Author: nina hovnanian

EX-GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT’S PLEDGE TO RESOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. Bagrat Asatrian, an ex-governor of Armenia’s
Central Bank, questioned today the government’s arguments that the
projected 7 percent economic expansion this year would help it resolve
a string of pressing social problems.

The target was set by president Serzh Sargsyan in a speech at a
Cabinet session earlier this year. The president said he expected
the government to improve its performance and find solutions to a set
of social problems. In 2012 the country’s GDP was 7.2%. This year’s
projection is 6.2%.

Speaking at a news conference Bagrat Asatiran argued that the projected
GDP growth could be secured only by a hike in the price of natural
Russian gas. He questioned also the government’s pledges to stop
out-emigration of labor force, cut unemployment and poverty.

In May ArmRosgazprom, Armenia’s Russian-controlled natural gas
operator, asked the regulator to revise upward the current tariff for
Russian natural gas. It wants to raise the price for consumers using
up to 10 thousand cubic meters a month from current 132,000 drams
per one thousand cubic meters (including VAT) to 221,000 drams. Late
last month Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)
said consumers using up to 10,000 cubic meters of natural gas per
month are likely to pay 156 drams, including VAT, for one cubic meter,
up form current 132 drams. Corporate and other enterprise consuming
10,000 and more cubic meters will be paying about $276.98 per one
thousand cubic meters. This decision is supposed to enter into force
from July this year. The PSRC is also expected to set 38 drams per
one KWh electricity consumed in daytime and 28 drams for electricity
consumed at night (including VAT). ($1 – 416.02 drams). -0-

38TH FIDH CONGRESS CALLS UPON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY RECOGNISE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

19:38, 5 June, 2013

Proposed by Civil Society Institute (Armenia), Human Rights Association
and Turkish Foundation for Human Rights (Turkey) Following the
resolution of the 37th FIDH Congress held in Yerevan, Armenia in April
2010 and as a result of the endeavours of the human rights NGOs from
Armenia and Turkey that was started during the Yerevan Congress,
Considering the unwavering historical position on the issue of the
Armenian genocide, and the most welcome progress recently made in
Turkey to facilitate open, unimpeded discussion about this issue;

Considering the numerous appeals made by the Turkish civil society
including political figures, NGOs, academics, Intellectuals,
Journalists, etc. for establishing truth and justice on the Armenian
genocide;

The 38th FIDH congress, held from 23 to 27 May 2013 in Istanbul,
Turkey: calls upon the Government of the Republic of Turkey, on the
eve of 100th anniversary of the genocide and in commemoration of its
victims, to:

· recognise the Armenian genocide organised and executed by the
Young Turks Government under the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of
the 20th century; · stop blockading the Republic of Armenia without
any preconditions and initiate immediate steps towards establishing
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turke

SERZH SARGSYAN: FIASCO OF AZERBAIJAN IS INESCAPABLE

19:26 05/06/2013 ” POLITICS

Armenia should modernize and diversify its economy in order to get
better conditions after regional rearrangement in a few years, the
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said today during the meeting at
National Security Council. He also added that the scene in the region
will be changed completely in a few years.

“The scene will be changed completely in the region in some 3-4 years.

We should be ready for it. The experts wait for the inescapable fiasco
of Azerbaijan in some 3-4 years. The authorities of that country use
the rules of classical dictatorship; they present to their nation the
image of enemy in the name of the Armenians, they label as a frowzy
image. Meanwhile, it is the Azerbaijani social- economic mines that
are going to blow up very soon and simultaneously. The authorities of
the neighboring country continue to spend the gained funds in a way
that even their rivals would not be able to spend. The gathered money
is spent quickly in constructions which will be uninstalled tomorrow
after spending billions. Actions, which are clear for those who can
see two steps forward,” the head of the country noted in his speech.

