Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN MOD: AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES OLYMPIC TRUTH

16:00 13.02.2014

ceasefire violation, Olympic Games in Sochi

“The subdivisions of the Azerbaijani armed forces continue firing in
the direction of the Armenian positions and settlements, ignoring
the calls of the international community and particularly the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs to observe the ceasefire, especially during the
Winter Olympics in Sochi,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in
a statement.

“This gives ground to conclude that the actions of the Azerbaijani
armed forces are either not controlled by the command, or this
provocation is targeted at destabilizing the situation at the line
of contact,” the statement reads.

The Azerbaijani side has violated the ceasefire a number of times over
the past days, opening irregular fire mostly at the line of contact
with NKR forces, the Ministry said. “The Armenian armed forces
confidently control the situation all along the line of contact,
strictly observing the ceasefire regime and will take response actions
only in case of targeted shots on the part of the rival.”

As for the allegations of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine, claiming
that the Armenian side violates the ceasefire regime at different
parts of the line of contact, the ministry said “the dissemination
of misinformation is a nasty attempt to mislead the international
community and its own people.”

GYUMRI MAYOR FIRES PREDECESSOR’S DAUGHTER OVER A TIFF

02.13.2014 13:54 epress.am

Mayor of Armenia’s second-largest city Samvel Balasanyan
(pictured) adopted his promised “punitive measures,” reports local
dailyZhoghovurd.

After former Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasyan’s son Spartak Ghukasyan
threatened him two weeks ago, Balasanyan said if the relevant
authorities this time as well don’t deal with the matter, “I will
turn to punitive measures — let no one doubt this.”

And so, on Balasanyan’s decree, Ghukasyan’s daughter, Manya Ghukasyan,
was dismissed from her position as director of Gyumri’s art school.

“On Feb. 5 a city hall employee went to the school and announced that
Samvel Balasanyan said after these incidents, write your resignation
letter. It was pointless to work with such a person. A man to go
after a girl [to avenge his reputation]? It is not behavior that
is appropriate of someone from Gyumri,” said Manya’s sister, Anna
Ghukasyan, in conversation with the newspaper, adding that in her
resignation letter her sister wished Balasanyan to get rid of the
evil within him, to become kinder.

AZERBAIJAN DISREGARDS CALLS BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY – ARMENIA MOD

February 13, 2014 | 14:16

YEREVAN. – “By ignoring the calls by the international community
and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with respect to maintaining the
ceasefire on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Line of Contact, the Azerbaijan
armed forces continue to fire shots in the direction of Armenian
[military] positions and settlements.

“This gives reason to believe that the operations by the Azerbaijan
armed forces are either not overseen by the [Azerbaijani military]
command, or they are a provocation toward destabilizing the situation
on the boundary line.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense (MOD) issued a statement with the
aforesaid content.

“During the past few days, the Azerbaijani party violated the ceasefire
numerous times on the Armenia and the NKR [i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic] border. [But] the Armenian position holders refrained from
retaliatory actions and did not fire any shots.

“The Armenia armed forces oversee the situation on the border,
adhere to the maintenance of the ceasefire, and they will take
equivalent actions solely in the case of target-oriented violations
by the adversary.

“As for the information, which is voiced by the Azerbaijani propaganda
machine, that as if the Armenian party is violating the ceasefire,
such news are raunchy attempts to misinform, by way of disinformation,
the international community and its own people,” the Armenian MOD
statement also reads, in particular.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

NEW PENSION SCHEME TO ACCELERATE BRAIN DRAIN – DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 13. / ARKA /. Aram Sarkisian, head of a small
Democratic Party of Armenia, says the new pension scheme effective
in Armenia from January 1 this year may accelerate the ” brain drain. ”

Speaking at a news conference he said the majority of Armenian citizens
are not happy with the current situation in the country, however,
the impression is that the authorities ignore their dissatisfaction.

According to Sarkisian, out-emigration is being accelerated also by
widespread discontent not only at the pension reform, but also by
worsening standards of living and a number of other woes.

“Our border villages are emptying and, who knows, maybe when the
Armenian- Turkish border opens, Turks would come to settle in
our country. Our president must change the political course, to
eliminate the oligarchic system, because otherwise the situation
would deteriorate significantly,” he said.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia suspended Article 76 of the new
law, which provides for penalties for failed or delayed pension tax
payments, and the third paragraph of Article 86, which obligates
employed citizens to choose a pension fund, among other parts of the
law. The Court says it will conclude the inquiry on March 28, 2014.

The constitutionality of the new pension law was challenged by three
opposition parties in the National Assembly — the Armenian National
Congress, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Heritage Party
— along with the usually pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party.

