Author: Kanayan Tamar

SHAHUMYAN-GETASHEN COMPATRIOTIC UNION DEMANDS TO INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF NORTHERN ARTSAKH IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
13.06.2012 17:34

June 13, 1992 was a tragic day for the population of Shahumyan and
Getashen. Twenty-one years ago the Azerbaijani militants exiled the
whole population of Getashen. The same happened to the residents
of Shahumyan a year later. Eighteen Armenian villages in Northern
Artsakh were invaded by Azerbaijanis and they still remain occupies
by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

Twenty years have passed since the events. The refugees still live
in poor social conditions, many of them still reside in temporary
dwellings. The issue of Northern Artsakh is never being touched upon
during the negotiations taking place within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

The Shahumyan-Getashen Compatriotic Union came forth with a statement
today, in which it requires to include the issue of Northern Artsakh
in the negotiation process.

“The resolution of the issue of Armenian refugees is impossible
without the settlement of the issue of Northern Artsakh, since about
half a million refugees will be deprived of the opportunity to return
to their homes because of the lack of real security guarantees,”
the statement reads.

“It’s necessary to speak about losses and defeats although it is hard,”
President of the Union Edik Balayan told reporters today.

The statement of the Shahumyan-Getashen Compatriotic Union further
reads: “Azerbaijanis are intensively re-settling the Armenian villages,
razing the Armenian settlements, historic monuments and cemeteries
to the ground. They are attempting to erase all traces of Armenian
ethnicity. The actions of Azerbaijan over the past 20 years come
to prove that the Armenian man has never had and cannot have an
opportunity to live under the Azerbaijani rule. Those engaged in the
Artsakh issue must come to understand this.”

EDIFEE TO ALLOCATE ~@470M TO ARMENIA, GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 14, 2012 – 12:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The European Development and Investment Fund for
Eastern Europe (EDIFEE) has announced it will allocate a budget of
~@470 million for investment in the Environmental and Energy sector
of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to a press release, the decision was approved at the
Fund board meeting last week. The funds will invest in eligible
environmental and energy projects under the requested criteria’s
trough a duration of 36 months.

The fund has announced the decision was followed by the major
success in the fund initiatives in the Republic of Moldova. EDIFEE
has provided with financial support in structuring the financing of
11 waste management and treatment facilities which are as a part
of ECOVERDE® national waste management project in the Republic of
Moldova, with the supervision of the Ministry of Construction and
Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova (MCDR).

ECOVERDE® Moldova investment is estimated at a total value of 370
million ~@, with first implementation and construction stages to
start in the following months. The project is done in collaboration
with Mentor Group Holdings Consortium.

The funds projects eligibility criteria are mostly to invest in
economically low risk feasible projects with a decent capability to
encourage implementation of EU environmental standards and a positive
social impact (such as job creations).

For its investments in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the fund
is focused on infrastructure projects (such as-waste management,
water treatment systems etc’) and also in renewable energy projects
(such as Solar (PV), Wind, Biomass).

“Allocating a sufficient investment for Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan was done after careful analysis of those countries needs
in environmental and energy investments. Those investments will
create better infrastructure and services for large parts of the
population in these countries along with a low risk investment for
the fund itself. Beside the large volumes of the investment capacity,
we consider it as well as a very good investment due to the successful
financial structuring of ECOVERDE® waste management projects in the
Republic of Moldova,” the memorandum for investors said.

The fund is addressing private entrepreneurs and governmental agencies
to apply with early stage projects in the energy, infrastructure and
environment sector to be included under the fund coverage.

VIVACELL-MTS OFFERS EXCEPTIONAL LOW PRICES FOR ROAMING IN MTS-RUSSIA NETWORK

Noyan Tapan
14-06-2012

June 14, 2012, Yerevan, Armenia – VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of
“Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, is glad to announce that till August 31,
VivaCell-MTS subscribers roaming in MTS-Russia can send SMS to all
destinations for AMD 9 per message, surf the Internet for AMD 49 per
MB, receive calls for AMD 29 per minute and with the “Call to Armenia”
service call VivaCell-MTS subscribers for only AMD 29 per minute.

Roaming needs to be activated before leaving for Russia.

For more information one can visit , contact 111 free
of charge hotline, chat with us through “111 Online”, or approach
one of our service centers across Armenia.

ARMENIAN DIASPORA’S RESPONSE DEPENDS ON ARMENIAN ELITE’S QUALITY – SARDARAPAT MOVEMENT REP

tert.am
14.06.12

Since the liberation movement was launched in 1988, the Armenian
Diaspora has paid special attention to Nagorno-Karabakh.

At present the Armenian Diaspora still considers Nagorno-Karabakh
(Artsakh) to be a great achievement of the Armenian nation and is
keeping track of the developments in the country, Zhirair Sefilyan,
a member of the Sardarapat movement, told Tert.am.

Should hostilities resume, the Armenian Diaspora’s reaction will
largely depend on the “quality” of Armenia’s political elite and of
the leadership of Armenian institutions throughout the Diaspora.

“If we fail to carry out essential reforms or prepare new political
elite that would be ready to take up the leadership, we will suffer
tragic consequences,” Sefilyan said.

As to whether the Armenian Diaspora will support Armenia in case
a new war breaks out, which was the case in 1990s, Sefilyan said:
“I can state with all responsibility that we failed to fully realize
the Armenian Diaspora’s potential because of unskillful political and
military leadership of both Armenia and the Diaspora. We were unable
to use even 2% of that potential.

And we will certainly face even worse results if we fail to realize
this fact and take preventive measures.”

Patriotism was the main factor uniting Armenians throughout the world
during the Artsakh war. “Fortunately, we, Armenians, have succeeded in
preserving it. And we have young people now that will be even better,”
Sefilyan said.

“Blocks to access to the information on Armenia have mostly been
removed. It is a fact for many that we have been able to create an
Armenian State over the past 20 years,” Sefilyan said. According
to him, two groups throughout the Armenian Diaspora show two kinds
of attitude.

“The first is in deep despair. They seem to be getting ready for
their Homeland’s funeral. The other group, mostly young people –
and the Sardarapat movement reckons itself among them – accept the
reality as a challenge and is getting ready for a strategic struggle
which is to give rise to the long-awaited Armenian State, which will
set an example to the humanity,” Sefilyan said.

GEORGIE : DES MILLIERS DE MANIFESTANTS POUR SOUTENIR UN OPPOSANT
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 14 juin 2012

Des milliers de Georgiens ont manifeste dimanche dans le centre
de Koutaïssi (ouest), deuxième ville de Georgie, pour soutenir le
milliardaire Bidzina Ivanichvili qui veut defier le president Mikheïl
Saakachvili aux elections legislatives d’automne.

“Personne ne peut nous arreter, notre victoire est imminente !”,
a declare Bidzina Ivanichvili devant ses partisans reunis dans la
place centrale de cette ville industrielle.

“Le pays ne peut pas etre dirige par un homme qui manque de bon sens”,
a-t-il poursuivi.

M. Ivanichvili, l’homme le plus riche de la Georgie, dont la fortune
est evaluee a 6,4 milliards de dollars (5,1 milliards d’euros), a
promis de developper l’industrie, de reduire le chômage, d’augmenter
les retraites et d’ameliorer la protection sociale.

L’homme d’affaires est la cible de pressions constantes de la part
du gouvernement depuis qu’il s’est lance en politique en 2011.

Le milliardaire qui a ete prive de sa nationalite georgienne s’est
vu en outre infliger en mars une amende de 1,25 million d’euros pour
avoir finance illegalement son mouvement d’opposition en vue des
legislatives d’octobre dans cette ex-republique sovietique.

La secretaire d’Etat americaine Hillary Clinton a appele le 5 juin
lorsqu’elle etait en visite en Georgie le gouvernement de ce pays du
Caucase a organiser des elections “libres et honnetes”.

Les elections legislatives doivent avoir lieu a l’automne, suivies
en 2013 de la presidentielle.

Mikheïl Saakachvili, un pro-occidental, a ete elu pour un deuxième
mandat en janvier 2008 après avoir ete porte au pouvoir a la fin 2003 a
l’issue d’une mobilisation pacifique baptisee “Revolution de la rose”.

Le chef de l’Etat a vu sa reputation ternie ces dernières annees,
l’opposition l’accusant notamment de derive autoritaire.

LES ARMENIENS FUIENT LA SYRIE
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 14 juin 2012

Les agents d’immigration a Erevan ont revele mercredi 13 juin 2012
que des milliers d’Armeniens de Syrie ont demande la citoyennete
armenienne depuis le debut de la repression au Moyen-Orient. Armen
Hakobian, le chef adjoint du departement des passeports et des visas
au service de la police nationale de l’Armenie, a declare a RFE /
RL que le service de l’immigration a recu plus de 3000 demandes l’an
dernier et plus de 1.500 d’entre elles au premier trimestre cette
annee. 422 ressortissants syriens auraient depose ces demandes en 2010.

Armen Hakobian a confirme que les demandes proviennent pour la
plupart des Syriens d’origine armenienne. Selon Artur Sahakian, un
autre haut fonctionnaire du service de police, 300 d’entre eux ont
obtenu un permis de sejour en Armenie ces deux dernières annees.

Nous ne savons pas combien de membres de la communaute armeno-syrienne
ont demenage en Armenie pour fuir la crise syrienne.

La communaute compte entre 40.000 et 80.000 personnes et a ete jusqu’a
present peu affectee par la revolution car elle est concentree dans
les villes relativement sûres d’Alep et de Damas. Mais la situation
s’est deterioree ces derniers mois. Les Armeniens de Syrie commencaient
a rentrer deja l’annee dernière en Armenie et au debut de cette annee.

” La situation ici est très tendue. Les gens creent aussi une
atmosphère de peur et d’insecurite “, a affirme le Père Andranik,
un pretre armenien catholique d’Alep.

2.000 residents d’origine armenienne de la ville syrienne de Homs
ont deja fui l’un des epicentres de combats acharnes entre les
forces gouvernementales et les rebelles. Le pretre a affirme que ”
les terroristes anti-gouvernementaux ” ont pille le quartier armenien
de la ville et ont brûle son eglise armenienne. Le pretre a annonce
que la communaute syro-armenienne reste extremement fidèle a la
famille regnante des Al Assad et apprehendent au sujet des rebelles
principalement musulmans sunnites qui combattent le regime de Damas.

” Nous avions l’habitude de ce gouvernement ces 30 dernières annees.

Il nous protège et nous devons etre avec lui “, a declare Petros, un
etudiant. Il a pretendu que la communaute pourrait cesser d’exister
si le regime est renverse par l’opposition armee.

CIENTEFICOS DE GRAN BRETANA Y ARMENIA ENCUENTRAN PRUEBAS DE EXISTENCIA DEL UNIVERSO ANTES DEL “BIG BANG”

RIA Novosti
12/06/2012
12 de junio

El profesor de la Universidad de Oxford Roger Penrose y el astronomo
armenio Vaha Gurzadyan hallaron pruebas de la existencia del
Universo antes de la Gran Explosion o el “Bing Bang”, revelo la
prensa britanica.

Los expertos llegaron a esta conclusion despues de analizar las
imagenes del fondo de radiacion del Universo, que estudia la sonda
WMAP de la NASA.El aparato fue lanzado en 2001 para comprobar las
teorías sobre los orígenes del Universo a traves del analisis del
fondo cosmico de microondas. Hace tres años WMAP estimo en 13.700
millones de años la edad del Universo.

Según Roger Penrose y Vaha Gurzadyan su hazaña consiste en encontrar 12
ejemplos de círculos concentricos, cada uno de los cuales consiste en
cinco anillos de radiacion intensiva. Estos anillos suelen formarse
alrededor de grupos de galaxias y demuestran la rotacion de los
procesos de contraccion y ampliacion del Universo.

Asimismo, de acuerdo a la teoría de la “cosmología cíclica” de Roger
Penrose, la historia del Universo es mucho mas antigua de lo que
pensaba la ciencia hasta el momento. Primero, un gigantesco agujero
negro “tragaba” el Universo para almacenar energía, a lo que le seguía
la Gran explosion.