“On the other hand the consequences of the dictatorship and its regime
are obvious. Arresting the oppositionists, the huge corruption,
absence of freedom of expression will be reminded in this country
parallel with the reduction of petrodollars. I don’t think that anyone
has doubt about it. If years ago the Azerbaijani youth was afraid and
was keeping silence, today they talk about the possibility of talking
freely. Tomorrow is too close. The tomorrow, when the social networks
will be considered the enemy of the people. Why do I touch upon this
subject, the fact is that the authorities of this country try to teach
us, as if trying to console us and spreading frowzy information about
us instead of minding their own problems, and the problems and welfare
of their own people, and formation of their own society.”

Summing up his speech the head of the Republic noted, “We should
continue the modernization and diversification of our economy in order
to get better conditions after the new rearrangements expected in the
region in a few years. And we are on our way to get better conditions.

We are on a way on which we shouldn’t stop even for a second. We
shouldn’t slow down.”

Source: Panorama.am

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONVENES SITTING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

18:46 05.06.2013

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Armenian National
Security Council Serzh Sargsyan convened the sitting of the National
Security Council.

The meeting featured Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President of
the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, Deputy Prime Minister
Armen Gevorgyan, Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasaryan, Head of Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan, Director of
the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan, Chief of Police Vladimir
Gasparyan, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov.

The meeting covered issues of energy security and institutional
reinforcement of the local self-government bodies.

EXPERT FORECASTS ESCALATION OF PROTESTS IN TURKEY

June 5, 2013 – 17:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The developments in Turkey may follow a new course,
in the face of anti-government forces’ goal to destabilize the country,
political expert said.

He noted forces against Turkish authorities’ policy of “neo-Osmanism”
behind the mass protests in the country.

At June 5 press conference, Sergey Shakaryants deemed superpowers’
intervention in Turkey’s political developments possible in the
near future.

“The great powers may even have a direct involvement in splitting
the country,” he said.

The protests began on a small scale last week in opposition to plans
to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul but have since taken on wider
political demands.

The demonstrators say the park is one of the few green spaces in
Istanbul, and object to the loss of public space for commercial
purposes.

ARMENIAN MP CONCERNED OVER ATTITUDE TO ARMENIAN COGNAC

17:26 ~U 05.06.13

Alexan Petrosyan, an MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA), is surprised at the Armenian government’s attitude to Armenian
cognac.

Specifically, the government does not take any steps to bring its
past glory back to Armenian cognac.

“Armenian cognac must be liable to excise tax. Nowhere in the world
are empty bottles liable to excise tax, but filled with cognac,
they become liable to excise tax,” Petrosyan said.

As regards export, the major problem is that the entire world produces
what you produce.

“In this case, your cost of production is high, energy is expensive.

So what’s your hope for sale?”

“At present, products must be of high quality, up-to-date and
competitive. None of the three conditions is being met here,” said
Petrosyan.

“A bottle of wine exported from Moldova to Moscow is $0.06, while a
bottle of wine exported from Armenia is $0.6,” he said.

Petrosyan is concerned over the fact that Armenia has no relevant
agreements on participation in exhibitions in different countries.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIAN FM MEETS CONGRESSMEN, SPEAKS AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

17:01 05.06.2013

Within the framework of the visit to the US, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with a group of members of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues headed by Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone and Michael Grimm.

Expressing gratitude to the Congressmen for their attitude, the
Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized the role of the Congressional
Caucus in the reinforcement of Armenian-American relations.

The Congressmen presented the activities and the future programs of
the Caucus and said they will continue their activity for the sake
of development of friendship between the United States and Armenia.

Minister Nalbandian briefed the Congressmen on the efforts of Armenia
and the international community toward the peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh conflict and Armenia’s stance on regional issues.

Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian and Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, discussed the perspectives of
resumption of the Corporation’s programs in Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian delivered a speech at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies. In attendance were high-ranking officials
of the Department of State, US Ambassadors, political scientists,
analysts and diplomats accredited to Washington.

