Author: nina hovnanian

NKR MFA’S SPECIAL STATEMENT ON “RING” OPERATION

17:34, 29 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary
of the “Ring” military operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic made a statement. As reported by
Armenpress, the statement is as follows:

“The operation “Ring”, launched by the special police detachments
(OMON) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, with
the support of the USSR Interior Ministry’s troops in April-May,
1991 holds a peculiar place in the history of the conflict between
Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, both for its scope and consequences.

The operation, which became possible due to a criminal collusion
between the Azerbaijani government and some USSR leaders, resulted
in a complete devastation and destruction of more than two dozen
villages of Northern Artsakh, as well as in Shahumyan, Hadrut and
Shushi regions. It ended only after a month, thanks to wide publicity
and condemnation both within the USSR and beyond.

But the wheels of the war were set in motion. The operation “Ring”,
which stood out by its brutality and massive violations of human
rights, sharply increased the level of tension in the region and
shifted the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict to a plane of military
actions, becoming a prelude to the subsequent full-scale aggression
of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, Azerbaijan has failed to achieve its main goal – to intimidate
the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and suppress their legitimate
aspirations for self-determination. On the contrary, the operation
“Ring” only strengthened the determination of the people of Artsakh
to fight for their rights and freedoms”.

COURT REJECTS REPORTER’S SUIT AGAIANST BUSINESSMAN FOR CALLING HER A “PROSTITUTE”
Grisha Balasanyan

Earlier today, a Yerevan court threw out the suit filed by Zhoghovurd
newspaper reporter Sona Avetisyan against businessman Khachik
Khachatryan for calling her a prostitute during a December 28, 2012
telephone conversation.

The reporter was demanding a public apology from Khachatryan.

Avetisyan says she will pursue the matter.

NAIRIT PLANT EMPLOYEES PROTESTING OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDING – VIDEO

11:03 AM | TODAY | SOCIAL

Employees of Nairit plant, a major chemical enterprise in Armenia
that specializes in chloroprene rubbers and latexes production, are
staging a protest outside the government building demanding their
salaries of twelve months.

The protesters have been met by Alexander Ghazaryan, a senior
representative at the Government’s Department for Reception of Citizens
and Discussion of Petitions. a group of seven Nairit employees has
been invited to the government building to present their demands.

The angered workers say they will join the ranks of emigrants if they
do not get the wages of the twelve months.

WE MUST PUN AN END TO FREQUENT TAX LAW AMENDMENTS – ARMENIAN SPEAKER

April 29, 2013 | 13:26

YEREVAN.- Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan said it is
necessary to stop frequent amendments to the tax laws.

Addressing acting Finance Minister Vache Gabirelyan, speaker said
businessmen are expressing discontent at frequent changes introduced
by the government.

“The common tax law must be published,” he said, addressing Gabrielyan.

During the Monday session, Vache Gabrielyan raised the question of
making amendments to the Law on Income Tax. Acting minister said the
changes are needed because of certain problems emerging after the
law came into effect in January 2013.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

UNEMPLOYMENT MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM FOR MAJORITY OF YEREVAN RESIDENTS: POLL

YEREVAN, April 29. /ARKA/. Fifty-nine percent of Yerevan residents said
unemployment is the most critical problem in the city, according to
a poll conducted by GALLUP International Association Armenian office.

Ahead of the city council elections, the office interviewed 1,066
legal adults in Yerevan from April 18 to April 21.

The city council elections are scheduled for May 5. The city mayor is
elected by the council consisting of 65 members. Under the legislation,
candidates are to be nominated by the factions involved in the council.

Mission, Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Orinats
Yerkir, Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutiun and “Hello, Yerevan” bloc of parties have registered
for the elections.

Some 59% of respondents said unemployment is a common problem in
Yerevan. The second comes inflation considered critical by 31% of
interviewees. Corruption is considered the most important problem
by 13% of respondents. 12% of interviewees said migration is the
most critical issue of the capital. Another 12% said it is the poor
state of the educational system, head of GIA Armenian office Aram
Navasardyan said.

Among the municipal problems respondents mentioned poor state of
medical institutions (8%), high taxes (7%), low pensions (3%), poor
social status (2%) and low salaries (2%).

Transport is the main problem for 22% of respondents, ecology for 20%,
garbage disposal for another 20%, paying against public services for
10%, emergencies for 4%, crimes and road conditions for 3% each and
poor building conditions for 1%.

Navasardyan also said that 52% of respondents want the municipality
to expand green areas, some 36% expect expanding playgrounds, another
36% want more cultural events, 27% expect more sports events and 2%
point to the necessity to increase jobs.

