Author: Kanayan Tamar

OLYMPICS: ASADA DEPARTS FOR ARMENIA TRAINING BASE

Japan Economic Newswire
February 10, 2014 Monday 10:24 AM GMT

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 10

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 10 – Mao Asada left Sochi on Monday to prepare for
the women’s figure skating competition at the Japan team’s training
base in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

“My body is weak, so I want to get back into competitive shape,”
she said a day after Japan finished fifth in the Olympics’ first team
figure skating competition.

Asada is expected to train for a week at the base Japan has prepared
in Yerevan before returning to Sochi. The Vancouver Games’ silver
medalist was third in the women’s short program during the team
competition after she fell on her opening triple axel.

“It was a mental issue,” she said. “I want to focus on my performance.”

In the singles competition, she will face competition from not only
her longtime rival Kim Yu Na of South Korea, but also from Russian
Julia Lipnitskaia. In the team competition, the dynamic 15-year-old
Lipnitskaia was first in both the women’s short program and the
free skate.

“My target,” Asada said, “is to execute a satisfactory performance
in my final Olympic Games.”

WON’T VOROTAN HPP COMPLEX BE RESOLD AT A HIGHER PRICE?

February 11 2014

The 3 gas agreements on 20% government share of “ARG” with Russia,
which the opposition MPs qualified as a betrayal and loss of national
security, dignity and statehood, the community still not completely
digesting this deals, the government sold another strategic object
of energy: “Vorotan” HPP Complex. Selling Vorotan to Americans,
the government proudly announced that it is the biggest deal in the
region that was sold for 180 million dollars, and that still 70 million
dollars will be invested, and this is presented in a way that it seems
to be an unprecedented profitable deal for Armenia. Did the sale of
the strategic object and being deprived of energy independence worth
the money? “In my opinion, it did not worth,” said Hrant Bagratyan,
NA MP, the former Prime Minister of Armenia, in the conversation with
Aravot.am. “There are different ways of calculating the price.”Vorotan”
has 450 megawatts, cheap electricity. 450 MW, 3 HPP and to build 3
reservoirs require at least 1 billion dollars. As for the 70 million
dollar investment, even without it, the Cascade would make the same
investment on the account of profits and depreciation.”

As for the so-called “the deal of the century,” Mr. Bagratyan raised
a few questions. With regard to “Vorotan”, we are concerned about the
sale price – 180 million dollars, that the money has not entered the
budget, it will be disposed by “Vorotan” HPP, and the fact that after
the sale of the property, the old financial liabilities over “Vorotan”
HPP are gone. Thus, the sale of the huge and very popular economic
complex will give nothing to us. In addition, we are concerned about
whether or not this object will not be resold at a higher price. The
government has one argument: the value of the deal is that there is
a diversification; these powers have nothing to do with Russians. I
do not understand if this is the problem, reject Russians too.

Ultimately, we are a sovereign state.” Recently, the “appetite” of
different change of regime forces has grown up, both, the opposition
and worriers of freedom are talking about regime change. In case of
regime change, it would be possible to return the strategic objects
to Armenia, or, for example, we lost “Vorotan” forever, or at least
to make amendments in gas agreements for the benefit of Armenia,
in response to these questions, Mr. Bagratyan said, “Nothing will be
returned. I would not use the words of losing forever. But we need to
think about the new energy based on the sun and the wind. As for the
amendments in gas agreements, I do not know.” In other words, even
in case of having new government, Armenia is unlikely to have energy
independence for at least 3 decades. To remind that on January 29, the
Government of Armenia and ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade signed a sale
and purchase agreement on the sale of Vorotan HPP complex. According
to the deal, the American company is obliged to invest 70 million
dollars over the next 6 years in a refurbishment program to modernize
the plants. The investment will be made in accordance with the
previously submitted capital investment and expenditure plan, which
will be discussed and agreed upon with the Public Services Regulatory
Commission. The latter has also confirmed the Tariff Plan, according
to which, the company will dispose and operate “Vorotan” HPP complex
for 25 years.

