Author: Kanayan Tamar

Javakhk NGO head responds to YSU rector’s assistant

16:43 – 28.02.13

No one can order the people of Akhalkalaki, Tachat Vardapetyan,
Co-Chairman of the Union of Georgian Armenians, told Tert.am.

This is his response to the behavior of Gevorg Melkonyan, Assistant to
Rector of Yerevan State University, who was involved in an incident on
Wednesday.

In a video put on Internet, Melkonyan addresses a police officer and
tells him to `draw the troops, Akhalkalaki boys, nearer.’

All the residents of Javakhk (Georgia’s regions densely populated by
Armenians) were indignant. `What does it mean `Akhalkalaki boys come
forward’?’

The people of Javakhk never accept orders. Young people came from
Javakhk to their homeland to get education. `Some of them reject the
idea of student strikes, but few of them will take part in student
strikes,’ he said.

The Georgian Armenians’ NGOs working in Armenia supported Armenia’s
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan in the Feb. 18 presidential
election.

`The overwhelming majority of Javakhk residents have been supporting
Armenia’s incumbent president. I am just against people’s
`geographical, political and ideological identification’,’ Mr
Vardapetyan said.

Mr Vardapetyan reported that he had held a meeting with Mr Melkonyan.
The latter explained that by `troops’ he meant the police to prevent
any provocations.

EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DEMANDS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION

TERT.AM
14:45 ~U 28.02.13

Ex-presidential candidate Vardan Sedrakyan does not accept the
presidential election results and demands Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation.

He also calls on opposition MPs to resign.

At his meeting with journalists on Thursday he said that, irrespective
of the number of votes cast for individual candidates, “everything
was nothing but mere drawing.”

“We have forty days before Serzh Sargsyan’s inauguration [on April 9]
to prevent the event and fix a date for a new presidential election,”
he said.

“My demand is Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation. If he wants, let his run in
the new presidential election. If he is sure that people are supporting
him, let his hold fair elections and won,” Mr Sedrakyan said.

According to him, all the political parties have much to do for
democratic movement.

“In protest, the Heritage MPs must resign from parliament. Then
presidential candidate Hrant Bagratyan must resign. The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) and the Armenian
National Congress (ANC) must follow them. This must be done in protest
at injustice,” he said.

Mr Sedrakyan cannot understand Heritage party Chairman Raffi
Hovannisian’s steps. Although Mr Sedrakyan is not going to Freedom
Square, he is for the national movement.

He also intends to participate in the ANC rally scheduled for March 1.

USAID TAX REFORM PROGRAM IN ARMENIA UNDERWAY

Tax-news.com
Feb 27 2013

By Tatiana Smolenskaya, Tax-News.com, Moscow
27 February 2013

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has begun a
four-year tax reform program in Armenia, with Deloitte providing
advice to the State Revenue Committee on implementing improved
electronic services, record-keeping and analysis, and a new tax
personnel management system.

Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding with USAID,
Committee Head Gagik Khachatryan told reporters that the move forms
part of Armenia’s Tax Administration Modernization Project, which
was adopted in 2012 in partnership with the World Bank.

According to Khachatryan, the result will be an electronic information
management system in line with the best international practices,
as well as an optimal tax authority structure, highly proficient tax
personnel, a modern risk-based tax control system, and a high-quality
service for taxpayers. As well as improvements to the “Taxpayer 3”
electronic system, data-processing stations will be established, and
the electronic reporting and payment systems will be integrated. The
new management structure, Khachatryan explained, will save human
and financial resources, reduce the risk of corruption, and reduce
interaction between tax officers and taxpayers.

Khachatryan drew attention to Armenia’s “consistent and active
collaboration with partner donor organizations,” which he explained
contributes greatly to the implementation of reforms.

USAID has been involved in Armenia since 1992, and is currently
assisting the country with economic, political and social transition.

Current projects include: increasing the country’s economic
competitiveness; promoting civic participation and access to a wide
range of media outlets; expanding access to quality health care and
social services; protecting the country’s most vulnerable citizens
from poverty; implementing people-to-people and business-to-business
ties with Turkey; and supporting Armenia’s efforts to integrate fully
into the regional economy.

RUSSIA MAY LOSE ARMENIAN FUEL MARKET – ENERGY MINISTRY

Interfax, Russia
Feb 26 2013

Iran is squeezing Russia off the fuel market in Armenia, according to
an Energy Ministry report on mutual fuel-and-energy-complex relations
with counties in the Commonwealth of Independent States that Interfax
has read.

