Author: nina hovnanian

Heritage MPs will go to court

June 07, 2013 | 13:37

YEREVAN. – Today the opposition in Armenia is under rubble as the
ruling power is crumbling, MP from Heritage party Zaruhi Postanjyan
told reporters.

Referring to reports that the wages of MPs, who were absent from the
special session of the National Assembly on the occasion of
president’s inauguration, will be leveled down, she noted that wages
of two deputies were cut.

Postanjian sent a written request to the head of staff of the National
Assembly to find out why the wages were cut.

`If I am told that the wages were cut because of absence on that day
[inauguration day], I’m going to apply to court. We have the right not
to participate in a special session of parliament,’ she added.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/ NEWS.am
News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Minimum Math: Wages raise would not improve the purchasing power of
citizens amid the ongoing rise of prices

ECONOMY | 07.06.13 | 15:29

Photo:

By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor

The Armenian government’s decision to raise the minimum wage by 30
percent may fall short of covering expected cost of living increases
brought on by gas tariff hike and related expenses.

On June 6 the Armenian government approved a draft law on increasing
the minimum wage by 10,000 drams ($24) from current 35,000 (about $84)
to 45,000 drams (about $108). As Artem Asatryan, Armenia’s Minister of
Labor and Social Issues said, the 45,000 drams is the minimum salary
that is above the poverty threshold, which is set by law for workers
without qualifications.

According to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan the government plans to
make a considerable raise in the minimum wage before 2017 and the next
increase will be in January 2014.

The minimum wage was last raised in Armenia at the beginning of this
year – from 32,500 drams (about $78) to 35,000 drams (about $84).In
January-March this year, the average monthly wage in the country was
140,000 dram ( $340), an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the same
period last year.

Still, the wage increase does not improve living standards, as the
rise in prices outstrips the growth of wages and salaries that remain
still very low are not capable of providing a decent living.

Only within the past year, the price for bread was increase by 10
percent, the prices for dairy products rose by 7 percent, and a four
percent increase in the price of meat was observed since May 2012.

According to Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, the country
lacks a system of aligning the minimum wage in accordance with the
conventions of the International Labour Organization. The minimum wage
is set arbitrarily, based on the capabilities of the budget, while the
size of the minimum consumer budget should be taken as a base while
determining the level of poverty.

(At Thursday’s cabinet meeting the government said that an additional
6 billion drams (about $14.5 million) will be required from the state
budget to support the minimum wage increase from July, however the
government did not specify where from it intends to take an additional
sum to raise the minimum wage.)

According to economist Vardan Bostanjyan, raising the minimum wage to
$108 will not relieve people’s social burden, taking into account the
cost of living in Armenia. At a press conference on July 6 Bostanjyan
said that the minimum wage should be $200-$250 and should be
acceptable in the context of increasing prices.

In addition to the rise in prices, unemployment remains widespread in
Armenia. According to official data, the unemployment rate in Armenia
was reduced to 9% and makes 61,000, but the actual number of
unemployed is much higher than the number of officially registered. (
for example, rural residents are considered employed if they own
land). Besides, some experts say that the number of unemployed reduced
due to the increased rate of migration and in reality, in the labor
market there is a continued mismatch between demand and supply.

According to Anna Arshakyan, Á social worker at “Anahit”, employment
agency, most people who apply to them look for a job with a salary
higher than minimum wage and those who ask for the $100 wage job only
want a part-time job.

“People may agree to a $100 wage if the work place is close to their
home and they won’t need to pay for transportation, or will have lunch
at home. In all other cases, people who apply to our agency, search
for a job of at least with $200.”

Yerevan may share ancient Ani’s fate – Armenian architect

16:24 – 07.06.13

Architect Sashur Kalashyan compares the construction projects being
implemented in Yerevan to the events that preceded the destruction of
ancient Ani.

`No one captured or destroyed Ani. The government came to its end, the
property was put up for sale, and the people saw they had no master
over them. They gradually left. The same is happening now,’ Kalashyan
told Tert.am.

The architect’s concern is that the building of the National Gallery
of Armenia Yerevan Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan spoke of in the
context of reconstruction of Republic Square may be turned into a
hotel.

Yerevan’s Republic Square will be turned into a square of hotels. One
of the buildings, which housed Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
has been sold to the Tango Company owned by Eduardo Eurnekian.

The second building is the Marriott Yerevan Hotel, and the central
post office is widely rumored as prepared to be sold to a Russian
enterprise.