Nelly BABAYAN

Read more at:

SAMVEL FARMANYAN: DRAFT JOINT STATEMENT PROPOSED BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF EQUAL PARTNERSHIP

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, February 11, 20:49

The draft joint statement proposed by the European Parliament members
did not comply with the spirit and letter of equal partnership, Samvel
Farmanyan, Armenian Co-Chair of the Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee, said at today’s press conference.

As regards the results of the Committee’s 14th session on Feb 5-6 in
Strasbourg, where the parties failed to coordinate the text of the
joint statement, Farmanyan said that the European parliamentarians
have some misunderstanding on Armenia’s latest foreign political
decisions related to the intention to join the Customs Union.

“According to the Regulations of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee, such sessions are usually followed by adoption of a
statement by the two equal parties to the document, which should
have included the Armenia-EU relations, Armenian-Turkish relations
and the Karabakh problem”, said Farmanyan.

He said that Armenia proposed its own draft statement regarding the
Karabakh conflict. European parliamentarians, in turn, proposed their
own version. Moreover, the European Co-Chair of the Committee told
Farmanyan that the formulations express the joint opinion of all
political parties and that the document might not be debated.

“Actually, the document should have been adopted by the two
equal parties. In this context, the statement that the European
partners’ version may not be debated runs counter to the logic of
equal partnership. Furthermore, the formulations they proposed were
unacceptable and failed to contribute to peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. They also could cause some discrepancies”, he said.

When commenting on the accusations of the Armenian Delegation’s
members who say that Farmanyan took decisions single-handedly,
Farmanyan said that he was short of time. “We had very little time
to discuss and come to a consensus on the text of the statement. In
such situations, the obligation of the head of the Committee is to
assume some responsibility for the decisions. And I assumed that
responsibility. I consider that the Europeans’ document contained
formulations running counter to our stance on the Karabakh peace
process”, he said. He also expressed his readiness to discuss that
document in professional circles and give clear reasons for his
behavior if necessary.

FORMER TV BOSS APPOINTED ADVISER TO ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

February 11, 2014 | 11:48

YEREVAN. – Former president of the Armenian public television Aleksan
Harutyunyan has been appointed advisor to the Foreign Minister.

Talking to Armenian News-NEWS.amcorrespondent Harutyunyan confirmed
the reports. He refused to comment on the media reports, saying he
has not seen publications, but confirmed the fact of appointment.

Earlier Hraparak daily reported about possible appointment, quoting
the source in Foreign Ministry.

Aleksan Harutyunyan served as a head of staff of the former president
Robert Kocharyan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EXPERT: EU TRYING TO KEEP TURKEY IN A STRAITJACKET

February 11, 2014 | 15:26

YEREVAN. – Turkey has always tried to be a party to the Karabakh peace
process. However, Russia and the U.S., the main geopolitical actors,
will not allow this, said turkologist Levon Hovsepyan.

He believes Turkey is becoming a problematic country even for the
European Union. Moreover, Ankara is becoming unpredictable for
its allies.

“EU tries to keep Turkey in a straitjacket. For Turkey there are
certain limits beyond which it is not allowed to move,” he said.

Hovsepyan noted that recent statements by Western leaders had to
demonstrate that Turkey, with its current behavior, has no place
in Europe.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

GOVERNMENT’S RESIGNATION HASN’T EVER BEEN AS URGENT AS NOW

Roza Hovhannisyan, Reporter
Interview – Tuesday, 11 February 2014, 13:20

Interview with Member of Parliament Khachatur Kokobelyan, chairman
of Free Democrats Party

Mr. Kokobelyan, prices of some goods will be pushed up by membership
to the Customs Union. How will it affect the population of Armenia?

It is obvious that the prices of some goods will soar. A considerable
part of imports is from countries other than Russia. Earlier they
insisted that most imports are from Russia, but if the imports were
from Russia, we would not face inflation, whereas the minister of
economy has already stated that rise in prices will total 140-150
million dollars. It is a rather big number for our small budget. The
prices of petrol, chicken, drugs will go up, to say nothing of cars.