Ministry data indicate that LUKOIL (RTS: LKOH) is supplying fuel to
Armenia from refineries in Bulgaria and Romania. But in Armenia is
being discussed the question of building an oil pipeline connecting
Iran and Armenia, with the plan being for Iranian refineries to supply
fuel and refineries in the Persian Gulf. The Armenian government has
approved the rules for construction, which is to end in 2014. However,
the start of construction was pushed back from last year to this.

“The Armenian market for oil products is not a priority for Russian
companies, primarily because of underdeveloped infrastructure for
effecting deliveries. In light of the last in the project for an
Iranian-Armenian pipeline, this niche will mostly be filled with
deliveries from Iran,” the report says.

POST-ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS CONDITIONED BY ECONOMIC CONDITION

07:40 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Economist Vahagn Khachatryan says the post-election developments in
Armenia are determined by the country’s economic condition. After
every election, people start complaining because they do not see any
improvement in the social situation.

The economist reminds that the socially vulnerable groups are usually
the first to voice their disagreement with election results. He
stresses that we do not have the middle class who could not neglect
election bribe.

“If we had the middle class, they would stand up for their votes
in an organized manner,” Mr. Khachatryan said adding that the two
poles -the poor and rich -formed in the result of the economic policy
pursued by the authorities in the last 15 years.

The contradiction that exists today emerged under those conditions.

The poor call for holding fair elections while the rich only care
for their reproduction,” he said.

Vahagn Khachatryan is going to join Raffi Hovannisian’s rally on
March 1 as a witness of the deadly street clashes between police and
demonstrators that left 10 killed in downtown Yerevan in March 2008.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN CONTINUES PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY TOUR ACROSS THE REPUBLIC

10:42, February 28, 2013

Raffi K. Hovannisian, President-elect of the Republic of Armenia,
on February 26 continued his presidential victory tour with a visit
Armavir. He was accompanied by numerous supporters, former members
of the Heritage parliamentary group, and journalists.

Appealing to the residents of Armavir, Hovannisian he addressed the
mayor, who had had the dignity to resign three days ago. Hovannisian
added that members of the Council of Elders and governor of the
Armavir region must follow his example.

Hovannisian’s next stop was in the town of Echmiadzin. During a
peaceful demonstration Hovannisian said: “I, as a believer in the
Resurrection, say that it is you who brought this resurrection to
our country and Echmiadzin, and I am only one part of this victory.”

In Masis and Artashat, where systematic falsifications were observed
on election day, hundreds of citizens defied the culture of fear to
welcome Hovannisian with chants of “President.”

“I will come again,” Hovannisian said, “and together we shall witness
how the Armenian people triumphed over the evil spirit.” Later,
Hovannisian visited Surenavan, Areni, Yeghegnadzor, and Vayk and
Agarak.

On February 27 Raffi K. Hovannisian continued the meetings with his
supporters and citizens in the towns of Syunik Region. The meetings
started from Agarak and Meghri, where he met the mayor of the city
and expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the February
18th elections and the violations that took place.

Hovannisian also reminded the Mayor about the numerous legislative
bills designated to solve problems of Meghri and the entire Syunik
Region, that the Heritage MPs initiated in Parliament. Unfortunately,
those initiatives were opposed by the MPs of Republican Party.

In Kajaran, the Executives of the Copper-molybdenum factory aiming to
impede Hovannisian’s meeting called the workers – long being out of
work – to an urgent factory meeting. Nonetheless, a lot of citizens
came to meet Hovannisian, who conveyed his gratitude to them for their
courage and the right choice they had made. He inspired them to take
the struggle further to a victorious end. Hovannisian demanded from
the Syunik authorities: “Respect the people’s victory or go away”.

In Kapan, where Hovannisan had received more than 54% of the votes,
arrived to celebrate the victory together with citizens. He declared,
“Garegin Nzhdeh has won. You’ve brought his and Armenia’s victory”. In
Kapan, Hovannisan also demanded the resignation of the Syunik Governor.

In Goris, the Governor of Syunik had taken measures to dissuade the
people from meeting the heralds of BAREV Revolution. He also avoided
meeting Raffi Hovannisian. The marching of BAREV Revolution in Syunik
concluded in Sisian in a large rally.

Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters

RATES FOR CONTAINER TRANSPORT CHANGED BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

11:48, February 28, 2013

>From February 1, 2013 JSC “Georgian Railway” increases tariff rates
for shipping for 20-foot containers by 3.5% and canceled the discount
factor 0.82 for 40-foot containers.

In order to reduce cost pressures on shippers in February South
Caucasus Railway restrained the growth rates for freight on its own
resources. However, guided by the Agreement on the organization of
the international rail container transport and due to the arrangement
with the Georgian Railway from March 1, 2013 the new interest rates
are also entered in the territory of Armenia.

Thus, the rate for a 40-foot loaded container will count to 0.96
dollars per ton-km (instead of 0.78), and for an empty container 0.48
(instead of 0.39). For loaded and empty 20-foot containers tariff
will respectively be 0.56 and 0.28, instead of 0.54 and 0.27.

Note that SCR has followed a policy of containing freight tariffs for
the last 3 years and the rate was increased only from January 1, 2013.

ALUMINUM FOIL PAPER EXPORT TO USA, CROATIA, AND CHILI INCREASED

10:05, 28 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian export of aluminum foil
paper thinner than 0,2 mm to USA, Croatia, and Chili increased for
6, 43, and 186 percents respectively. The State Revenue Committee of
the Government of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” about
this. Volume of aluminum foil paper export to USA was 24,433,5 tons,
203,6 to Croatia, and 53 tons to Chili in 2012.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” the Press Secretary of the leading
company of aluminum foil paper production and export “Rusal-Armenal”
Alexander Melkumyan stated that the increase of the export volume is
conditioned by strengthening the factory’s production power. Among
other things Alexander Melkumyan noted: “The quality of our production
is in conformity with the international standards, and it’s not
accidental that our production is much in demand in foreign countries
and in the United States in particular.”

The total volume of the export from the Republic of Armenia was
USD 1 428 000 000 in 2012. Among the main partners of the Republic
of Armenia in the sphere of export are Germany, Bulgaria, Belgium,
the Netherlands and many others.

– See more at:

SYRIAN-ARMENIAN FAMILY TO OPEN PUB IN YEREVAN

11:45, 28 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Another Syrian-Armenian family
will celebrate the foundation of its own business in Yerevan in
a week. A bakery-pub will be opened in the heart of the capital,
where Armenian traditional and forgotten dishes will be served to
the visitors. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the founder of
the pub Njdeh Toufenkjian stated that there are a number of dishes
to be served in a frying-pan. Notwithstanding foreign nations have
appropriated then and altered the names. Njdeh underscored: “We shall
return them back, prepare in traditional way and try to preserve them.”

Njdeh used to visit Armenia each year as a tourist since 1999 and
always wanted to move to Armenia and settle here together with
his family. He noted: “First I came here with my wife. There is a
possibility that my parents will also join us in future.” Toufenkjian
had his own business in Syria too. He used to import used motor-car
spare parts from Japan to Syria. Among other things Njdeh highlighted:
“I decided to change the sphere of my activity and I had an idea about
opening a bakery.” In addition he laid a heavy emphasis on the fact
that the bakery-pub will be comfortable and available for everyone.

Article by Ruzanna Movsisyan

– See more at:

ESTABLISHMENT OF LITHUANIA- ARTSKAH FRIENDLY GROUP SHOULD BECOME A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER PARLIAMENTS: LITHUANIAN MP

11:42, 28 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s National Assembly vice
speaker, Armenia- Lithuania friendly group head Edward Sharmazanaov
had a telephone conversation with Algis Kasheta Member of the Seymas,
co-chair of the Lithuania-Armenia deputy friendship group on February
27 .

Sharmazanov welcomed the initiation on establishing Lithuania-
Artsakh friendly group, signed by nine members of Seymas, representing
various factions. In the words of vice speaker this important step,
based on democratic standards, will contribute to the international
recognition of NKR independence, Armenpress reports.

Skarmazanov stated Lithuanian MPs did not surrender to Azerbaijani
provocations, whereby proved they are backing the phenomenon of
independence and freedom. In his turn Algis Kasheta highlighted
the necessity of launching similar initiatives voicing hope the
creation of the group in the Seymas will serve as precedent for
other Parliaments . The sides have jointly stressed the importance of
further cooperation aimed at continuation of strengthening friendly
relations between the two Parliaments of the Republic of Armenia and
the Republic of Lithuania.

– See more at: