Author: Kanayan Tamar

MKHITARYAN ARRIVES IN LONDON (PHOTO)

June 26, 2013

Armenian national football squad and Ukraine’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk
attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has arrived in London.

The aforesaid was informed toITAR-TASS News Agency of Russia from the
London hotel where the 24-year-old Armenian international was staying.

Mkhitaryan will soon head to the City of Liverpool, where he will
formally be introduced as a Liverpool FC player.

As NEWS.am Sport informed earlier, Borussia Dortmund of Germany
likewise want to acquire Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and they are prepared
to pay ~@25 million for the transfer of the top scorer of Shakhtar.

Photo by 101greatgoals.com

NEWS.am Sport

“I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY … BLOOD WILL BE SHED”

03:25 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

“EcoLur” informational NGO has sent a letter to the Ministry of Nature
Protection. The letter says, “Zangezour copper and molybdenum combine
plans to increase the volumes of ore processing up to 25 million
tons per year and replenishes with new equipment. “When the new mill
will start working, nothing will remain from these mountains,” the
locals said.

Head of Kajaran village Rafik Atayan says, “They do whatever they
want to. We have appeared in a situation that everyone is afraid to
say something. Ten people are filling their pockets while the people
of our village cannot even afford to pay the bank loans. This is
permissiveness. Look the entire village in burried in dust.

Extensive increase in the indicators is a characteristic phenomenon for
ZCMC. In the course of 2011 the combine processed 15 million tons of
ore, this figure for 2012 was 17 million tons. The operating Artsvanik
tailing dump is planned to increase for the tails to be dumped. The
tails will flood the territories of Chapni and Sevaqar Villages
finding themselves under the formulation of “eminent public domain.”

First of all, it’s Nature Protection Ministry, which should pay
attention to this fact. The increase of production by 2 million tons
for one year is equal to the fact that another mining enterprise
has appeared. For comparison we would like to say that Kapan ore
processing combine processes 600,000 tons per year. Agarak copper and
molybdenum combine processes 3.5 million tons per year. We tried to,
but didn’t find any information on the website of Nature Protection
Ministry which would prove that any public hearings were held in
Qajaran on the production expansion in 2011 and 2012.

The locals complain that the dust is blown off to the city after
explosions at Qajaran mine. This dust should contain heavy and toxic
elements, but the website of the ministry misses any data about the
pollution of the atmospheric air in Qajaran town.

Taking into consideration the unprecedented increase in ore mining in
Qajaran mine and the planned volume of 25 million tons we consider
it necessary for the Nature Protection Ministry to publish the
following data:

1. The pollution of atmospheric air in Qajaran town, 2. The volume
of ZCMC dumps and the size of the territories used for tail dumping,
3. Environmental and nature management payments made by the combine
in 2012.

We also consider it necessary to set maximum load on environment
from the ZCMC operation, after which “forced resettlement” term can
be used.”

OPPOSITION NEEDS TO UNITE, SAYS ARMEN MARTIROSYAN

14:34 26/06/2013 ” POLITICS

Heritage party will continue acting with the same pace and fighting
logic, Heritage deputy chairman Armen Martirosyan told reporters
in Yerevan.

Martirosyan noted that the party will continue regional visits and
added that they have visited Goris, in particular, met with the
Budaghyan family and got some information about the recent murder
in Goris.

Speaking of the current situation in Armenia, Martirosyan said that
changes are needed in Armenia, in a very short time, “otherwise we
may lose our statehood in the sense of its content.”

To solve these issues, the Armenian opposition needs to unite,
he concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

WHY DO PEOPLE LEAVE “AFFLUENT” ARMENIA?

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 24 2013

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

During the last month social activity has intensified in Armenia –
various social groups of the population conduct protests.

The protests reflect unsettled social problems, first of all.

Moreover, the flames of people’s anger were caused by the fact that the
authorities have no will to undertake necessary reforms which could
solve such old problems as unemployment, the rise in the numbers of
poor and those leaving the country.

Probably, a constraining factor of the pressure existing in society
was the presidential and municipal elections, because the majority of
people were counting on them. However, a series of events demonstrated
that their hopes for changing the situation in the country couldn’t
come true. The government has almost remained the same; despite heavy
criticism by the opposition, the parliamentary majority literally
rushed the program of the new government; the row over the mayor of
Taron, Marganyan, who possessed property which cost $6 million more
than his official income, but he was appointed mayor again, and so on.