In any country the customs policy is adjusted to the needs of the
economy to boost the development of one branch or another. The
Russian state, I think, is right to impose high fees on cars. But
adopting high customs fees in Armenia means that we do not take into
consideration the need to promote any branch of our economy. I am
sure that the decision on membership to the Customs Union has been
made de facto, and unfortunately, it does not depend on the behavior
of our government, it depends on the wish of the Russian side.

Is it possible that Russia will make a compromise on the issue of
customs fees?

I am not sure about compromise, I am sure there will not be a big
change. Food, fuel, drugs, cars will grow expensive, they are important
spheres. I am worried about one issue. If we are going to be under
Russian dominance, which seems to be a fact, I cannot remember a single
case in history when a dominated state is politically and economically
more developed than a dominant country. Unfortunately, the state of
Russia is deplorable, unfortunately. Leading Armenia towards such a
hazy vision will affect the rate of emigration and other spheres.

The minister of economy says the gas price would grow if we did not
join the Customs Union, triggering 4-4.5% inflation.

In other words, the minister of economy confesses that the gas
was used to coerce us to join the Customs Union. I don’t share this
opinion. Armenia could avoid the Customs Union and develop alternative
energy, as well as the gas infrastructure, why not. Similar wrong
decisions resulted in total gas monopoly, and we do not handle our gas
pipeline. Our infrastructures do not allow us to use the Iranian gas
any more. We need to create new infrastructures. I’ve always said that
gas cannot be an excuse to give away independence and sovereignty. It
is politically short-sighted.

The new Russian legislation made out labor migrants face a problem.

This issue is highly important. Most of our citizens are simply
turned back from the airports of different cities of Russia. They
are seeking employment in Russia and they may be sent back home due
to inconsistent behavior of a border guard. We have received letters
telling that people are told they are unbidden guests. I understand
that this is Russia’s internally regulated issue but how about the
role of our government in this process? I asked if the government has
done anything about it, if not, why. I have not received answers to
these questions. Obviously, nothing has been done and nothing special
is going to be done. It is encouraged to cut down emigration but it
is not a solution, it is a matter of dignity of our citizens. It is
repeatedly stated that membership to the Customs Union is related to
security but our government must realize that security starts with
the physical security of a citizen and ends with state security. The
rights of our citizens are infringed, let alone their security.

Do you think the parliamentary majority will adopt a decision on
setting up an ad-hoc committee on the suspicious gas deals?

We need not cherish hopes. Moreover, the political majority will
not take that step. We have a non-positive experience relating to
ad-hoc committees. I cannot remember a single ad-hoc committee, such
as the committee on March 1 that submitted a full, reliable, true
and acceptable opinion. The members of parliament joke that the best
way for covering up an issue is to set up an ad hoc committee. Gas
is a special issue, and I think that the political majority did not
have the courage to set up that committee because they do not need
to protract the issue and keep it on the agenda. They are afraid
of revelations or certain issues. The political majority and the
political forces facing Russia do not need to keep the topic hot.

The non-governmental forces hinted that they may raise the issue of
resignation of the parliament in the next session.

I am not well-aware of who will raise the issue and who will not but
in the end we will learn the wishes of everyone and what is going on.

And I do not understand the need to relay it to the Constitutional
Court again. I am sure the Constitutional Court will dismiss it,
and it is not an effective way of struggling against I don’t know what.

Not something but specific people and a specific government must
be challenged.

Why did Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan hint at setting up an ad-hoc
committee?

Frankly speaking, I don’t know the context but I believe that the
representatives of the majority, including Hovik Abrahamyan, will
act as the political majority will say. It is normal when the members
of a force carry out the decisions of the force but it is not normal
not to have different opinions.

Everything is simple. Don’t you believe that Gazprom is more important
for the Russian state than the independence of Armenia? It follows
from this how our government and Constitutional Court will behave.