When asked which fields need to be developed in Yerevan 26% of
interviewees said public health, 23% said education, 15% transport,
14% employment, another 14% said culture, 13% industries, 9% economy
and 7% social sector. Respondents were asked to pick several answers.

Navasardyan said in general respondents appreciated the work done
by the current mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan. At the same time,
interviewees are not satisfied with performance of the municipality.

-0-

INCIDENTS VIOLENTS A GUMRI

Cinq hommes ont ete arretes a Gumri jeudi 25 avril 2013 quelques
heures après que le chef de la police armenienne, Vladimir Gasparian,
a annonce que la securite serait renforcee dans la deuxième ville du
pays après des incidents violents. ” Nous avons deux – je n’ai pas peur
d’utiliser ce mot – clans, qui essaie de s’imposer depuis de nombreuses
annees par la violence “, a declare Gasparian lors d’une conference
de presse. ” Cela ne continuera pas. Cette epoque est revolue. Soit
ces deux clans se calment et vivent de facon normale, en paix avec
la societe, soit ils vont se retrouver la où ils devraient etre “,
a-t-il averti.

Gasparian a parle aux journalistes après avoir preside une reunion
d’urgence au service de police de la deuxième ville de l’Armenie. Une
enquete a ete ouverte après la fusillade qui a eu lieu a Gumri la
semaine dernière. Artyom Karapetian est decede tandis que Harutyun
Khachatrian a ete grièvement blesse dans l’attentat qui, selon la
police, aurait ete organise par l’un des neveux, Vahe, de l’ex-maire
Ghoukasian. Les deux victimes ont des liens etroits avec Martun
Grigorian, un depute du parlement dont la famille a pendant des annees
ete en desaccord avec le clan de l’ex-maire.

Vahe Ghoukasian, qui est en etat d’arrestation, a egalement ete blesse
dans l’incident, dans des circonstances non encore elucidees. Le
procureur a Gumri, Karen Shahbazian, a declare jeudi que le fils de
Khachatrian s’est rendu a la police et a remis une arme automatique.

L’adolescent a ete rapidement place en detention provisoire et
est desormais soupconne de posseder des armes illegalement. Cinq
autres hommes, parmi lesquels deux autres neveux de Ghoukasian, ont
ete arretes peu avant minuit alors qu’ils etaient en voiture. La
police affirme avoir trouve une petite quantite de marijuana dans
l’automobile. Gasparian s’est engage a placer sous contrôle les deux
groupes rivaux. ” Je sais qu’il y a des consommateurs de drogues
parmi eux “, a dit le chef de la police nationale.

D’autre part et selon les autorites policières, deux douzaines de
vehicules appartenant aux deux groupes rivaux ont ete saisis par la
police au cours de ces derniers jours. La presence policière sur les
routes de Gyumri a egalement ete renforcee.

Vartan Ghukasian a ete maire de Gumri pendant près de 13 ans, jouissant
du soutien du president Serge Sarkissian et de son predecesseur
Robert Kotcharian. Ghoukasian, qui est affilie au parti republicain de
Sarkissian, a demissionne l’ete dernier après avoir perdu le soutien
du gouvernement central.

lundi 29 avril 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

ARMENIAN DELEGATES’ OFFERS ON TURKEY’S RELIGIOUS REFORMS INCLUDED IN PACE REPORT

April 30, 2013 | 16:28

YEREVAN. – The Armenian delegation presented offers on reforming
Turkey’s religious and education rights during the spring session of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Davit Harutyunyan presented
the results of spring session during the Tuesday press conference. The
offer on religious rights was made by delegate Arpine Hovhannisyan
and on education – by Naira Karapetyan.

Despite Turkey’s efforts to block the offers, both were included in
the report on Turkey. The country is obliged to expand authority of
non-Muslim communities and respect religious freedom, in particular
this refers to judiciary and property rights. Harutyunyan noted that
religious minorities are not registered as legal entities and, thus,
cannot have property.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA’S MONETARY BASE SHRINKS 5.1% OVER MARCH 2013

YEREVAN, April 30. /ARKA/. Armenia’s monetary base shrank 5.1% in
March 2013, compared with the previous month, to AMD 645 billion.

According to the information available on the official website of
the Central Bank of Armenia, cash outside of the regulator exceeded
AMD 395.6 billion in late March 2013 against more than 397.7 billion
in February.

Obligatory reserves in drams totaled more than AMD 161.9 billion in
late March against more than AMD 183.4 in late February, and those
in drams exceeded AMD 84.4 billion against AMD 93.1 billion.

