Author: nina hovnanian

NSD, CENTRAL DEPOSITORY OF ARMENIA SIGN MEMO OF COOPERATION

January 10, 2014 – 14:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – National Settlement Depository (NSD), Russia’s
central securities depository, and the Central Depository of Armenia
(CDA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at further
development and strengthening of mutually beneficial relations,
Finextra reports.

The parties agreed to expand bilateral cooperation for the creation
of an efficient and reliable system of record keeping for trans-border
securities settlements.

According to the memorandum, the depositories intend to establish
close business relations and to organize the exchange of information
regarding securities received for servicing and changes in the
documents regulating the record keeping systems’ operations. The
parties also plan to exchange information regarding the technologies,
standards and development plans they use and their participation
in projects, working groups and other events of interest for both
depositories. In addition, the parties plan to conduct bilateral
consultations on all spheres of cooperation.

Eddie Astanin, Chairman of the Executive Board, NSD, commenting
on the development, said: “Development of strategic partnerships
with central securities depositories of the CIS countries is one of
NSD’s priorities as Russia’s central securities depository. Our joint
work in the Association of Eurasian Central Securities Depositories
contributes to it. We are sure that cooperation between Russia’s
and Armenia’s central securities depositories will have a positive
impact on the development of our countries’ financial markets. The
signed memorandum will allow us to facilitate access to information
about securities serviced by the Russian and Armenian CSDs. This will
improve our markets’ transparency for investors in both our countries.”

Vahan Stepanyan, CDA Chief Executive Officer, added: “We highly value
expansion of our cooperation with AECSD and, particularly, NSD, in
the area of cross-border settlement and securities account keeping,
as well as information exchange. We believe that the Memorandum
will contribute to strengthening of not only cooperation between the
two depositories, but will also increasing cross-border trading and
investment flow between our countries. Meanwhile, availability of
material information on securities and issuers to local and foreign
investors will facilitate investment decision making.”

In October 2011, the depositories signed an agreement on opening
and maintaining the NSD’s nominee account with CDA. This allowed NSD
clients to use safekeeping and record keeping services, as well as
settlement services, on Armenian issuers’ securities.

CALIFORNIA MOVE: RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH RECOGNITION IN AMERICAN STATE AND REGIONAL GEOPOLITICS

Analysis | 10.01.14 | 10:37

By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent

A resolution calling for the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh was
introduced in the parliament of California (USA) on January 6.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) joined with people of Armenian
descent around California and the world in calling for the United
States to recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a sovereign state.

Over the past two years four U.S. states, namely Rhode Island, Maine,
Louisiana and Massachusetts, have recognized Nagorno-Karabakh’s
independence. Last year, California lawmakers visited Karabakh and
still then opinions were expressed that California could recognize
Karabakh’s independence and call on the U.S. administration to do
the same.

The issue of Karabakh’s recognition in the U.S. is getting almost the
same pace as the Armenian genocide recognition some 10-20 years ago.

The link between these two processes is obvious: Turkey does not hide
the fact that the blocking of borders with Armenia is connected with
the Karabakh conflict. In response, the U.S. states hint that the
Karabakh conflict can be resolved by way of recognition rather than
‘compromise’. And these ‘hints’ will intensify as we approach April 24,
2015, when Armenians around the world will commemorate the centennial
of the Ottoman-era Genocide.

Armenian political analysts are not particularly optimistic about the
prospects for political recognition of the NKR. There aren’t many
reasons for optimism – despite the recognition and condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide by 43 American states, the United States has
not yet officially recognized the genocide.

However, some political analysts still believe that by 2015 the United
States, as a deterrent against Turkish ambitions, may recognize both
the Armenian Genocide and Karabakh’s independence. And that will
depend on the behavior of Turkey, which is currently seeing some
fermentations and where the leadership blames it on ‘external forces’.

Turkish authorities claim that political scandals and unrest in
the country are inspired by billionaire Islamist Fetullah Gulen,
a U.S.-based opponent of current Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. And co-chairman of the executive board of the Union of Kurdish
Communities Bese Hozat openly stated that structures had been set
up within Turkey that are essentially a state within a state. She
particularly mentioned the organization of Gulen, stating that in
the U.S. he is supported by the Armenian, Greek and Jewish lobbies.

Next week, the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group will meet with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister
of Switzerland Didier Burkhalter in Bonn, Germany. A meeting of the
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is also due to be held
during January. This meeting is expected to discuss preparations for
the summit of the two countries’ leaders. It is noteworthy that these
meetings are organized at the initiative of the United States.

Analyses assume that during the negotiations the parties will not
be discussing a final settlement of the conflict, but rather ways
of strengthening the regime of non-resumption of hostilities and
confidence-building measures. A partial opening of the border between
Armenia and Turkey and Azerbaijan for new regional communications
and energy transit projects may be among these ‘confidence-building
measures’.

MORE THAN 465 MILLION DRAMS INVESTED BY VIVACELL-MTS IN EQUIPPING 34 MATERNITY HOSPITALS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, January 10. / ARKA /. VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph
Yirikian, BirthLink NGO Director Kathy Mellor and Dr. Pavel Mazmanyan,
the Chief Neonatologist of Armenia, visited neonatal departments
in Vedi and Artashat hospitals, Ararat region, which had received
equipment for immediate reanimation and warming of sick and small
babies, monitoring and management of respiratory difficulties and
delivering intravenous fluids.

“In the long-run, the neonatal care project is aimed at the reduction
of infant mortality in Armenia. And as an important step in this
direction is improved access to medical services in the regions. All
hospitals in the regions and capital Yerevan included in the project
have been provided with vital equipment and devices. The issue of
geographical access persists particularly in the regions, especially
those that are socially vulnerable and include the borderland
settlements. Too often, taking a newborn to the well-equipped hospital
in the capital to provide the necessary care can prove inefficient,
because of the loss of time. Project will result in drastic reduction
in the rate of transfers to hospitals in Yerevan, which is connected
to expenditures. People in the regions should have equal opportunities
to receive medical services, especially when it comes to infants,”
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian commented.

For the sixth year in a row VivaCell-MTS together with BirthLink NGO
makes efforts aimed at reducing the level of infant mortality in our
country. More than 465 million drams have already been invested by
VivaCell-MTS for equipping 34 maternity hospitals throughout Armenia –
12 in Yerevan and 22 in the marzes.

VivaCell-MTS is owned by Russian Mobile Telesystems (80 percent)
and Lebanse Fattouch Group (20%). ($1 – 408.09 drams). .-0-

– See more at:

PROSECUTOR IN ACTOR VARDAN PETROSIAN CASE RESIGNS

Friday,
January
10

Prosecutor Armen Arakelian supervising the investigation into the
criminal case of famous actor Vardan Petrosian has resigned. V.

Petrosian’s lawyer, Nikolai Baghdasarian, confirmed this information
during a talk with the correspondent of Aysor.am.

The lawyer said that at the court sitting today he recused Judge Yuri
Baghdasarian. According to him, the judge said that he will announce
his decision about the petition on Monday.

Lawyer Nikolai Baghdasarian stated once again that the measure of
restraint (arrest) against his client was illegal and unclear to him.

Around 10:10 pm on October 20 of last year a VAZ-21214 and a BMW-320
collided at the 2nd km of Yeghvard-Yerevan Highway. The driver of
VAZ and six passengers received injuries and were hospitalized. Two
passengers – Edgar and Edward Hakobians died in the hospital.

A criminal case was opened under Article 242 part 3 of the Criminal
Code. On November 9 the Kotayk regional court of general jurisdiction
granted the petition of the investigative body and chose arrest as
a measure of restraint for Vardan Petrosian.

TODAY, 20:25

Aysor.am

ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM TO FACE GERMANY IN A FRIENDLY-BENEFIT MATCH

16:26 10.01.2014

Armenia, Football, Germany

Armenian national team will face Germany in a friendl-benefit match
on 6 June 2014 in Mainz, making it the first full international to
be played in the city, the Football Federation of Armenia reports.

The DFB Egidius Braun Foundation will organize the fixture, with the
proceeds going to the various foundations of the DFB and the League
Association.

The match will be national team’s final fixture before they jet off
for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “We’re delighted to have
concluded our plans for the World Cup with this a third friendly
against Armenia following the ones against Poland and Cameroon”,
said DFB Secretary General Helmut Sandrock. “The match isn’t just
important from a sporting point of view.

The proceeds from the game will ensure the foundations are able to
continue their excellent work and various projects into the future.”

Benefit matches have a long tradition in Germany. The national team
have been playing for a good cause since 1998, beating Uruguay 2-1
in the last edition in Sinsheim in 2011.

Profits were split between the three DFB foundations and the Bundesliga
Foundation, as well as the Robert Enke Foundation and the Fritz
Walter Foundation.