– See more at:

IRAVUNQ: AUDITING REVEALS EURO 11M LOSS IN ARMENIAN BANK

10:10 * 11.02.14

A recent auditing in Armbusinessbank has revealed a loss of 11 million
Euros, the paper has learned.

The auditing was reportedly conducted upon the initiative of an
influential Russian-Armenian businessman who is the brother of
Hovhannes Hovsepyan, the head of the Presidential Administration’s
Oversight Service. Earlier reportssaid that the man had plans to
purchase the bank.

A subsequent probe revealed links between the lost money and a senior
security official, according to the paper.

Romik Harutyunyan, a deputy head of the National Security Service
(NSS), was sacked shortly after. But it might have been even worse,
says the paper, as there was initially an order to detain him. But
a motion submitted by the NSS director saved the situation, adds
the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

POLITICAL EXPERT: SALE OF VOROTAN CASCADE OF HPPS TO U.S. WAS A REASONABLE EFFORT TO KEEP THE ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN POLITICAL BALANCE AFTER ACCESSING THE CU

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 11, 11:56

Sale of the Vorotan Cascade of HPPs to U.S. was a reasonable effort
to keep the economic and foreign political balance after accessing
the CU, said Deputy Head of the Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan
commenting on the above deal to ArmInfo.

As it was reported earlier on January 29, ContourGlobal and the
Government of Armenia announced that they have signed an agreement for
ContourGlobal to purchase and modernize the Vorotan Hydro Cascade,
a series of three hydroelectric power plants totaling 405 MW on
the Vorotan River in southern Armenia, for a purchase price of $180
million USD. ContourGlobal will invest $70 million over the next six
years in a refurbishment program to modernize the plants and improve
their operational performance, safety, reliability, and efficiency.

“I think, the given deal shows Yerevan’s aspirations to preserve its
economic and political contacts in the USA and the EU simultaneously
accessing the CU. Consequently, the Government will further search
ways to make a new agreement, a facilitated version of AA and DCFTA,
with the EU at the same time implementing the road map of accession
to the Customs Union. Armenia needs a document that would allow it
to further integrate into Europe so that it does not run contrary to
Moscow-led Eurasian projects,” Minasyan concluded.

Vorotan Cascade of HPPs consists of three hydro-power plants with a
total capacity of 404MW. The Cascade operates year-round thanks to its
two reservoirs and helps regulating the frequencies of power exchange
from Iran to Armenia and the vice versa. The designed capacity of the
Cascade is 1.16 bln kWh electricity annually. Vorotan Cascade of HPPs
CJSC was 100% state company under jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia before the latest deal. The
Vorotan Hydro Cascade is one of the largest and most flexible
power generating facilities in Armenia and the Caucasus. It needs
modernization and this acquisition represents the largest single U.S.

private investment in Armenia’s history and the first U.S. investment
in Armenia’s energy sector.

EUROPE DOES NOT SEE ARMENIA AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE: MP

02.11.2014 17:16 epress.am

The EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting in
Strasbourg from Feb. 5-6 failed because the Armenian delegates were
deprived of not only the opportunity to speak, but also the right to
make statements. This was a first in the history of the EU, writes
Armenian delegationmember and Armenian National Congress MP Nikol
Pashinyan in today’s issue of local dailyHaykakan Zhamanak.

Furthermore, the official dinner in the Armenian delegation’s honor
was cancelled by European Parliament Vice-President Jacek Protasiewicz.

“Representatives of Armenia’s ruling authorities insisted that
Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union is logical and natural,
[while] Committee Co-Chair Milan Cabrnoch was astonished by this
statement. He said that for three years, they invested huge amounts
of money, time, mental and physical efforts on negotiations over
the Association Agreement, and now they say that Armenia’s decision
to join the Customs Union is logical. If we knew that this was the
logical decision, we wouldn’t have spent so much time and resources,
he said,” Pashinyan wrote.

The opposition Armenian MP also mentioned that Armenia is no longer
perceived as an independent state. “The perception that Armenia is not
an independent state has further deepened — it can be said has reached
catastrophic proportions — in Europe. Armenia is perceived not as a
sovereign state but as a Russian outpost. This is an important nuance.

