Author: nina hovnanian

SILVA HAMBARDZUMYAN GOING TO APPEAL TO ECHR

06:57 pm | Today | Politics

Armenia-based businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan has bought the mansion
of Albert Yeritsyan, former head of Arabkir administrative district and
member of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). Now the businesswoman
is going to buy his business assets.

Asked which party she is going to vote for during the May 6
parliamentary elections, Silva Hambardzumyan said she will publicize
her choice after she performs her civic duty.

“My favorite is not a pro-government force,” she said.

Hambardzumyan says the HHK has lost many votes as it has left the
argument between Syunik governor Surik Khachatryan and businesswoman
unsettled.

“People wanted to know whether Surik is inviolable or not. As you
see he is inviolable,” she said.

Silva Hambardzumyan believes that the authorities are trying to
‘take away’ her new business.

The businesswoman is going to appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights. She will dispute the government’s decision to strip the
Sipan-1 company of its Litchkvaz-Tey operating license.

Silva Hambardzumyan had bought the company in 2009.

On November 15, 2011, Silva Hambardzumyan lodged a complaint with
the Special Investigation Service against the Syunik governor
for reportedly violent conduct and accused him of corruption and
business-related fraud. Hambardzumyan stated that Khachatryan had
assaulted and punched her in the head in the Armenia Marriott Hotel
on November 14.

It came after the businesswoman accused the governor of
misappropriating mining equipment worth more than 100 million drams
from her gold mine. However, the SIS dropped the case against Suren
Khachatryan saying the latter could not be prosecuted on “beating”
charges because he had not injured Hambardzumyan.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: AUTHORITIES AVOIDED DEBATE

Panorama.am
04/05/2012

“The only peculiarity of this election campaign is that political
forces participating in the electoral process established joint
headquarters,”Chairman of the Union of Political Scientists of Armenia
Hmayak Hovhannisyan told a meeting of the joint election monitoring
headquarters today.

In return, former Foreign Minister, Prosperous Armenia Party member
Vartan Oskanian blamed the decision of the authorities not to
participate in any debates.

“They had nothing to show, nothing to say to the people, therefore
they rejected debate challenges,” he said.

Yesterday’s rally of Prosperous Armenia Party is evidence that society
is ready for free and fair elections, Mr. Oskanian stressed.

RUSSIA EYES ESTABLISHING MILITARY MAINTENANCE CENTERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2012 – 18:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia is planning to establish maintenance centers
for Russian arms and military equipment in service with the Kazakh
Armed Forces in Kazakhstan, the Federal Service for Military-Technical
Cooperation said on Friday, May 4, RIA Novosti reported.

FSMTC deputy chief Konstantin Biryulin said he had discussed the
matter with Kazakh Deputy Defense Minister Sergei Gromov.

Russia is ready to transfer the relevant technology to Kazakhstan, he
added. An aircraft maintenance center will be the first such facility,
he said.

The Kazakh military has mainly Russian arms and military equipment,
including up to 1,000 main battle tanks (T-80, T-72 and ô-62),
some 2,500 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2) and armored
personnel carriers (BTR-80A and BTR-82A), around 200 self-propelled
artillery systems, and at least 150 Uragan and Grad multiple rocket
launchers.

The Kazakh Air Force has 40 MiG-29 fighters, 14 Su-25 fighter bombers,
25 Su-24 fighter bombers, 14 Su-27 fighters, 43 MiG-31 and 16 MiG-25
interceptors and 100 air defense missile launchers.

The army has more than 120 Russian manufactured helicopters (Mi-24,
Mi-8 and Mi-26).

USAID AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH STATE-OF-THE-ART LAB AT STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY

hetq.am
17:07, May 4, 2012

U.S. Ambassador John Heffern joined Armenian Minister of Education and
Science Armen Ashotyan, USAID/Armenia Mission Director Jatinder Cheema,
and Rector of the State Engineering University (SEUA) of Armenia Ara
Avetisyan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby USAID will
partner with the Ministry and SEUA to establish the Armenian National
Engineering Laboratory on the University’s campus.