Minister Nalbandian presented the Armenian-American relations,
the objectives and results of his visit to the United States,
the priorities of the Armenian chairmanship of the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers, Armenia’s approaches on a number of
international and regional issues.

Also, Edward Nalbandian had separate meetings with representatives of
the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly
of America.

MP POSTANJYAN: WHAT’S THE STATUS OF SYUIK GOVERNOR KHACHATRYAN?

14:25, June 5, 2013

Heritage Party MP Zarouhie Postanjyan has written to RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan regarding the current status of Sourik Khachatryan,
Provincial Governor of Syunik.

On June 3, Khachatryan stated that he would be stepping down from the
post until the completion of a criminal investigation into a June 1
shooting near his home in Goris in which an Armenian military unit
commander was wounded and his brother killed.

Police have detained Khachatryan’s son and bodyguard as suspects.

CARREFOUR REPRESENTATIVES PERIODICALLY VISIT ARMENIA

Specialists from French Carrefour periodically visit Armenia and
receive the answers to their questions, said the minister of Economy
Vahram Avanesyan at National Assembly noting that such companies may
bring tangible changes to Armenia.

The minister said that the question occurs how the state can support
such companies, what tax policy it can use. He answered that they are
going to work with the companies separately and it is very important
to define the targets to ensure everything is clear.

13:22 05/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

EREVAN MINIMISE L’IMPORTANCE DE SON ABSENCE AU SOMMET DES PAYS DE L’EX-URSS

Un fonctionnaire armenien a dementi toute motivation politique derrière
l’absence du President Serge Sarkissian au sommet de l’Organisation
du Traite de securite collective (OTSC) cette semaine, en disant que
les relations de l’Armenie avec la Russie restent ” excellentes “.

Artur Baghdassarian, le secretaire du Conseil national de securite,
a reitere l’explication officielle selon laquelle Serge Sarkissian ne
pouvait pas assister au sommet informel qui s’est tenu a Bichkek au
Kirghizistan parce qu’elle coïncidait avec la fete de l’independance
armenienne.

” Tout le monde savait que le 28 mai est une fete nationale en Armenie
et que le president de notre pays devait participer aux celebrations de
cette fete nationale ” a di Artur Baghdasarian lors d’une conference
de presse. ” Cela aurait ete etrange si M. Sarkissian n’avait pas
participe a cette fete “.

” C’etait une reunion informelle, plutôt qu’un sommet officiel ” a
precise Arturt Baghdassarian, qui representait l’Armenie a Bichkek avec
le ministre de la Defense Seyran Ohanian et le Ministre des Affaires
Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian. Il a ajoute que Serge Sarkissian va
certainement prendre part au prochain sommet officiel de l’OTSC prevu
pour la fin de cette annee.

Certains observateurs a Erevan ont specule que Serge Sarkissian a boude
la reunion de Bichkek ainsi qu’un sommet distinct de la Communaute
economique Eurasienne dirigee par la Russie qui s’est tenue mercredi au
Kazakhstan, pour indiquer son mecontentement suite a une augmentation
de 50 pour cent du prix du gaz naturel russe livre a l’Armenie.

Artur Baghdasarian a rejete ces allegations, affirmant que Gazprom
facturera le gaz a l’Armenie moins cher que les autres pays, meme
après la hausse des prix. ” C’est l’economie de marche ” a-t-il dit. ”
En ce qui concerne les tarifs du gaz existants, l’Armenie est dans
une situation bien meilleure que beaucoup d’autres pays “.

Le fonctionnaire, dont le parti Orinats Yerkir est represente au
sein du gouvernement armenien par trois ministres, a ensuite annonce
que deux fonctionnaires russes de haut rang se rendront bientôt en
Armenie. Il a cependant refuse de les nommer.

Serge Sarkissian et le president russe Vladimir Poutine ont fait
l’eloge des relations entre leurs pays lors de leur dernière rencontre
près de Moscou en Mars. Poutine a decrit les relations bilaterales
comme ” speciales “.

mercredi 5 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com