De ese modo, el descubrimiento de las ondas de radiacion gravitaciones
por parte de los científicos britanico y armenio evidencia la
existencia en el pasado lejano de agujeros negros supermasivos, que
consumían el Universo y luego explotaban para dar vida a un nuevo
sistema de galaxias.

EX-FINANCE MINISTER CALLS FOR ABOLISHING TAXES FOR MICRO BUSINESSES

/ARKA/
11 June, 2012
YEREVAN

A former Armenian finance minister Edward Sandoyan said on Sunday
that exempting micro businesses from taxes would help create many
new jobs. Sandoyan, who is now pro-rector of the Russian-Armenian
University in Yerevan, said this would help cut unemployment rate
by 30-35 percent. The former minister urged also the government to
decentralize economy.

Speaking at a talk-show at Kentron TV station Sandoyan said market
mechanisms do not operate in an economy dominated by oligopolies and
monopolies and only creation of an effective business environment
would allow producing competitive goods.

“Build a normal business environment and it will do the rest of the
job. Destroy all monopolies and create equal competitive conditions
for all,’ he said.

According to Sandoyan, the opening of Turkish-Armenian border would
become a powerful impetus for Armenian economic progress. ‘If we
regard Turkey as a transit country, not a market for Armenian goods,
and if the border were open we would become part of a large system and
large players would arrive here and our local oligarchs would not stand
the competition because their management is very ineffective,’ he said.

He said the country’s political and business elite should realize
this and press for it.

“Experience has shown that the current business model is not effective,
it in fact puts brakes on our economic advance. It should be realized
by the authorities. There is a chance and I am an optimist,” said
Sandoyan.

FROM A GREEN CITY TO A STONE ONE

Karabakh-open.info
Monday, 11 June 2012 13:46

During the regular tree felling activities, recently commenced in
Stepanakert, the trees were not cut down; they were, in the accepted
phrase, a bit unweighted.

The new “victims” were the lovely fir trees in front of the old
government building; nothing has remained of their beauty as the
lower branches were cut away.

During the recent years tree felling seems to have become a golden
tradition for the authorities; it seems as if they cannot endure tall
trees and do their best to get rid of them. The striking illustration
of all this is the “bareness” of a number of streets such as Vazgen
Sargsyan, Hekimyan, Tigran Mets and some others as well as the Rebirth
square which has been entirely cleared of trees.

Many of our citizens complain of tree felling activities especially
when hot seasons set in. They regret to notice that from their
one-time green city little has remained, it is gradually changing to
a stone city.

“In the central part of the city there is no shady place to walk
in. I cannot understand why new trees are not planted instead of
the cut ones. Or at best new trees are planted some time later. But
isn’t it possible to plant them and then cut down the old ones. In
spite of this they assure that they think of our people. It cannot be
true as even in such tiny matters they do not consider our opinion,”
says Lady Arusyak who was born and grew up in Stepanakert and knows
old Stepanakert quite well.

In the times past the trees were also of great help during the rainy
weather. 59-year-old Volodya Sargsyan says that when walking in the
streets of Stepanakert in rainy weather one hardly got soaked, the
trees protected from the rain whereas today there is no tree to take
cover under when the rain starts.

“I wonder what this government is thinking of. They seem to consider
trees valuable only as wood and cut them down as much as possible. No
matter we speak or not they do what they want. When asked they say that
new ones will be planted but hardly ever anything is done, sometimes
seedlings are planted instead the most part of which does not even
grow to trees,” 82-year-old Uncle Shahen says and continues regretfully
that the time for them to struggle passed away, they left a green city
to the younger generation, unfortunately it looks so different today.

BULGARIA’S CAPITAL CITY MAYOR VISITED CONSTRUCTION SITE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH

news.am
June 12, 2012 | 04:44

SOFIA. – Bulgaria’s capital city Mayor Yordanka Fandakova stated
that city hall would do everything to assist Armenians in building
the church in Sofia.

The Mayor said during her Monday visit to the construction site that
over 15,000 Armenians live in the city, Bulgarian FOCUS Agency reports.

“The city hall has spent over $102.282 since 2006. It is an important
project for Sofia as it is a symbol of religious and ethnic tolerance,”
she stated.