Germany have won each of their two previous meetings with Armenia,
winning 5-1 away and 4-0 at home in qualifying for the 1998 FIFA
World Cup.

4 ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN RALLY

January 10, 2014 | 17:40

YEREVAN. – The four non-ruling-coalition factions of the Armenian
National Assembly (NA) held a joint consultation on Friday.

Opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) bloc NA Faction Head,
ANC Party Vice-Chairman Levon Zurabyan confirmed this information to
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The citizens’ initiative, which is fighting against the mandatory
cumulative pension plan-which came into force in Armenia on January 1,
2014-, has called for a rally on January 18.

Zurabyan noted that the four aforesaid NA factions-specifically, ANC,
Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage-were asked to
take part in this rally, and they have agreed to do so.

The new cumulative pension plan-which came into force on January 1,
2014-is mandatory for those born in and after 1974 and voluntary for
those born before 1974. In line with this plan, 5 to 10 percent of
the monthly salaries in Armenia will be deducted and mandatorily be
allocated to cumulative pension funds; the latter will be reimbursed
as pensions once a person turns 63 years old.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN SAYS HE URGED TEVAN POGHOSYAN TO REMAIN IN PARLIAMENT

18:15 10/01/2014 ” POLITICS

In a press briefing, Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian commented
on Heritage faction member Tevan Poghosyan’s recent statement on
giving up his parliamentary seat.

“I expect him to remain in parliament. I have urged him to do so,”
Hovannisian told reporters.

The Heritage leader added that he has no disagreements with Poghosyan.

On December 28, 2013, Tevan Poghosyan posted a statement on his
Facebook page saying that he decided to give up his parliamentary seat.

“I have submitted an application for giving up my parliamentary seat to
the National Assembly speaker. I made the decision long ago, but I was
waiting until the political year ended so as not to leave incomplete
the obligations I assumed in the course of political processes. I have
already informed my colleagues from Heritage about it. The reasons are
not political – they concern internal technicalities and therefore I
consider it unethical to make them public. I will continue my struggle
in the social sector, which is closer to me,” Poghosyan wrote.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIAN, TURKISH DELEGATIONS DISCUSS BORDER PROBLEMS

10:57 ~U 09.01.14

A delegation composed of Turkish frontier guards and of the heads of
the Arpacay, Akyaka and Digor villages communities, which are located
at the Turkish-Armenian border, and a delegation of Armenian frontier
guards had a meeting in Gyumri, Armenia.

Hay Tert reports that the sides summed up last year’s work and
discussed the 2014 agenda.

The Turkish delegation recalled the incident with a Turkish shepherd,
who crossed the Turkish-Armenian border on July 31, 2013, and was
killed. They stressed Turkey would continue raising the issue at the
international level.

The sides agreed to hold their next meeting this March.

YEREVAN CASINOS EITHER SHUTTING DOWN OR TURNING INTO NIGHT CLUBS – NEWSPAPER

January 09, 2014 | 07:45

YEREVAN. – The proprietors of the gaming halls in Armenia’s capital
city Yerevan were hoping that, just like last year, the activity
period of the casinos would be extended for at least six months in
2014; but it did not happen, Zhamanak daily reports.

“Instead, the change in legislation came into force after January 1,
2014, pursuant to which the Yerevan-based casinos will primarily
close down.

“According to Zhamanak’s information, these days around thirty gaming
halls are either busy with handing over the area or relocating,
and most of all, turning into night clubs.

“The owner of a casino, which operated for about thirteen years, told
Zhamanak that as a result of the closure of the casinos, 3,000-5,000
people have become unemployed,” Zhamanak writes.

ARMENIAN DM CONTENT WITH CONSCRIPTION REFORMS

19:11 ~U 09.01.14

Armenia’s minister of defense has expressed satisfaction with the
reformed procedures of army conscription, considering them an effective
way to reduce corruption risks.

“We will improve the system this year and do everything possible to
ensure the protection of justice on the highest level and increase
parents’ trust in the army. An equal attitude to every single conscript
is important to us all,” Seyran Ohanyan said Thursday as he visited
the republican gathering point.

The minister assured the parents that corruption risks in the military
have been reduced to a minimum.

The minister said that the conscription reforms, determining the
place of service through a drawing procedure, are positive, adding
that a further selection is made based on conscripts’ social status
and other criteria.

Addressing the demographic situation in Armenia, Ohanyan added that
the number of conscripts has not essentially changed since last year.

He said their current efforts are also targeted at strengthening the
professional component in the military. “The combination of all kinds
of specializations is carried out on the highest level,” he said.