The new pension system requires that all Armenian citizens born
after 1973 pay social security taxes equivalent to 5 percent of their
monthly wages, which will be matched and doubled by the government.

That money has to be deposited with private pension funds licensed by
the government late last December. They are Amundi, which was set up by
French banks Credit Agricole and Societe Generale, and Cologne-based
Talanx Asset Management, a subsidiary of German insurance firm
Talanx. -0-

– See more at:

THE EMPLOYEES OF NAIRIT WERE NOT GIVEN CLEAR ANSWER

16:38 | February 13,2014 | Social

After yesterday’s action, the employees of “Nairit” factory today
haven’t been given a clear answer in Baghramyan 26.

“A clear answer wasn’t given connected with the relaunch and schedule
of the factory in order to give salary once in a month,”- the founder
of social movement Kamq Artashes Avetisyan told “A1+”.

They were only told that they would receive one month’s salary from
February 15 to 20.

We remind that yesterday the employees of Nairit held protest action
in front of the Government and then Presidential Residence connected
with the demands of relaunch of the factory and the salaries not paid
for 15 months.

ANC OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS CONSULTS WITH NEW REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE CLARK

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Newly Sworn-In Legislator Co-Sponsors Armenian Genocide Truth and
Justice Resolution

MELROSE, MA- Activists with the Armenian National Committee – Eastern
Massachusetts met with newly elected representative Katherine Clark
(D-MA5) in her district on Friday, February 7th. This marked the
first meeting between ANC activists and Congresswoman Clark who won
in a special election to replace long-standing former Representative,
now-Senator Edward Markey (D) last fall.

Activists Dikran Kaligian, ANC of Eastern Massachusetts chair, Michael
Kouchakdjian and ANC Eastern Region Board Member Tamar Kanarian,
all constituents of the Fifth Congressional district, spoke with
Clark about a number of important issues of concern to Armenian
American, including U.S. aid to Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk, and
the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state. Just days
prior to the introductory meeting, Rep. Clark co-sponsored H.Res.227,
the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution.

“The strength of Massachusetts is our people and our proud diversity,”
stated Congresswoman Clark. “The Armenian community is a vital part
of this district; it is unique and strong. I’m proud to be a friend
of the community, and I am eager to continue our work together in
building a brighter future for all Massachusetts families.”

“We look forward to building upon our first meeting with Congresswoman
Clark since she took office and to cooperating on a broad range of
community concerns,” said Kanarian. “We warmly welcome her to our
Commonwealth’s strongly supportive Congressional delegation and
are eager to support her leadership, as a U.S. Representative, in
advancing the policy priorities of her Armenian American voters.”

“We are excited to work with Rep. Clark and introduce her to our
extended Boston community,” said Kaligian. “We believe there is a
real opportunity for Congresswoman Clark to win the support of the
Armenian Americans in her district and will work diligently with her
office to build that relationship.”

Congresswoman Katherine Clark won the special election primary on
October 15 and the special election on December 10 to finish then
Representative Ed Markey’s term upon his election as Senator in
June 2013. She represents the Fifth Congressional District of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Heavily Armenian-populated cities and
towns in her district include Watertown, Waltham, Belmont, Lexington,
Arlington, Cambridge, Framingham, Lincoln, Winchester, and Woburn.

LE COMITE LITURGIQUE SE REUNIT A ANTELIAS

LIBAN

Les 29 et 30 Janvier sous les benedictions de Sa Saintete Karekine
II , Patriarche supreme et Catholicos de tous les Armeniens , et
Sa Saintete Aram I, Catholicos de la Grande Maison de Cilicie , le
Comite liturgique de la Sainte Eglise apostolique armenienne a ete
convoque a Antelias .

Etaient presents a la reunion Son Eminence l’Archeveque Komitas Ohanian
( Co -president) ; Son Excellence l’eveque Arshak Khatchatrian (
Co -president) ; Son Eminence l’Archeveque Varujan Herkelyan ; Son
Eminence l’Archeveque Sepuh Sarkissian , Son Eminence l’Archeveque
Gegham Khacheyan ; Sa Grâce Mgr Mikael Ajapahian ; Son Excellence
l’eveque Vahan Hovhannisyan et le Père Zakaria Baghumyan.

Prenant en consideration les decisions prises par le Synode des eveques
qui a ete convoque en 2013 , au Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine le comite
a discute et resume le texte uniforme du sacrement du Bapteme et les
directives canoniques . Au cours de la reunion, ils ont aussi analyse
la question de la langue des services de l’Eglise armenienne .