MONTSERRAT CABALLE AU HAUT-KARABAKH: L’AZERBAÏDJAN PROTESTE

Chretiente.info, France
6 juin 2013

RIA Novosti , le 6 juin 2013 a 17:12

L’Azerbaïdjan a proteste jeudi auprès du ministère espagnol des
Affaires etrangères contre un sejour de la cantatrice Montserrat
Caballe au Haut-Karabakh, une republique autoproclamee sur le
territoire de l’Azerbaïdjan, rapporte l’agence azerbaïdjanaise Trend
se referant a l’ambassade du pays a Madrid.

Pendant son sejour au Haut-Karabakh le 5 juin dernier, Mme Caballe a
ete recue par Bako Saakian, president de la republique autoproclamee,
selon les medias armeniens.

Le ministère azerbaïdjanais des Affaires etrangères juge d’illegaux
tous les voyages au Haut-Karabakh effectues sans qu’il en soit
informe. L’Azerbaïdjan considère la republique du Haut-Karabakh comme
un territoire occupe par l’Armenie.

Le conflit du Haut-Karabakh remonte a fevrier 1988, lorsque cette
region autonome principalement peuplee d’Armeniens a annonce son
intention de se separer de l’Azerbaïdjan. Cette demarche a provoque des
hostilites entre les troupes armeniennes et azerbaïdjanaises a la suite
desquelles Bakou a perdu le contrôle de la region. Le cessez-le-feu
decrete le 12 mai 1994 est regulièrement viole par les deux parties.

Afin de trouver un règlement pacifique et negocie du conflit, un
Groupe de Minsk copreside par la Russie, la France et les Etats-Unis
a ete cree en 1992 dans le cadre de l’Organisation pour la securite
et la cooperation en Europe (OSCE).

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS WITH RUSSIAN PHILANTHROPIST OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN EDGAR ARAMYAN

15:24, 7 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS. On 7 June Artsakh Republic President
Bako Sahakyan had a meeting with Russian philanthropist of Armenian
origin Edgar Aramyan. The Central Information Department oh the Artsakh
Republic President informed “Armenpress” that issues related to the
implementation of some projects in Artsakh were discussed during
the meeting.

The Head of the State thanked the philanthropist for supporting
Artsakh and expressed hope that he would continue to take an active
part in socioeconomic development of the NKR.

The NKR defense minister Movses Hakobyan and other officials took
part in the meeting.

CONCERT IN NEW YORK DEDICATED TO ARAM KHACHATURIAN’S 110TH BIRTHDAY

15:14 07.06.2013

Aram Khachaturian, New York

Pianist Karine Poghosyan’s concert took place at St. Vartan Cathedral
of New York. The concert dedicated to the 110th birthday of Aram
Khachaturian was held under the auspices of the Armenian diplomatic
representation in the UN.

In his opening remarks Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN,
Ambassador Karen Nazaryan presented the art of the world-renowned
Armenian composer. He noted that the concert in New York was an
opportunity to present the Armenian cultural legacy, stressing that
music has a unifying power and is an influential means for attracting
the hearts and feelings of people.

An audience of more than 300 was present at the concert, including
Ambassadors and diplomats of different countries accredited to the
UN and representatives of the Armenian community.

AZAD ISAZADEH: AUTHORITIES TRY TO SUPPRESS FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AZERBAIJAN

11:57, 7 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: The Azerbaijani businessmen in Russia
have created “a union of billionaires”, which can play the
same role in the Azerbaijani domestic life, as Bidzina Ivanishvili in
Georgia. This was stated by the expert of the “Peace and
Democracy” Institute Azad Isazadeh at the international conference
“Caucasus – 2012” held in Yerevan. As reported by the expert, “The
attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to suppress the freedom of
speech bring to the mass arrests and violence”. As reported by
Armenpress, Azad Isazadeh added that: “The arrests of journalists in
Azerbaijan are of mass character. During the previous year a
number of journalists were arrested. They were accused of drugs
trafficking and public violence organization. The authorities try in
every possible way to suppress the freedom of speech”.

As was informed by the expert of the “Peace and Democracy” Institute,
“During the presidency of Ilham Aliyev the relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been more emotional.

During those years no positive change has been registered in the
relations of the two countries. And no developments have been
registered in the negotiations process around the NagornoKarabakh
conflict issue. In the coming years as well no considerable changes
are expected in the relations between Armenia andAzerbaijan”.

The international conference “Caucasus – 2012” has been held in
Yerevan for the tenth time. The conference is attended by scientists,
journalists and public figures from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Russia, USA and Europe.

OPINION ABOUT THE INCIDENT IN GORIS: “SUREN KHACHATRYAN WILL BE DEFINITELY RESIGNED”

June 6 2013

“Everything Comes From The Atmosphere Of Impunity. We All Know That In
The Past There Were Cases When They Remained Unpunished, The Majority
Of Them Are Connected To Suren Khachatryan Or Those Close To Him, And
That Impunity Has Reached To The Point That This Case Ended In Death.