One activator of people’s dissatisfaction was, on the one hand, the
authorities’ decision to raise gas and electricity rates; on the other
hand, the power of nature: heavy hail fell in May several times and
damaged agriculture in some regions, primarily Armavir, where the
power of nature destroyed harvests in 46 village communities. The
initial hesitation of the officials, their attempts to postpone a
settlement of the issue on compensation and freezing bank credits
taken by farmers caused a storm of protest.

Desperate farmers twice shut off the highway between Armevir and
Yerevan, demanding settlement of the problems that had appeared. As
a result, the government decided to allocate seeds, fertilizers
and diesel fuel to residents of the 46 village communities as
compensation. 22 communities are completely exempt from land taxes
and water payments; 44 communities are partially free; negotiations
with banks on the time-out on repayment and possible decrease of
interest rates are being held. The behavior of the village residents
is significant. It was the first time in the history of Armenia that
a group of people had taken such a radical step as shutting off a
highway on order for the authorities to fulfil their demands.

The civil disobedience shown by farmers in Armavir became an example
for residents of several villages in the Shirak region, who shut
off a road for milk tank vehicles on June 11. The reason for this
was decrease of the milk purchase value by 10 drams and increase
of milk product prices by 10%. And none of representatives of the
agricultural department in the regional administration and of the
Ministry of Agriculture could explain why milk products rose in price
in a season of price decrease.

Employees of the company Armavia (which went bankrupt in late March)
conducted peaceful protests and demanded payment of salary owed for
7 months. In the course of a month the former staff of the company
held three protests in front of the government’s house and the
presidential palace. After the third protest, which took place on
June 7, the press secretary of the company. Nana Avetisova, stated
that debt payment would begin in the very near future.

In May and early June people protested against increasing gas and
electricity rates, which are set to grow by 20-25% since July 7th.

Since May a group of veterans of the Karabakh war have been demanding
that the leadership pay attention to social and other problems
of veterans and provide their rights. They demanded a meeting with
Premier Tigran Sarkisyan, who met veterans on June 7th and promised
to order the corresponding departments to settle their problems.

On June 10-11 200 lawyers declared a two-day strike against the work
of the Court of Cassation. Therefore, Armenia has never seen so many
flashes of people’s anger in its history. The protests were a reaction
by citizens to the passivity of the authorities.

It seems the leadership has to think about the reality. If they don’t
take real rather than shallow and declarative steps on changing the
situation in the socio-economic sphere, the atmosphere in the country
could become very tense. Declarations that economic growth is 7.2%
and all problems can be settled sound unconvincing, because people
continue to leave the “affluent” country.

24 NEW MEMBERS JOIN ARF RANKS

Monday, June 24th, 2013

The ARF

GLENDALE-Ahead of a community celebration of the 95th anniversary of
Armenian Independence on Saturday, 24 new members joined the ranks
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

Ahead of the oath ceremony, Harut Megrdichian of the ARF Western US
Central Committee’s Education Committee welcomed the soon to be new
members and reported that 38 individuals applied to join the ranks of
the party, of whom 26 successfully completed the four-month intensive
novice educational program. On Saturday, 24 took their oath, while
another two members were unable to take part in the ceremony because
they were out of country.

Veteran ARF member Khatoun Pakradouni was invited to administer the
oath, following which she presented her brief yet moving remarks to
the new members of the 123-year-old party.

She recalled her own swearing in ceremony in 1952 as a young student
in Beirut and revealed that legendary ARF leader General Dro was on
hand to administer her oath to membership in the ranks.

Pakrdouni then told the new members that to serve the mission of the
ARF is to serve the entire Armenian nation, adding that along the
way there will be challenges to overcome, but in the end the sacred
mission to advance the Armenian Cause was the ultimate goal.

She also announced that this crop of new members will be called the
“Simon Zavarian Generation,” named after the ARF founder, who was
known as being the conscience of the party. This year marks the 100th
anniversary of Zavarian’s death.

Pakradouni concluded her remarks by quoting Zavarian who said,
“without real work, words are meaningless.”

In his remarks, ARF Western US Central Committee chairman Dr. Viken
Hovsepian told the new members that although they had completed the
educational program, the true education in the party began when they
took the ARF membership oath, stressing that each day, as an ARF
member, is an education.

The more than 200 fellow ARF members who had gathered to witness the
solemn ceremony, one-by-one congratulated the new members and welcomed
them to the ranks.

CHIEF OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES LEAVES FOR MOSCOW

June 24, 2013 | 16:18

YEREVAN. – The delegation headed by Chief of Staff of the Armenian
Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov is leaving for Moscow on Monday.

The delegation will participate in the regular session of the Military
Committee of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) organized
in a joint headquarters in Moscow.

The issues related to development of military components of the
organization will be discussed.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

IRATE ARMAVIR APRICOT GROWERS THREATEN TO BLOCK HIGHWAY OVER LOW PRICES

Grisha Balasanyan

As we go to press, residents of Myasnikyan, Khandjyan and several
other villages in Armavir Province have gathered on the main
Armavir-Baghramyan and have threatened to block the thoroughfare to
voice their indignation over the low prices they are being offered
for their apricot crop.

It turns out that a major apricot buyer, the Noyan factory, has been
offering farmers 50 AMD per kilo.

Growers are demanding 120 AMD per kilo just to break even. In lieu
of this, they have suggested that the government facilitate customs
regulations to allow for buyers from Georgia to purchase the crop.

Myasnikyan Mayor Andranik Petrosyan told Hetq that he has informed
Armavir Provincial Governor Ashot Ghahramanyan about the issue.

Petrosyan claims the matter has reached the desk of Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

Mayor Petrosyan says that the 50 AMD being offered merely covers
labor costs of the growers.

Petrosyan adds that he was somehow able to dissuade residents from
blocking the road until he hears the response of the government.

“I told them to wait. Let’s see what happens,” he said.

Khandjyan Mayor Samvel Avagyan told Hetq that the only resolution
is to allow for the exportation of the crop. He says that this year,
contrary to years past, no Georgian buyers have visited the village.

The Georgians pay better prices that the factories. If they were
allowed to come and buy, the problem would be resolved to a certain
degree,” said Avagyan.

TURKS AND AZERBAIJANIS UNITE EFFORTS IN ANTI-ARMENIAN INITIATIVES

16:20, 24 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS: The Chairman of the State Committee of
Azerbaijan Republic on Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov announced
that Azerbaijan is ready to assist Turkey in resisting the Armenians’
actions connected with the events of 1915. As reported by Armenpress,
quoting the news website aznews.az, Nazim Ibrahimov has already
instructed the structures of the Azerbaijani Diaspora under his
control to act jointly with the Turkish Diaspora against the Armenians.

Quoting Heydar Aliyev’s words in his speech “One nation, two states”,
the Chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan Republic on Work
with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov said: “The problems of one nation
cannot be different. The Armenian problems are at the same time the
Azerbaijan’s problems. In the Karabakh issue the Turkish Diaspora
supports Azerbaijan in the world”.

Nazim Ibrahimov stated that the member countries of the Cooperation
Council of Turkic Speaking States Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well
support Turkey and Azerbaijan in the Armenian issues.

-anti-armenian-initiatives.html

PACE PRESIDENT WILLING TO DISCUSS THE KARABAKH ISSUE WITH ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI DELEGATIONS

17:22 24.06.2013
Nagorno-Karabakh, PACE

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Jean Claude Mignon has expressed willingness to discuss the situation
around Nagorno Karabakh with the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations.

“I would like to use the opportunity to discuss the issue with Armenian
and Azerbaijani delegations,” Mignon told a press conference without
going into details about the timing of the meeting.

Mignon reminded about the activities of the PACE sub-committee on
Nagorno Karabakh. He noted also that the “Madrid Principles proposed
by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs comprise the basis for the work in
that direction.”

Earlier the PACE President had urged to intensify the negotiations
on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group.

59% OF ARMENIA’S POPULATION ‘NATURALLY TEND TOWARD RUSSIA’ – EXPERT

14:18 ~U 24.06.13

59% of Armenia’s population is inclined to think that Armenia should
join various Russia-led alliances or, to be precise, Russia itself.

Moreover, with respect to independence, Armenia’s population is showing
“a downward tendency” as compared with the first years of independence,
the political analyst Sergey Shakaryants told journalists on Monday
as he referred to poll results presented by Aram Navasardyan, Director
of the Gallup International Association Armenia office.

According to the results, Armenia is inclined toward the Customs Union.

“In 2007, more than one million signatures were gathered in favor
for Armenia joining the Russia-Belarus union. People displayed their
unwillingness to be independent,” Shakaryants said.

Last April, the Gallup International Association conducted a poll
conducted in all the post-Soviet states, which involved 11,000
respondents. In Armenia, 61% of the respondents spoke in favor of the
Customs Union, 26% were indifferent and 4% did not approve of the idea.

With respect to Nagorno-Karabakh’s involvement in integration,
specifically in European integration, the expert said: “We will be
prohibited from conducting free trade with Nagorno-Karabakh. Even if
Russia may ignore the practice, the European Union will never do.”

The economist Samvel Avagyan objected that free trade agreements
never prevent trade with third countries, and joining the Customs
Union will be the only obstacles. Shakaryants responded that “a third
country must not be an unrecognized one.”

Armenian News – Tert.am