Le comite a decide de continuer a exercer leurs travaux sur les
directives morales et les instructions du Saint Bapteme , qui seront
acheves en mai . La prochaine reunion de la commission liturgique
sera convoquee du 19 au 23 mai au Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine.

jeudi 13 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE SECTEUR AUTOMOBILE CRAINT L’ADHESION A L’UNION DOUANIERE

Economie

Des milliers de commercants armeniens importateurs de voitures
d’occasion devront faire face a la ruine si l’Armenie adopte des droits
de douane plus eleves a cause de son adhesion a l’Union douanière,
selon une association qui les represente.

L’Armenie sera obligee, après avoir rejoint le bloc dirige par la
Russie cette annee, de mettre sa legislation commerciale en conformite
avec les politiques protectionnistes menees par ses trois Etats membres
: la Russie, la Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan. Les voitures importees
de pays tiers font partie des milliers de marchandises soumises a
des droits plus eleves de l’Union douanière.

Ce fait suscite de graves preoccupations de l’Union armenienne
des importateurs de voitures, qui pretend representer quelque 7000
detaillants specialises dans les vehicules d’occasion bon marche
pour la plupart fabriques en Europe, aux Etats-Unis et au Japon. Ils
representent l’essentiel des ventes de voitures dans l’etat du Caucase
du Sud.

L’association estime que les prix vont tripler si les tarifs de l’Union
douanière, visant essentiellement a proteger l’industrie automobile
nationale de la Russie, sont appliquees en Armenie. ” Les voitures
qui ont 10 a 15 ans et se vendent actuellement pour 5000 $ – $ 5500
[ sur le marche local ] coûterait $ 15 000 >>, a mis en garde son
president, Tigran Hovannisian.

Les membres du groupe ont fait echo aux preoccupations de Hovannisian.

” Si les droits a l’importation augmentent, qui va acheter mes
voitures ? Comment vais-je nourrir ma famille ? ” a dit l’un d’eux,
Henrik Hayrapetian.

Selon Hovannisian, l’Union des importateurs de voitures a appele
le gouvernement armenien a veiller a ce que les droits russes ne
s’appliquent pas au marche automobile armenien.

Le gouvernement a declare le mois dernier qu’il cherche de telles
exemptions pour 850 types de marchandises importees. On ne sait pas si
les vehicules et d’autres equipements de transport en font partie. En
outre, les fonctionnaires ont admis qu’Erevan ne reussira pas
necessairement a obtenir de telles concessions de l’Union douanière.

L’Union armenienne des employeurs, une autre association d’affaires,
a egalement fait part de sa preoccupation face aux retombees de
l’adhesion a une alliance commerciale que Moscou prevoit de transformer
en une Union economique eurasienne l’annee prochaine. Il craint que
les prix au detail des viandes importees, les produits laitiers,
le ble, l’huile de cuisson, le sucre, les pommes de terre et autres
legumes augmentent jusqu’a 15 %.

Le ministre de l’Economie Vahram Avanesian a reconnu la semaine
dernière que l’adhesion a l’Union douanière va declencher des hausses
de prix. Mais il a insiste sur le fait que l’indice global des prix
a la consommation augmentera probablement de seulement 1,5 points
de pourcentage.

jeudi 13 fevrier 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

L’OPERA D’EREVAN EN GREVE

ResMusica
10 fev 2014

La representation d’Anouch d’Armen Tigranian, l’oeuvre lyrique
nationale d’Armenie, a ete annulee aujourd’hui a l’Opera d’Etat
d’Erevan en raison d’une grève massive du personnel. En cause : le
nouveau système de cotisation pour la retraite, qui reduit d’autant
plus des salaires qui ne sont pas très eleves. La production a venir
(La Traviata) pourrait etre remise en cause.

La societe nationale de transport ferroviaire d’Armenie a connu
dernièrement grèves et debrayages pour les memes raisons.

REVELATIONS AS A WAY TO FIGHT FOR POWER IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 12 2014

12 February 2014 – 11:02am

David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

Although the 2018 presidential election is more than 4 years away,
Armenia has begun a serious struggle for the presidency. On January 24,
South Korean Chosun.com website posted a message that President Serge
Sargsyan underwent stem cell treatment in South Korea, in order to
reduce weight and slow the aging process .Head of the Press Service
of the President Arman Saghatelian referred to a similar publication
about the South Korean president’s health voyage in one of Armenian
newspapers on Januar 16, as “a stupid lie.”However, after January 24,
he had actually admit to lying, but with a caveat “the treatment was
of a preventive nature and paid from the president’s own funds.”