As part of this public-private partnership, USAID will contribute
equipment, software, and technical assistance, and the Ministry will
support the renovations of the laboratory space at SEUA. The goal
of the project is to strengthen the educational capacity and enhance
the research potential of the university by upgrading and expanding
SEUA’s laboratory facilities and teaching skills.

The Armenian National Engineering Laboratory (or ANEL) will consist
of laboratories covering six major directions of SEUA (Radio
Engineering and Communication Systems, Cybernetics, Power Energy,
Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Machine Building Engineering,
and Transport Applications). ANEL will provide students with a
combination of technical training and research opportunities to
prepare them for engineering projects as professionals.

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST SEMIFINAL OF CLASSICAL EUROVISION 2012

ARMINFO
Friday, May 4, 14:19

Narek Kazazyan , a 15 years old qanon player, will represent Armenia
in “Classical Eurovision 2012” international contest on May 5 in
Vienna. The final of the contest is scheduled for May 11. Previously,
Kazaryan performed with famous duduk player Jivan Gasparyan and the
Chamber Orchestra “Virtuosos of Moscow”. The Second semi-final will
take place on May 6.

Armenia is taking part in the contest for the first time. The Classical
Eurovision is held once in two years. Musicians at the age of 15-20
years participate in the contest.

ARMENIA’S EX-FM EXPLAINS HIS CRITICISM

TERT.AM
04.05.12

Armenia’s ex-FM Vartan Oskanian, a member of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP), confirms he wanted to leave Armenia’s government and
join the PAP in 2007.

“Yes, there was such a problem, and President Robert Kocharyan wanted
me to remain because the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh reached
the critical phase. There were also numerous other problems, and
he said to me ‘you’d better remain,’ and I agreed,” Oskanian told
journalists on Friday.

“Ten years ago I said that I would resign. Ten years ago I saw our
problems were here, not outside. I wanted to do that and I am happy
that I had this opportunity and can act openly now,” Oskanian said.

With respect to the reasons why neither the PAP nor himself were so
critical before, Oskanian said that not being critical in the past
does not at all mean not being critical now. “A moment came for me to
realize I had to leave the government to be able to openly criticize
what was going on. And I did so in 2008,” Oskanian said.

No one of the Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s team is
‘unplaced’ now. “And if you think that I was unworthy of being offered
a post, you are wrong. I was not only offered a post, but they even
entreated me,” Oskanian said.

The reason for his leaving the government was his discontent with the
situation, particularly with the government’s foreign policy. “So I
am – and will be – openly critical until Armenia sees real reforms,”
Oskanian said.

As to whether Robert Kocharyan’s speech dealt with the authorities’
poor economic policy or alternative political implications should be
looked for, Oskanian said that this question is to be addressed to
Robert Kocharyan.

FORMER OWNER OF CAFE DE PARIS: “I DON’T BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT’S PROMISES ABOUT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS”
Grisha Balasanyan

HETQ.AM
10:22, May 4, 2012

Valerie-Ashkhen Gordzounian, the diaspora Armenian who was recently
forced to close her Cafe de Paris in Yerevan due to pressures brought
to bear by the tax authorities, sat down with Hetq to answer a few
questions. She has since left Armenia on a temporary basis.

You ran in business in Armenia for a number of years and are acutely
aware of government policies and the general situation prevailing in
the country. Do you believe that poverty can be reduced, the economy
developed and emigration halted if such a state of affairs continues?

No, because the economic sector isn’t cleanly regulated. First off,
anyone who invests in Armenia is hit with very hefty taxes for such
a small country and competition doesn’t exist. It’s expensive to
get goods cleared through customs and raw materials are costly. The
government is doing nothing to improve these conditions. The government
must launch a credit policy because everything is so expensive and
the currency isn’t stable. This is why emigration continues.

