
militaires.

Il a parle aux soldats afin de se renseigner sur leurs problèmes et
a encourage ceux qui s’etaient distingues face aux agressions azeries.

Les commandants ont recu des instructions pour regler les problèmes
dans un court laps de temps.

Lors de la visite, le ministre a discute avec les commandants d’unites
militaires de la situation le long de la frontière. Avec le gouverneur
du Tavush Hovik Abovyan, le ministre Ohanian a egalement rencontre
les maires de plusieurs villages limitrophes pour discuter de leurs
problèmes. Il aurait declare que le gouvernement va trouver des
solutions a un certain nombre de problèmes souleves par les maires
des villages.

mercredi 16 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN OLIGARCH MP EXPANDS ACTIVITIES – NEWSPAPER

July 16, 2014 | 08:41

YEREVAN. – Business tycoon and National Assembly deputy Samvel
Aleksanyan is rapidly expanding his medical center, in Armenia’s
capital city Yerevan, as he is having a new hospital building
constructed, Aravot daily reported.

“They say Aleksanyan spares nothing to make this hospital become the
best in all respects.

“The MP personally follows the construction process, he always visits
the construction site and checks one by one so that the construction
workers do not ‘swindle’ [when it comes to using the construction
material],” Aravot wrote.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

BAKU EXPECTS PARIS TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO SETTLE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 15 2014

15 July 2014, 17:08 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan has high expectation from France to step up efforts to
tackle the severe consequences of the Armenian aggression.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made the remark in a congratulatory
message to France’s President Francois Hollande on the occasion of
the country’s national holiday.

He noted that France is interested in establishing peace and stability
in South Caucasus.

“We have great expectations from France as a co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group, and personally yours, Mr. President, to step up efforts
to eliminate the severe consequences of Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan and find a speedy and just solution based on international
law to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which was followed by the
occupation of 20 percent of our territory displacement of our people,”
President Aliyev underscored.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus
neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s. The UN
Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia’s withdrawal
from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to
this day.

President Aliyev further said Azerbaijani-French relations have
developed in accordance with their rich historical traditions. He said
the high-level political contacts between the two countries, constantly
expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic sphere,
multilateral and sustainable humanitarian and cultural ties are some
of the characteristic features of the Azerbaijani-French relations.

President Aliyev wished President Hollande good health, success in
works, and a permanent welfare and prosperity for France’s friendly
people.

Bastille Day is celebrated on 14 July each year. The French National
Day commemorates the beginning of French Revolution with the storming
of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, as well as the Fete de la Federation
which celebrated the unity of French people on 14 July 1790.

Celebrations are held throughout France.

On this day, many large-scale public events are held in France
including a military parade in Paris. Service men and women from
various units, including cadets from military schools, French Navy
and Foreign Legion participate in the parade.

SEPARATISTS BARGAIN WITH ARMENIA

The Messenger, Georgia
July 15 2014

By Messenger Staff Tuesday, July 15 The Armenian community in Abkhazia
wants to activate the issue of reconstructing the Abkhazian segment
of Georgian railways in the separatist controlled territory. They
highlight that the entry of Armenia into the Eurasian Union has
brought the issue on the agenda.

The side claims that the route will be efficient through connecting
Russia to Armenia, for export, import and so on. The parliament of the
de-facto independent state of Abkhazia has raised the issue recently,
stressing that it should be discussed only in the case of Armenia
recognizing Abkhazian independence. The Abkhaz MPs protested the term
of an Abkhaz-Georgian railway segment. According to them, Abkhazia is
a different state, and therefore all three sides, including Georgia,
need to be at the table to negotiate such a deal.

YEREVAN PLANS TO ENGAGE IN PERINCEK COURT CASE

Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

Armenia’s Prosecutor General and Representative to the ECHR Gevorg
Kostanyan. (Photo: Photolure)

YEREVAN–The Government of the Republic of Armenia intends to engage
in the case of Turkish nationalist Dogu Perincek in the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as a third party. During his interview
with Armenpress, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia
and Representative of Armenia to the ECHR Gevorg Kostanyan said that
the decision has already been made and, by Aug. 26, Armenia will
officially apply to the ECHR to be engaged as a third party.

Kostanyan did not go into details about the actions that should be
carried out by the Armenian side, but stressed that they were seriously
determined, and that a group of advocates would most likely be formed
to achieve success.

Under the provisions of the Swiss law, in 2007, Turkish citizen
Perincek was convicted for denying the Armenian Genocide. Failing to
win two appeals against the judgment, Perincek appealed the ECHR,
which on Dec. 17 ruled that the Swiss courts’ rulings violated the
appellant’s right to freedom of expression.

The ECHR ruling in December stated that “the free exercise of the
right to openly discuss questions of a sensitive and controversial
nature is one of the fundamental aspects of freedom of expression
and distinguishes a tolerant and pluralistic democratic society from
a totalitarian or dictatorial regime.”

The original case emerged from Perincek’s participation in a number
of conferences in Switzerland in 2005, during which he publicly denied
that the Ottoman Empire had perpetrated the crime of genocide against
the Armenian people in 1915.

USA EMPHASIZES ITS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA- OBAMA

YEREVAN, July 15. / ARKA /. The United States attaches great importance
to development of its relations with Armenia, U.S.

President Barack Obama, said when accepting the credentials of the
new ambassador Tigran Sargsyan, who served before that as Armenia’s
prime minister.

“Congratulating Sargsyan on taking over the position Obama expressed
confidence that the newly appointed ambassador will use the wealth
of his experience and knowledge to deepen relations between the two
friendly nations”, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
said today.

Obama was quoted as saying that the United States emphasizes greatly
its relations with Armenia based on mutual respect and interests.

Obama welcomed cooperation with Armenia in the framework of peacemaking
missions, strengthening of democracy and economic development. He
also gave high assessment to Armenia’s efforts to achieve peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the foreign ministry
press service reported.

In turn, ambassador Sargsyan said that the Armenian-American relations
are highly effective. The ambassador added that the two countries
have a great potential for the development of their relations, and
that his mission would focus on the development of mutually beneficial
cooperation and expanding the range of interaction.

The two men were said also to underline the role of the
Armenian-American community that plays an important role in the
development of friendly relations between the two countries. -0-

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