Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN PRESENTS ITS ELECTION PLATFORM

arminfo
Thursday, December 6, 18:05

In the run-up to the presidential elections in Armenia, ARF
Dashnaktsutyun has presented its election platform consisting of
7 items.

According to the ARFD platform, the priority goal is to create an
electoral system capable to ensure free expression of the people’s
will and formation of a new power on the basis of this system. The
ARFD also insists on the republic’s transition to the 100% proportional
electoral system.

The second step is to hold constitutional reforms before 2015 for
the republic to switch to the parliamentary regime.

The party also insists on providing the opposition with real levers of
resistance to the power branches and providing the opposition forces
with quota in the Audit Chamber. The ARFD thinks it is necessary
to create mechanisms to separate business from the political power
and to ensure the judicial system’s independence. The party suggests
conducting large-scale economic reforms to create new workplaces. The
platform also insists on enhancing the state’s regulatory role in
creation of equal conditions for all citizens of the country and
equal distribution of freedoms.

As for the foreign policy, the ARFD believes that the foreign
political course should ensure the independence and security of
Armenian statehood.

There are also points concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The
ARFD insist that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh form a military-political
alliance. The party believes that the only basis for a fair settlement
of the problem is the results of the nationwide referendum conducted
in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1991 and insists that Nagorno-Karabakh be
involved in the peace talks.

As regards Armenian-Turkish relations, the ARFD insists on Armenia’s
withdrawing its signatures from the Armenian-Turkish protocols. The
party believes that relations with Turkey can and must be improved
with no threat to Armenia’s interests and historical justice.

The ARFD’s platform was submitted to all political forces except the
ruling Republican Party.

The leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisian has already expressed
his commitment to support the initiative.

According to the secretary of the parliamentary group of the Armenian
National Congress (ANC) Aram Manukyan, the ANC also supports the
platform. “As soon as we formulate our key challenges, it will be
much easier for us to decide who will be our joint candidate for
presidency,” Manukyan said.

ARMENIAN FOUND AMONG TURKISH VICTIMS OF GERMAN HOLOCAUST

20:25, 6 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: A memorial tablet in the memory of
8 Turkish citizens who became the victim of German Holocaust has been
installed in Germany. As reports Armenpress, referring to “Sondakika”
news agency, the tablet has been installed in Bergen-Belsen which
used to be Nazi concentration camp.

It is noted that among 8 Turkish citizens killed during World War
II there were three Jews, two Muslims and one Christian. Notes on
the tablet are made on three languages that are German, English
and Turkish.

The opening of bronze mold memorial tablet led my Turkish Ambassador
to Germany will take place on December 9.

BAKU AND MOSCOW HAVE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF GABALA BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. MAMMADYAROV

19:23, 6 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Baku and Moscow have to resolve
the issue of the Gabala radar station before the end of the year,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said today at a meeting
of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin.

As reports Armenpress referring to ItarTass, The head of the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry added that the Gabala radar station will
not be discussed at his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov. The agreement between Azerbaijan and Russia on the use of
Gabala radar station expires in December.

The Gabala radar station is located in the north-west of the country,
about 300 km from Baku. It was built during the Soviet era as an
important element of the defense system. The station was rented to
Russia for ten years. The lease expires in December 2012. According
to some sources, Russia intends to extend the lease until 2025.

ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS CALL FOR FRENCH SENATORS’ UNBIASED STANCE ON KARABAKH

news.am
December 05, 2012 | 15:33

YEREVAN.- Armenia-France parliamentary friendship group discussed key
political issues concerning Azerbaijan’s militarist policy during the
roundtable discussion “Karabakh: Peace and Dialogue” held in France
on November 29.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, MP from Republican Party of Armenia
Ara Babloyan told about the discussions.

He said the discussion with the participation of the head of
Azerbaijan-France friendship group was held after the screening of
Tsvetana Paskaleva’s film about Karabakh.

“Former OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Bernard Fassier, present during
the discussion, said there is no alternative to peaceful resolution
of the conflict,” Babloyan noted.

Another representative of Armenia-France friendship group Margarit
Yesayan said that during the meetings with French Senators, she and
Prosperous Armenia member Naira Zohrabyan called for unbiased position
on Karabakh. Besides, they drew attention to policy of anti-Armenian
rhetoric and hatred carried out by Azerbaijan.

In his turn, delegate Mher Shahgeldyan noted anti-Armenian rhetoric
has intensified under the rule of Ilham Aliyev.

“Previously petrodollars were allocated to increase military spending,
now they find addressees among European senators and lobbyists
protecting Azerbaijan’s interests on Karabakh,” he concluded.

168 ZHAM: PUTIN EXPECTED TO VISIT ARMENIA IN LATE DECEMBER OR EARLY JANUARY

Panorama.am
06/12/2012

The time of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to
Armenia was clarified during a meeting between Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of the CIS
leaders’ summit in Ashgabat on Wednesday, 168 Zham reports. As agreed,
Putin is expected to visit Armenia in late December or early January.

“Republicans think Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia in the
pre-election period could be seen as support for Serzh Sargsyan,”
writes the paper.

NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING OF OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL TOMORROW

APA
Dec 5 2012
Azerbaijan

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are in Dublin

Dublin. Victoria Dementyeva-APA. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will necessarily be discussed during the 19th Meeting of the OSCE
Ministerial Council to be held in Dublin tomorrow, said the OSCE
Secretariat Acting Spokesperson Frane Maroevic.

He noted that the OSCE is concerned about the situation over the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “The OSCE chairman, Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Trade of Ireland Eamon Gilmore stated this during his
visit to Baku and Yerevan in the summer of this year. The OSCE
is ready to support the efforts of the Minsk Group on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.”

He reminded that Ireland, assuming 2012 OSCE presidency, made the
settlement of the conflicts a priority and a number of steps were
taken to share our experience in this field.” But, of course, not all
conflicts are the same, so you can not copy and paste the solution
of the conflict with another one.”

Acting spokesperson confirmed that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group also arrived in Dublin and will participate at the meeting of
OSCE Ministerial Council, but he did not answer the question, if they
plan to hold a meeting on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the level
of ministers. According to him, the main subjects of the forthcoming
meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council will also be the fight against
transnational threats, trafficking, cyber security, human rights.

More than 50 ministers and deputy ministers of the OSCE member states,
including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov, High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will attend the 19th
Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES FAIL TO HINDER PASSING OF BUDGET

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 5 2012
Russia

71 Armenian MPs voted for passing the budget for 2013 and 37 voted
against, News Armenia reports.

Tigran Urikhanyan of the Prosperous Armenia Party and former Prime
Minister Grant Bagratyan of the Armenian National Congress say that
the budget does not improve the life of Armenians. Bagratyan added that
the income part of the budget had not been discussed by the parliament.

Budget income and expenses increased by $3 million to $2.5 billion
and $2.8 billion respectively with a deficit of $300 million. The
parliament proposed 406 changes to the budget for 2014.

The legislatives proposed increasing income of the budget by $340
million and expenses by $1 billion. Official grants were to become
the main source of income. The highest increase of expenses by $3.7
million will target improvement of accommodation for families of
killed soldiers. Other expenses dropped by $3.2 million.

EXPERT: TURKEY CAN’T FORCE RUSSIA TO DROP ARMENIAN POWER UNIT PLANS

December 5, 2012 – 19:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian-Turkish economic cooperation will affect
the situation in the region, political expert said.

Dwelling on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement about plans
to invest USD 20 bln in nuclear power plant construction in Turkey,
Menua Soghomonyan said, “the decision won’t affect Moscow’s plan to
finance Armenia’s new power unit construction.”

Expert in Turkish studies Levon Hovsepyan, in turn, stressed Turkish
inability to force Russia into giving up Armenia’s power unit
construction project, noting that no official statement has been
issued on Russia’s decision to suspend cooperation with Yerevan.

MPS PROUD OF THEIR BROTHERS-IN-LAW

07:08 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Representatives of the legislative body are not against making their
brothers-in-law (brothers of spouses) deputies. Republican MP Samvel
Alexanyan has a brother-in-law for whom he predicts a brilliant future.

“He weighs twice as much as I do,” said Mr Alexanyan.

The brother-in-law of former general Sedrak Saroyan is an agronomist
who has several greenhouses. Saroyan says he will never ban his
relative from becoming an MP.

If he is a relation of mine, it does not mean that he cannot be
elected to parliament or hold a top position,” said the ex-general.

Sedrak Saroyan already knows that Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan will
hereinafter have his representative in the National Assembly in the
person of his brother-in-law Robert Sargsyan who won in Sunday’s
by-election in Yerevan’s Avan district.

“You are already driving me up the wall. Let the fellow work,”
said Saroyan.

Though Saroyan does not know the most influential brother-in-law in
person, he feels pity for him. Republican MP Mher Sedrakyan says he
does not envy Taron Margaryan. “I do not envy anyone, people are free
to live the way they choose,” he said.

Sedrakyan’s brother-in-law is a businessman who is engaged in
manufacturing fresh and frozen bread and other bakery products. “Why
should he seek to become MP?” said the Republican MP.

HSBC ARMENIA NAMED “BANK OF THE YEAR”

December 4, 2012 – 16:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – For the second consecutive year HSBC Bank Armenia
CJSC was named “Bank of the Year in Armenia” for 2012 by “The Banker”
in the category “Bank of the Year Awards 2012”. The award was received
by HSBC Bank Armenia Board Member Mark Emmerson during the official
ceremony held in London, the bank’s press service reported.

“The Banker” awards have become one of the most prestigious events
within the industry. The award is granted based on a combination
of data received from banks around the world with analysis by the
magazine’s experts. In addition to financial performance, other factors
taken into account include the bank’s strategy, growth directions,
initiatives designed to enhance returns, adoption and implementation of
advanced technologies, and more. The survey results will be published
in December 2012 issue of “The Banker” magazine.

“Winning this prestigious award is an important token of recognition
of the outstanding performance and impressive achievements of HSBC
Armenia across its business by industry experts. The last two years
were indeed record breaking in terms of financial results, which was
due to the utmost focus on managing the needs and expectations of our
customers who chose us for their everyday banking,” Thies Clemenz,
Chief Executive Officer HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC said.