When young people see that they get nowhere after graduating, that
the government is doing little to assist them so that they can get
a foothold in the economic sector, naturally, they will leave. The
border opening with Turkey hasn’t been resolved, issues related to
army service remain, bribery persists – these all lead to mistrust in
the government. The people will decide to pack up and leave. This is
a real danger and concerns me greatly. I do not list all the problems
because the problem of social stability has, in my opinion, already
reached terrible proportions.

So what is necessary to change things as quickly as possible?

First off, we need fair elections and a legitimate government. Later
on, with such a base, perhaps the International Monetary Fund will
assist us again. Everything must be changed. The tax and legal systems
must be just and there must be free competition so that we can attract
outside investment and in order for the people to want to stay in
the motherland. It would seem to me that a legitimate government can
instill a degree of hope in the people.

In two days, parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia. Have
you been following political developments from afar? What are your
thoughts?

As regards to following the political situation, let me state that only
those who have truly remained Armenian are following what is taking
place. Here in France, everyone is following the upcoming second round
of the presidential elections to take place on May 6, the same day as
elections in Armenia. Those in my circle who are following the election
campaign in Armenia, sadly, do not really believe that things will
change for the better. We follow the news from all the outlets and
are shocked to hear about the bribes, the money, the jams and cell
phones being handed out to people. Our European friends are doubly
shocked. It’s very interesting to compare the election campaigns in
France and Armenia.

Do you believe it is possible to change the political situation and
the regime in Armenia via elections only? Are other mechanisms needed
for such systematic change?

I believe that these elections are the last opportunity for changing
the reality in Armenia. If the three political forces – Armenian
National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and the ARF – can get their act
together and guarantee free and fair elections, then the outcome will
be a positive one. If not, it is clear that things will get worse. But
we need to ask ourselves, isn’t the public also to blame in all this?

You are now living in Europe. Don’t they try to buy votes for 5,000
or 10,000 AMD her as well?

Are you serious? If anything like that was attempted in Europe,
especially France, there would be an immediate revolution. Bribery
exists here but those involved are brought up on charges, even at the
highest levels of government. Even former French President Jacques
Chirac is being tried in court for past irregularities. Thus, your
question makes me laugh.

What must be done to get rid of this tainted practice of vote buying
in Armenia?

The people must develop to the point where they understand that they
just can’t sell their future for 5,000 AMD. Only then will vote buying
be dealt with for good.

You know, perhaps young people will one day understand this. As
a person who loves my country, this issue pains me greatly. I would
like to hope that the people this time will not sell their futures for
5,000 AMD. I urge and beseech our people to make the right election
choice despite the difficult conditions. Let us make Armenia’s National
Assembly truly democratic.

During your years of running a business in Armenia you had to deal
with a variety of government officials and functionaries. Based on what
you know, do you believe their promises that the May 6 elections will
correspond to international standards of a free and democratic ballot?

If we are talking about the authorities in charge today, then I’d say
no, no and no. They are only lying or preventing normal democratic
elections from taking place. However, there are intelligent, educated
and cultured people in Armenia and they are my source of hope.

You know, I really want to see all this change quickly.

NALBANDYAN CONSIDERS FAILURE TURKISH PRINCIPLE “0 PROBLEMS WITH NEIGHBORS”

ARMENPRESS
4 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenia knows by his own experience that
it is very difficult to come to agreement with Turkey. Armenpress
reports that such declaration made Armenian foreign affairs minister
Edward Nalbandyan during the briefing with Uruguayan foreign affairs
minister Luis Almagro reverberating to Turkish foreign minister Ahmed
Davotoglu’s announcement that it is difficult to come to agreements
with Armenia.

“Turkish Foreign Affairs minister speaks about the fact that they do
not have good relations with their three neighbors but I think he is
not honest. The number of neighbors with whom their relations are
not so good is at least twice more: The number is six and with two
of them they don’t have any relations.

In the words of Armenian Foreign Affairs minister recently Turkey
as if wanting to have 0 problems with his neighbors has increased
those problems.

“Despite all difficulties that Turkish side was creating during the
negotiation process we came to an agreement and even signed protocols:
It is Turkey that refuses to respect those arrangements and to ratify
the protocols” Said Nalbandyan.

URUGUAY’S FM: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2012 – 12:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Uruguay’s Foreign Minister said that he was greatly
impressed by a visit to Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

“Armenian Genocide is a crime not only against Armenians, but against
the humanity. Genocides are still committed in the modern world,
as, unfortunately, no lessons have been reaped from the past,” Luis
Almagro said, stressing memory, truth and justice as his message to
the world in Genocide issue.

As a part of his visit to Armenia, Uruguay’s top diplomat is scheduled
to meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.

EAAC: ARMENIA NEEDS STRONG AND SKILLED PARLIAMENTARIANS

armradio.am
04.05.2012 14:01

The Europe-Armenia Advisory Council (EAAC) issued a statement on
the parliamentary elections to be held in Armenia on May 6. The
message reads:

“The Europe-Armenia Advisory Council (EAAC), together with the entire
European Union and much of the international community, look forward
to the upcoming parliamentary elections on 6 May 2012. It will be
the responsibility mainly of the Armenian government, but also of
the opposition, media and civil society actors, to ensure that these
elections will mark a step into a promising future for the country
and its people.

These elections are more than merely a day of choosing new
parliamentary representatives. They are a matter of national
importance. Elections marked by disorganisation and undemocratic
conduct would weaken the entire country. Elections marked by a good
organisational conduct and by their free and fair character will
strengthen the entire country and allow for growth and improvement.

Europe stands by Armenia’s side and welcomes the remarkable progresses
made during the last years. Armenia has largely overcome the March
2008 crisis. Following European recommendations, an amnesty was
implemented, a dialogue with the extra-parliamentary opposition
started, the electoral code has been improved, freedom of assembly
has been improved (including access to Opera Square), a regular human
rights dialogue was started with the EU and a number of laws and
procedures for the conduct of police and judiciary have been improved.

Besides, Armenia’s negotiations for the new Association Agreement with
the EU are progressing very fast. An agreement for Visa Facilitation
with the EU is now in preparation and more fundamentally, the
negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area have
started. This offers Armenia a new perspective and the return to
its place in the European family. Politically, more and more parties
have aligned themselves with their European counterparts. Like most
observers, the EAAC would not have expected all these positive steps
to be actually implemented, and while homework remains to be done,
we welcome that so much has been achieved.

Armenia still faces strong challenges and therefore needs strong
and skilled new parliamentarians. Despite threatening inflammatory
statements from neighbouring Azerbaijan, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
can and must be resolved peacefully. Starting the rapprochement process
with Turkey was a brave and positive step, and while the ball remains
in Turkey’s court, we believe this process should be revived.

Economically, Armenia has been hit by the international crisis, but now
looks to regain its strength. Emigration, corruption and inflation have
been clear shortcomings of the past. Facing these challenges requires
politicians with skills and a clear programmatic vision for Armenia.

Your vote can make a difference for Armenia’s future. We call upon
all voters to become active, to seek information about the parties’
programmes and the skills of their politicians, and above all, to cast
their vote. Those who do not vote should not complain about politics
later. Those who vote shape Armenia’s future and help to prevent
fraud attempts. Some Armenians have been offered food, new roads, a
renovated kindergarten or blunt money for their vote. Give your vote
only in return for good politics! These elections are not only about
your family or community, ALL families and communities need food,
roads, kindergartens, jobs, security and a perspective. Only good
politics can bring this and for this, Armenia needs your vote.

On 6 May, the Armenian people will have a choice! We, the EAAC and
Europe in general, will look at Armenia and seek to celebrate this
day of democracy with you.”