One of the main trump cards of our official diplomacy is to show the
West the difference between Armenia and Azerbaijan and that Armenia
is a more democratic, more legal state than Azerbaijan. And based
on this there is an attempt to create some sort of concept to ensure
positions in Armenia’s interest.

“This is an outdated concept. The comparison between Armenia and
Azerbaijan for the West is no longer on the plane of democracy and rule
of law, but on sovereignty. The EU sees Azerbaijan as an independent
state. Though [run by a] sultan, but an independent state, which is
fighting for its independence and in its struggle for independence,
it suffered — losing territories. While Armenia, according to their
perception, is not an independent state but a instrument, an outpost,
which Russia uses to punish Azerbaijan.

“Armenia is no longer perceived as an independent state. This is not
a new phenomenon — I addressed this phenomenon also in the past, but
after the September u-turn, it has become more — much more — deeper.

And this phenomenon completes the perceptions in the European
Parliament on the future relations between Armenia and the EU. They
say quite clearly we are prepared to continue to work with Armenia,
but Armenia itself has to say what obligations it assumes to the
Customs Union and what it can and cannot do in its relations with
the EU,” concludes Pashinyan.

RUSSIA’S NEW MIGRATION RULES TOUGH BURDEN FOR MANY ARMENIANS

13:06 * 11.02.14

Russia’s new migration and visa rules appear to be a serious burden for
the Armenian citizens travelling to the country as employment migrants.

Apart from the residence restrictions on those without a contract
(they are allowed stay in the country for no more than 90 days per
each 180-day period), many are threatened with a black list in case
of breaching the procedure.

Many Armenian citizens who have purchased air tickets to Russia turn
out to face bans despite having contracts, as they are claimed to
have violated several migration or administrative laws.

Speaking to Tert.am, Mayis Ghazaryan, a 42-year-old resident of
Vardenik (Gegharkunik region), said he had learned he was not allowed
to enter into Russia’s territory when trying to buy a ticket online.

“I found out through the Internet that I cannot go to Russia. I have
no idea why they do not issue a permit; nothing is written there,”
he said.

Ghazaryan said he thinks that his two-day delay to comply with the
new Russian laws has caused the difficulty. “After the expiry of
the three-month period, I would go to Kazakhstan and return here by
crossing the border. I had a two-day delay after the three months,
so that’s the reason probably,” he told our correspondent.

The Vardenik resident said he doesn’t know how long he will have to
wait until a new permit is issued. “It is 16 years I have been going
[to Russia], but this is the first time I am facing such a problem.

But I have to go, whatever it may cost; I have no other way out,”
he added.

Ghazaryan said a Russian company which has hired him as a mechanic
is now waiting for his return. “I have always worked in a firm, and
had a permit for one year. They are now waiting for me, and I have
no idea how to go.”

Ghazaryan is not the only resident of Vardenik who periodically
travels to Russia as an employment migrant. “There are so many of them;
which one to name? Anyone you approach has some problem,” he explained.

Ruzanna, another resident of the village who was in Russia for
several years, says she recently returned to Armenia together with
mother and never managed to travel back after New Year. She told
our correspondent she had been banned from getting on a plane to the
country. “I do not clearly understand the reason, but my parents are
doing all their best to solve the problem,” she said.

Speaking to Tert.am, Head of the State Employment Service Gagik
Yeganyan said the Armenian citizens wishing to travel to Russia can
visit the Russian Federal Migration Service’swebsite to check their
status in the country.

“[The site] has a corresponding section where a visitor can enter data
to see whether or not he is banned [from entering the country]. If
there is no ban, it is all right, but if there is any, that’s not
the end of it. They must apply to the Federal Migration Service,”
he explained.

“The same website has a section, applications, where [citizens]
can submit online applications to find out how long they will face a
ban and why. There have been numerous appeals which were responded,”
added the official.

Armenian News – Tert.am