Author: Kanayan Tamar

LET THEM DECLARE TIGRAN SARGSYAN LIFELONG PM – PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY REP

TERT.AM
12:10 ~U 20.03.13

If the ruling Republican party and its leader are satisfied with the
social-economic condition in the country, it’s their business, they
may not change the government and the PM, secretary of the Prosperous
Armenia party faction Naira Zohrabyan said speaking to Tert.am.

“If they find that the ongoing shameful social-economic policy, that
has brought the country close to disaster and to the economic deadlock,
is satisfactory and believe in their 7% economic growth, which does
not have any reflection on the livelihood of Armenia’s citizens, but
are just figures, a common balloon under which there is no welfare of
a citizen, Prosperous Armenia has said – let them make constitutional
reforms and attach the office of the PM namely to Tigran Sargsyan and
declare him lifelong PM,” Naira Zohrabyan stated, asked to comment on
Serzh Sargsyan’s remark that no changes are expected in the government.

The MP stressed that she managed to familiarize with some parts
of president’s interview, but if there was such a message, it is
exclusively the affair and right of ruling force.

Zohrabyan said the PAP never forwards issues of personalities, it
has no issues with persons, but it has an important issue to make
the country develop in a right way.

“This government, this PM has taken the country to a deadlock. This
is our assessment,” Naira Zohrabyan said, joking that if they are
satisfied with the situation they even may make changes in the law on
Cultural Preservation and declare the government Permanent Cultural
Heritage and keep it for good.

Asked whether the PAP is passive in the discussions of the open
civil forum in Liberty square which was discussing constitutional
amendments, Naira Zohrabyan said there is no passivity. “Today I am
going to present to the NA chairman our ideas of possible extraordinary
sitting the core issue of which will be improvement of the Election
Code based on the 100% proportional election system and a number of
other proposals which I am going just now present to the NA chairman,”
she said.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), Prosperous
Armenia and Armenian National Congress factions discussed with the
NA speaker the issue on convening extraordinary sitting.

1000 RUBLES WORTH AMD TO BE COMPENSATED FROM USSR SAVINGS BANK DEPOSITS IN ARTSAKH

10:13, 20 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: The USSR Savings Bank deposits in
Artsakh are scheduled to be compensated with ratio thousand rubles
– AMD 25 thousand. “This stage stipulates compensation of 1000
rubles from savings-account book. The remaining amount is set to be
compensated in the next stage,” Artsakh Bank, Tigranakert Branch Head
Seyran Danielyan told Armenpress. The head of the branch stated for
receiving the compensation the citizens must submit savings-account
book and passport; the compensation is being carried out in accordance
with the bank archive data. In the words of Danielyan, the citizens
must at least be somehow compensated.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” the Artsakh President Press
Secretary Davit Babayan stated that the decision to compensate the
USSR Savings Bank deposits has been circulating in Artskah for more
than 10 years. The new decision stipulates compensation of deposits
of the citizens born before 1974.

On 12 March Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree
of preliminary compensation of devalued since the year of 1993 deposits
of NKR citizens in “Artsakh Bank” Closed Joint Stock Company.

According to the decree from the financial means allocated within the
frameworks of the law “On 2013 State Budget” the Government has been
entrusted to provide preliminary compensation of deposits belonging
to citizens born before 1974 as well as citizens perished during the
defense of the NKR and individuals of first disability group.

GRAND SACRISTAN OF ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM WILL PARTICIPATE IN OBAMA’S RECEPTION IN ISRAEL

12:41, 20 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. The President of the United States
of America Barack Obama will pay a three-day official visit to
Israel on March 20. The “Armenpress” reporter in Jerusalem, member
of St. James Convent Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan states that
the Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, His
Eminence Archbishop Sevan Gharibian will participate in the ceremony
of official reception in Ben Gurion Airport.

Within the framework of the visit President Obama will also pay visit
to the Church of Holy Nativity in Bethlehem, Palestine.

Archbishop Sevan Gharibian (baptismal name Hovhannes) was born in
1940 in Beirut, Lebanon. He received his primary education at the
Abgarian and Roupinian school in Beirut.

In 1961 he entered the Jarangavoratz Theological Seminary at the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and graduated, becoming a member
of the Brotherhood of St. James. He was ordained as a celibate priest
in 1968, by then Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Archbishop
Yeghishe Derderian and given the priestly name of Sevan.

Father Sevan received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) in 1972,
by then Patriarch Yeghishй Derderian. He was consecrated as a Bishop
in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, by the Catholicos of
All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory.

In 1990 he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn
Vardapet) by Patriarch Torgom Manoukian of Jerusalem.

In 2006 Bishop Sevan was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by the
Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness
Karekin II.

During his priestly ministry, Archbishop Sevan has held different
scholastic and administrative positions at the St. Hagop Monastery. He
currently serves the Armenian Church as the Finance Director and
Chairman of the Council of Directors at the Monastery.

SERGE SARKISSIAN N’ENVISAGE PAS DE PROCEDER A UN REMANIEMENT MINISTERIEL

Le president Serge Sarkissian a indique qu’il ne fera pas de
changements radicaux au sein du gouvernement armenien. S’adressant
a des journalistes lundi soir, M. Sarkissian a egalement ajoute que
le principal problème que connaît le pays actuellement n’est pas la
corruption ou l’injustice, mais le cynisme de la population alimente
par les medias.

” Je ne peux pas vous dire maintenant que la composition du
gouvernement va changer, a-t-il dit. Mais cela ne signifie pas que
les membres du gouvernement sont a l’abri d’un quelconque remaniement
ou que je leur donne des privilèges. ”

Le president a fait valoir que le cabinet du Premier ministre Tigran
Sarkissian a reussi a atteindre un objectif de croissance economique
de 7%. ” Je ne dis pas que 7,2% [de croissance] est le maximum que l’on
puisse atteindre, mais il faut noter que la hausse du salaire moyen en
Armenie a depasse l’inflation “, a-t-il declare lors d’une conference
de presse. Sarkissian a precise que les membres du gouvernement doivent
veiller a ce que l’economie armenienne poursuive ses objectifs pour
les cinq prochaines annees s’ils veulent conserver leur poste.

Sarkissian a egalement evoque un ” sentiment d’insatisfaction ” parmi
les principaux membres de son Parti republicain (HHK). Ces derniers
ne parviennent pas a se rejouir de la victoire de Serge Sarskissian,
car le president a obtenu seulement 58,5% des voix lors de l’election
presidentielle (resultats officiels).

” Le plus grand problème de notre pays n’est pas celui de la corruption
“, a poursuivi M. Sarkissian. ” Le plus grand problème du pays est
cette atmosphère cynique dans laquelle nous vivons. ” Selon lui,
les medias participent du discours cynique.

” Notre pays est en mutation. On ne peut pas dire que rien n’a change
“, a conclu le president.

mercredi 20 mars 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

NIKOL PASHINYAN WAS NOT GIVEN RIGHT TO SPEAK IN NA

01:32 pm | Today | Politics

Today in the National Assembly NA chairman Hovik Abrahamyan gave
voice to CEC President Tigran Mukuchyan.

Yesterday Mr. Mukuchyan started his report on the parliamentary
elections of May 6 of 2012. Today he should have to continue answering
the questions of MP-s. “Heritage” party leader Ruben Hakobyan had
the right of giving a question.

But Mr. Mukuchyan had not yet approached the tribune, ANC deputy
Nikol Pashinyan from his sitting place without microphone announced
that after the vote he had asked Hovik Abrahamyan to give right of
voice to him but Hovik Abrahamyan ignored that statement and gave
the voice to Tigran Mukuchyan.

Shortly afterwards ANC MPs Levon Zurabyan and Gagik Jhangiryan, after
the consultation with each other together with “Free Democrats” party
representative Khachatur Kokobelyani left the session room together.

It was the turn of Republican Party of Armenia (HHK’s) MP Manvel
Badeyan who, however stated that his questions were the same as those
of Ruben Hakobyan and therefore he took out the questions.

After his words, the hall started laughing. And one of the questions of
Ruben Hakobyan related to the publication of signed electoral lists. It
should be noted that the government has always been against it.

HDI PLACES ARMENIA IN THE HIGH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY

18:21 19.03.2013

Armenia’s HDI value for 2012 is 0.729-in the high human development
category-positioning the country at 87 out of 187 countries and
territories. As the underlying data and methods for calculation of
HDIs have changed, it does not allow to compare values and rankings
related to Armenia with those of previously published human development
reports,

Between 1990 and 2012, Armenia’s HDI value increased from 0.628 to
0.729, an increase of 16 percent or average annual increase of about
0.7 percent.

Between 1980 and 2012, Armenia’s life expectancy at birth increased
by 3.5 years, mean years of schooling increased by 1.6 years and
expected years of schooling increased by 2.3 years. Armenia’s GNI
per capita increased by about 96 percent between 1990 and 2012.

Armenia’s 2012 HDI of 0.729 is below the average of 0.758 for countries
in the high human development group and below the average of 0.771 for
countries in Europe and Central Asia. From Europe and Central Asia,
countries which are close to Armenia in 2012 HDI rank and population
size are Georgia and Azerbaijan, which have HDIs ranked 72 and 82
respectively.

The 2010 HDR introduced the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI),
which identifies multiple deprivations in the same households in
education, health and standard of living. Armenia’s MPI value,
which is the share of the population that is multi-dimensionally
poor adjusted by the intensity of the deprivations, was 0.001 and
is slightly ahead of Georgia and Azerbaijan, which had MPI values of
0.003 and 0.021 respectively.