Net international reserves less funds from privatization totaled
about AMD 380.3 billion in late March after contracting by 9%, since
late February.

Net internal assets amounted to AMD 264.7 billion against more than
AMD 261.5 billion. ($1 – AMD 410.45). -0-

TICKET PRICES SERIOUSLY GONE UP – ANC MP

11:37 ~U 30.04.13

Armenian National Congress faction MP Hrant Bagratyan says that the
difficult situation created in the Armenian aviation causes
complications for the people to reach Yerevan.

According to him, it is not agreed with high ticket prices only,
but with the difficulty to get tickets in general.

“No matter who comes he/she faces problem. All the tickets are very
expensive. In short, the prices for tickets have really gone up,”
he said, speaking to Tert.am, adding that it is not about few percent
rise but their prices have been raised few times.

Bagratyan said the claims that Armavia’s bankruptcy has not resulted
in the growth of prices are not only lies but government’s ‘regular
focus.’

He said in aviation you cannot say that Yerevan-Moscow ticket costs
200,000 drams, “It is not so, the ticket price depends on time… I
have never seen professional approach by the government when they
are commenting on the prices,” the ANC MP said.

He said Armavia has been made bankrupt on purpose, by taking money
from business which means it is impossible to revive it.

Bagratyan believes that for curing Armenia’s aviation it is necessary
to have at least two national carriers. “It is wrong to give monopoly
to one. If it is done so, the situation will be the same. That is
why it is necessary to have two and if possible even three national
carriers,” he said.

The MP said it means that the Government will adopt a law with which
it will give opportunity to the companies taking the first two or
three places in the tender to implement flights. “But the fact that
the executive does not hurry shows that it wants to give the aviation
to one company,” he said.

“Currently an extremely complicated situation is being created in
the aviation for one company to get it, and monopoly be established,”
he concluded.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN FROM DIASPORA FALLS VICTIM TO INSATIABLE APPETITES OF ARMENIAN POWER REPRESENTATIVES

Another businessman from Diaspora George Baghumyan has fallen a victim
to the insatiable appetites of Armenian power representatives.

Baghumyan died at the Nubarashen penitentiary, his lawyer Mushegh
Shushanyan told media, on April 30.

“My client has been under arrest at the Nubarashen penitentiary
from Oct 27 2012 up to his death on April 25 2013. We thrice filed
petitions for Baghumyan’s release on bail due to his poor health.

However, Judge of the Center and Nork-Marash First Instance Court
Edik Avetisyan rejected all our petitions, which was equal to a death
penalty for Baghumyan. In the meanwhile, at his 65 Baghumyan suffered
a heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure and was on the verge
of death on the last days of his life. And his victimizers were well
aware of his state,” Shushanyan said.

He said Baghumyan was accused of tax evasion and illegal keeping of
weapons, which was not a reason for his arrest and custody. In the
meanwhile, Baghumyan did not receive relevant medical assistance at
the penitentiary for lack of medical personnel – there is only one
nurse for 1200 prisoners at the Nubarashen penitentiary. 

“This is a system problem. It is a shame on the Armenian justice.

Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan had better resign after that incident. The
leadership of the penitentiary was to transfer Baghumyan at least
to the Penitentiary hospital, but did not. All them must be brought
responsible,” the lawyer said.

Shushanyan believes that the arrest and the criminal case against
Baghumyan pursued a goal to deprive him of his property, specifically,
an enterprise producing accumulator batteries for the Defense
Ministry.  Baghumyan’s father founded the enterprise in the course
of the Artsakh war.

The lawyer thinks that Baghumyan’s arrest was groundless. He said
that Baghumyan was accused of tax evasion in the amount of 16 million
drams that grew to 41 million drams after various fines, pennies
etc.  Considering that all the employees of Baghumyan’s enterprise,
first of all, accountant Bahan Amiryan, were just witnesses in the
case and were not arrested, the lawyer assesses the case against
Baghumyan as targeted and biased. 

Baghumyan’s brother, Serge Baghumyan, says that in the course of the
investigation he was demanded a 10 million drams bribe for Baghumyan’s
release from arrest. He did not name anyone, however. The lawyer
Shushanyan, in turn, named some persons indirectly involved in the
death of his client. Shushanyan said that he will demand criminal cases
against Investigator of the State Revenue Committee Edgard Antonyan,
Investigator of the Prosecutor’s Office Bagrat Petrosya, Judge of
the Center and Nork Marash First Instance Court  Edik Avetisyan and
Judge of the Court of Appeal Ararat Petrosyan.