Author: nina hovnanian

OSKANIAN REFUTES REPORTS ABOUT ELECTION BRIBE DISTRIBUTION

Friday,
April 12

Member of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), candidate for Yerevan mayor
Vartan Oskanian ruled out the possibility of distribution of election
bribes by their party.

In response to reporters’ remark that there have been press reports
today that BHK offers pork at reduced prices as an election bribe to
residents of Ajapniak district in Yerevan, Vartan Oskanian said that
the information does not correspond to reality.

“I will be the first to denounce such phenomena. This is untrue
information,” Oskanian said.

TODAY, 15:05

Aysor.am

APRIL 9 WAS A CALL TO AUTHORITIES FOR SOBERNESS – ARMEN RUSTAMYAN

13:25 ~U 12.04.13

Head of Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnkatsutyun faction
Armen Rustamyan said at the NA briefing today that there was only
one inauguration on April 9 – Serzh Sargsyan’s – which they did not
attend. He said the event in the Liberty Square was more citizens’
oath.

The ARF-D MP said that day’s developments were call to authorities
for soberness and for them to immediately start implementation of
radical reforms.

“Unfortunately the developments in the Square went in other scenario
like we had predicted. We personally participated in the movement and
I have delivered three speeches. We have always followed wrong path
without picking lessons from history,” he said, noting that quick
steps worn the movement out while in ARF-D opinion it was necessary
to forward landmark solution.

“Landmark movement will result in power’s weakening while in parallel
to it the movement will strengthen. The success of the previous
movements was agreed with landmark steps,” he said, adding that he
sees two steps for reaching success which they have already voiced.

“Make the authorities implement radical reforms. The process had
launched in the NA with three provisions being forwarded. The Yerevan
City Council election will give an opportunity to the opposition to
establish its authority in Yerevan,” he said, adding that unfortunately
the proposal to come up with joint list was not accepted.

The MP said people on April 9 divided into three parts. “A part was
resolute and wanted to reach Baghramyan, the other was following Raffi,
the third did not know where to go. Some are saying the ARF-D was not
with people. Which part of people do you mean? As far as the scenario
was not ours it resulted in what we now have,” he said.

Armen Rustamyan though does not agree with the viewpoint that the
movement headed by Raffi Hovannisian has failed. “There is a process.

It is necessary to take it to a field of long-lasting fight, be
organized so that no provokers are able to play any role in the
process. It is necessary to have corresponding establishments,”
he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

AMD 45600.0 THOUSAND ALLOCATED TO 152 NEWLYWEDS

Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:07

By the data of the NKR Ministry of Labour and Social Issues within
the framework of the arrangements on birthrate and large families
promotion realized in March, 2013, by April 1 178 deposit accounts
to an amount of AMD 103600.0 thousand had been opened.

One-off benefits at a total amount of AMD 133200.0 thousand were
granted on the occasion of 435 children’s birth.

18766 benefit recipients got government benefits at an amount of AMD
237839.4 thousand.

In March 152 newlyweds were granted AMD 45600.0 thousand one-off
marriage benefits.

ARMENIA SHOULD HAVE A NATIONAL AIR COMPANY, PILOTS SAY

YEREVAN, April 12. /ARKA/. Armenia must have a national air company,
aircraft commandeer Grigory Hayrapetyan said at a discussion on the
future of Armenian aviation Thursday.

There should be even two or three national air carriers, be it a
state-funded, private or other company, the pilot said.

According to Hayrapetyan, there is no guarantee that foreign air
carriers will do the same job for Armenia if a war begins tomorrow.

“We may step by step surrender everything, the aviation today and
something else tomorrow. On behalf of Armenian pilots I say this idea
is absolutely unacceptable for us”, the aircraft commander said.

Hayrapetyan stressed that Armenia has been always known for its good
flying school and aviation management. Being small in size, Armenian
aviation still has kept leading positions in Soviet time in terms of
safety and reliability.

Armenian national air company Armavia announced about suspension of
its operations as from April 1 and the start of a bankruptcy process.

-0-

SUPPORTING CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN ARMENIA

European Union News
April 10, 2013 Wednesday

Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK Government has issued the following
news release:

Issue

The British Embassy in Yerevan is supporting conflict resolution in
the region, reducing threats to UK interests.

Action

we are working with the Armenian government and other organisations to
establish an improved EU role, including through an effective EU
representative and EU support for peace-building activities

we are working with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe, the UN, NATO and the Council of Europe to avoid moves in other
international fora which could prevent progress, but encourage
discussion where it could be helpful

we are using our Conflict Pool funds to provide innovative projects
supporting diplomacy, encourage wider public debate, challenge
stereotypes and raise awareness of the need for compromises to secure
a negotiated settlement

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: “I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT UNPLEASANT DISCUSSIONS AT THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT WILL PRODUCE ANY RESULTS”

Global Post
April 11 2013

“Unpleasant discussions have started at the Iranian parliament. I
do not believe that these unpleasant actions will produce any
results,” Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said while
commenting on Iranian parliamentarians’ initiative on the invalidity
of Turkmenchay treaty, APA reports.

Foreign Minister also commented on the resolution on the recognition
of Nagorno Karabakh’s independence passed by the US State of Maine.

Elmar Mammadyarov said he did not believe that this call will produce
any results.

“It can only undermine peace process. Armenian Diaspora in the US backs
these actions. They call to recognize Nagorno Karabakh’s independence,
but this approach can not help the solution of the conflict. They can
simply try to create an impression that someone wants to recognize
Karabakh’s independence,” he said.

EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK INVESTS IN CONSTRUCTING ARMENIAN MOTORWAYS

The Messenger, Georgia
April 11 2013

The Eurasian Development Bank decided to allot $100 million USD for
constructing the north-south motorway in Armenia. In particular,
the amount will be spent on the southern segment of the motorway.

Altogether, it is estimated that the construction of the Armenian
motorway will cost around $1.5 billion USD. The length of the motorway
will be 556 kilometers. It will connect Iran with Georgia. The project
was confirmed and supported by the Asian Bank which will allot $500
million USD. The Armenian government will co-finance the project with
$462 million USD.

SAUSAGE SALES DROP IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 11 2013

Sausage sales in Armenia have dropped by about 10% in Armenia, due
to low income of the population and emigration, News.am reports.

New Year sales in late 2012 were poorer than in 2011.

A sausage cannot cost less than 3,000-3,500 drams per kilo, about
1.5-2 times more expensive than it is sold.

The minimum of meat in a sausage is 16%, according to state norms of
December 2012. The cheapest sausage costs 1400-1500 drams and has
45-50% of meat. Raw meat costs about 2500 drams. Meat brought to
factories costs 200-300 drams less. Water buffalo meat is imported
for 1700-1800 drams.

ARMENIAN PM AND GEORGIAN FM DISCUSS CREATING COMMON MARKET

YEREVAN, April 12. / ARKA /. Armenia’s acting prime minister
Tigran Sargsyan and the visiting foreign minister of Georgia,
Maya Panjikidze, discussed today ways to boost ties between the two
neighboring countries, including establishment of a common market,
the press service of the government said.

“During the meeting prime minister Sargsyan underlined the importance
of creating a common market between the two countries, which will
facilitate implementation of new bilateral business projects”, the
statement said.

The sides were said also to have spoken about how to better their
cooperation in agriculture, transport and other sectors, how
to modernize border check points’ work and how to introduce new
technologies.

Sargsyan and Panjikidze stated that the two governments enjoy warm
relationships, saying there are no problems that they can not resolve.

Sargsyan thanked Georgia for quick response to problems voiced by
the Armenian side.

Mr. Panjikidze then spoke about restoration of Armenian monuments
in Georgia implemented with the participation of the local Armenian
community. The parties also discussed issues related to the integration
process in the EU and CIS. -0-

COST OF BAILING OUT CYPRUS SWELLS TO 23BN EUROS

April 11, 2013 – 19:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The cost of bailing out Cyprus has swollen to
euro 23 billion ($30 billion), with the crisis-hit country having to
take on the lion’s share of the measures needed to avoid bankruptcy,
according to a draft document by the country’s international creditors.

The draft document, obtained by The Associated Press Thursday, April
11, says the country will have to find 13 billion euros ($17 billion)
– an increase on the 7 billion euro contribution agreed during the
country’s chaotic bailout talks last month. The money will be raised by
imposing heavy losses on large bank deposits, levying additional taxes,
privatizations and a part-sale of the central bank’s gold reserves.

The so-called troika of international creditors – the European
Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary
Fund – are set to grant the Mediterranean island nation a 10 billion
euros ($13 billion) rescue loan package to recapitalize Cyprus’s
shaky banking system and keep the government afloat.

As part of the original deal, Cyprus agreed to overhaul its bloated
banking industry by breaking up its second-largest bank, Laiki,
and imposing losses on savers who have more than 100,000 euros in
another lender, the Bank of Cyprus.

In the latest draft document, the troika has revised the cost of
bailing out Cyprus amid a gloomier economic outlook, adding an extra
6 billion euros to the bill.

The document also shows that the troika expects the break-up of Laiki
to raise 10.6 billion euros. Those funds will be used to prop up the
Bank of Cyprus, the AP says.

Cyprus will also have to sell off parts of its gold reserves – a
measure that is expected to net another 400 million euros – a first
for a bailed-out European country.

The measures in the draft document highlight how Europe’s financially
more stable creditor countries are becoming increasingly impatient
with bailing out their southern neighbors and are inflicting harsher
terms on countries in need of assistance. Cyprus is the fifth eurozone
country to receive bailout loans.

The eurozone’s 17 finance ministers are gathering Friday at a meeting
in Dublin where, they are expected to discuss the documents spelling
out the details of the assistance package for Cyprus.