DEMIRCHIAN: NEW ELECTIONS ARE BEST SOLUTION

Tuesday,
March 19

A vicious phenomenon has emerged in the country – after each rigged-up
election, there is much talk about sensible compromises, tolerance,
and a dialog between the authorities and the opposition, the deputy
of Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction Stepan Demirchian stated
in the National Assembly today.

According to him, the best dialog is holding democratic elections.

“After what has happened, it is obvious that new elections should
be held. There is no other solution. This is the only sensible step
which may help handle the situation,” Demirchian said.

He stressed the need to understand that rigged elections hinder the
country’s development and result in a dramatic increase in emigration.

TODAY, 18:28

Aysor.am

ARMENIAN DUDUK PRESENTED AT UNESCO HEADQUARTERS

March 19, 2013 | 18:32

Armenia, Lithuania and Bulgaria presented their culture during the
event organized at UNESCO Headquarters to celebrate International
Francophonie Day and the tenth anniversary of the UNESCO Convention
for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Armenia was
represented by duduk player Levon Minasyan.

“Musicians and dancers performed masterpieces of the Armenian Duduk,
the Bulgarian Bistritsa Babi and the Lithuanian SutartinÄ-s, all of
which are inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage, reflecting the wealth of these cultures, their
common influences and their interactions, handed down from generation
to generation, forging close ties between peoples throughout history,”
UNESCO said in a statement.

Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova and Armenian Ambassador to
France Vigen Chitechyan, heads of the international organizations
and diplomatic representations attended the concert held at UNESCO
Headquarters in Paris.

.

NEW ELECTIONS ONLY WAY OUT OF CRISIS IN ARMENIA – OPPOSITION MP

TERT.AM
19:21 ~U 19.03.13

Stepan Demirchyan, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary
group member, stated in parliament on Tuesday that new elections are
the only means of resolving the present post-election crisis.

He is harshly critical of Armenia’s authorities for speaking of
“tolerance,” “dialogue,” “reasonable concessions” after they rig
elections.

On the other hand, they brand the opposition’s demands for fair
elections “maximalistic.”

The ANC has repeatedly stated that holding democratic elections is
the best dialogue.

“There is no other solution. This is the only reasonable step that
can resolve the present crisis,” he said.

Mr Demirchyan hopes that the interim parliamentary commission set
up to investigate the March 1 events in Armenia’s capital will solve
the murder crimes.

“The perpetrators of the March 1 slaughter must be punished – not only
for the sake of the victims’ relatives, but also for the sake of our
country and people. Such crimes must not recur,” Mr Demirchyan said.

AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ARMENIA URGES SCPEC TO LOOK INTO OBSTACLES STANDING ON THE WAY OF CARREFOUR’S ARRIVAL IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 19. / ARKA /. The Board of the American Chamber of
Commerce in Armenia called on the chairman of the State Commission
for Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) Artak Shaboyan to
look into obstacles standing on the way of famous French retailer
Carrefour’s arrival in Armenia.

Gagik Arzumanian, a member of the Board of the American Commerce
Chamber in Armenia suggested that SCPEC should conduct some research
and present its findings to the public because ‘Carrefour is a very
important foreign investor.’ He was speaking at a discussion with
the business community and head of SCPEC.

Gagik Arzumanian said judging by media reports, the delay in
Carrefour’s entrance in Armenia is related to competition.

“I want to believe that these media speculations are not true and
that the government is not involved in this. This in mind, the SCPEC
appears to be the only agency that can give a clear explanation about
this problem,” he said.

In response Artak Shaboyan said his agency may look into the issue
only if it has a request from Carrefour. “Specifically in this case,
we need facts and evidence to make a grounded decision,” he said.

Earlier media reports claimed that a Russian-Armenian billionaire
Samvel Karapetyan, who is the owner of Dalma Garden Mall in Yerevan
suspended a contract with the Carrefour after a pressure from Armenian
businessman Samvel Aleksanyan, who is the largest importer of food
and other essentials.

Armenian prime minister Tigran Sargsyan said the government would do
everything possible to ensure Carrefour’s arrival in Armenia. He said
Samvel Karapetian and Carefour signed a memorandum of understanding,
not an agreement.

Carrefour S.A. is a French retailer headquartered in Paris. It
runs one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world (with 1,395
hypermarkets at the end of 2009), the second largest retail group
in the world in terms of revenue, and the third largest in profit
(after Wal-Mart and Tesco). Carrefour operates in Europe, Argentina,
Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates and
Saudi Arabia, but also has shops in North Africa and other parts of
Asia. It has 400,000 employees. Its net profits in 2012 saw a three
times rise from 2011 amounting to 1.23 billion euros. -0-