There Seems That Such A Thing, Anyway, Was To Happen Because A Man Of
Criminal Mentality And Psychology Restrains His Behavior Only In Case
Of Being Afraid Of The Law. If During This Time They Remain Unpunished,
Either People Will Become Self-Organized To Self-Defend From Those
Criminal Methods, Or The Situation Will Really Become Unpredictable,
– Such Opinion Was Expressed By The Former Deputy Mayor Of Kapan,
A Member Of The ARF, Editor Of Local Newspaper “Kapan News” Gagik
Ghahramanyan Concerning The Recent Case In Goris. We Failed To Find
Other People To Express Their Opinion Regarding The Event In Goris,
Many Of Them Refused To Talk From Different Reasons, Especially
They Avoided To Express Publicly, So Instead Of Opinion Of Different
People, We Will Present The Point Of View Of The Sole Interlocutor
And His Assessment About The Incident. “At The Moment Everything
Is Not Clear, Let The Investigation Do The Job: Actually I Do Not
Know Who To What Extent And What Participation Have Had, Various
Versions Are Circulating, In Any Case, I Know That It Is Connected
With The Surrounding Of Suren Khachatryan. The Problem, Here, Is Not
That Suren Khachatryan Will Be Resigned Or Not, Or To What Extent He
Will Be punished …. It does not interest me much, the phenomenon
should be eliminated, this is the most important thing”, – said Gagik
Ghahramanyan indicating that it is very important for the president
and the government give assessment to the phenomenon, because many
people now expect whether a move will be made to restore the trust of
the people towards the justice in the country, or not. “The President
here has a very big problem. It is a watershed. Either the President
proves the opinion that he is simply the number one issue solver of
criminal-police system in Armenia, or he lays claim to eventually
become president, why not the worldwide Armenian leader, too. If he
does not take this step and wil not give adequate response to in the
range of the law, he will lose the control over many things: first
people will become sure that it is senseless to rely on the justice
of the law in this country, in such cases, it is going to reserve
the right to solve the issues by evading the law, an unmanageable
situation will be created, naturally another ugly and worse outcome
of a situation will be created, it is important whether it will be
in Goris, Kapan or Dilijan”, – said Ghahramanyan and added if an
adequate step is not made, in such situations people will become
self-organized and will give a worthy response. In given situation,
my interlocutor considers the position of the parties important and
recommends them to make concrete statements instead of one or two
meaningless statements, because this is the case when parties are those
who reach the speech of people to the political field.” And as for the
future process of the case, in my opinion, however, Suren Khachatryan
will definitely be resigned. And who will come to replace him, I can
not say, names of various candidates are circulated, at this point
it’s not so important for me, the most important thing for me is that
the person of such values is not a governor, in normal countries the
person of such values, like Suren Khachatryan, will not occupy such
a high position in the administrative system. The very fact that he
is in the office of a Governor for 10 years, says about the fact that
the system is a sick system”, – said the former Deputy Mayor of Kapan,
ARF Gagik Ghahramanyan. Meri Soghomonyan

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

EXPERT: ARMENIA TO DEEPEN TIES WITH EU, RUSSIA AND IRAN

June 7, 2013 – 13:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia currently conducts negotiations on European
integration, political expert Alexander Iskandaryan.

At June 7 “Caucasus 2012” international conference, he attached
importance to the process, however, noting that the discussions
further exaggerate the situation.

“That’s a mere step. It seems to bring happiness and solution to all
problems. However, that’s a mere path. Armenia has already joined a
lot of organizations, with Council of Europe, OSCE and others among
them,” the expert said, stressing the importance of talks with Europe
from the perspective of economic cooperation.

“Armenia will continue deepening relations with the EU, Russia and
Iran. Of course, this may sound surrealistic, however that’s true,”
Mr. Iskandaryan said, underscoring the importance of security-related
issues.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE BUYS $2,400-WORTH OF BRANDY – NEWSPAPER

June 07, 2013 | 07:02

YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s staff recently bought
about 1 million drams (approx. $2,400) worth of brandy, Zhoghovurd
daily reports.

“Zhoghovurd was able to find out that the Presidential [Residence]
purchased 53 bottles of 20-year old Nairi-type brandy and paid 18,600
drams [approx. $45] for each [bottle]; the total cost amounted to
985,800 drams [approx. $2,365].

To note, a 0.5-liter Nairi brandy is sold in stores for no less than
35,000 [approx. $84] drams.

According to Zhoghovurd’s information, Serzh Sargsyan drinks solely
Nairi-type brandy, and this very brandy is served in the receptions
that are held at the Presidential [Residence],” Zhoghovurd writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am