Author: nina hovnanian

BLOODY INCIDENT IN LERNAPAR
Zhanna Alexanyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:39:21 – 04/05/2012

On May 1, a bloody incident happened in Lernapar village of Lori
region. Supporters of the village head Vano Yeghiazaryan beat up
Norik Tamaryan injuring him with knife in his chin. The scuffle became
bigger when the villagers saw the 50-year-old Norik in blood.

According to the villagers, Vano Yeghiazaryan himself, RPA, and his
family participated in the scuffle, while the knife blow was given
by Yeghiazaryan’s eldest son.

The police set a forensic examination for Norik Tamaryan and Gevorg
Melkonyan, who has an eye injury caused by stone hits.

Gevorg Melkonyan’s lawyer said that Melkonyan saw Tamaryan in blood
and went closer to see what happened when the village head’s people
attacked him and beat him too.

OSCE representative arrived in the village, but the village
administration and the police assured them no fight happened. But the
lawyers Lusine Hakobyan and Tigran Yegoryan told the OSCE observer
about the incident.

Yesterday the OSCE observers went to the village and talked to the
villagers.

During our conversation, the villagers told us that the village head
and his people have been recently seeking conflicts very often. The
victims of this incident are those people who have already spoken
against the illegalities of the village head and criminal proceedings
were launched into their complaints but the case was dismissed on
the eve of elections.

According to the villagers, the incident was a provocation connected
with the elections.

The ruling Republican Party doesn’t try to solve the situation in
Lernapar which is too tense and can have unpredictable consequences.

BURBANK NEIGHBORHOOD EVACUATED AFTER SHOTS FIRED; 4 MEN DETAINED

CBS Local Los Angeles

May 3 2012
CA

BURBANK (CBS) – A residential neighborhood in Burbank was evacuated
Thursday after reports of gun shots fired, according to police.

Police received calls at 6:48 a.m. along the 1800 block of Keeler
Street, according to Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

A witness told police that he saw a man walk outside a home and fire
two shots inside the residence.

When police arrived on scene, officers detected the odor of gun powder
in the air and called for additional units.

One man exited the residence and cooperated with police while three
more people stayed inside the house. It was unclear whether they
were armed.

Shortly after that, SWAT officers arrived on the scene and evacuated
the area.

They then spoke over a loudspeaker in both Armenian and English
and successfully coaxed the other three suspects out of the house
without incident.

All four men were taken into custody just before 12:00 p.m.

GALUST SAHAKYAN RECEIVES THE EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AMBASSADOR OF IRAN SEYED ALI SAGHAYAN

03.05.2012

On May 3 Galust Sahakyan, Head of the RPA faction of the RA National
Assembly, Head of the Armenia-Iran Friendship Group, received Seyed
Ali Saghayan, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia.

Mr Sahakyan has highly appreciated the work done by the Iranian
diplomat in the development and strengthening of the Armenian-Iranian
relations and expressed regret that he is going to complete his
diplomatic mission in Armenia.

The Iranian Ambassador thanked the Armenian people and the authorities
for showing warm attitude during his tenure and ensured that he
would always remain the Armenian people’s friend. To his assessment
Galust Sahakyan’s role has been very big in the development
of the Armenian-Iranian relations and the reinforcement of the
inter-parliamentary ties of the two countries.

Both sides have emphasized the dynamic progress of the Armenian-Iranian
economic relations, and at the same time have recorded that there are
bigger perspectives in the development of those relations, increasing
of the goods turnover, which should be used for the sake of the two
peoples’ welfare. The parties have highly assessed the balanced policy
of the two countries directed to the regional peace and the efforts
of solving any problem through negotiation, expressing conviction
that by these factors are conditioned the forecasting of the regional
countries and their stable development.

In the course of the meeting issues pertaining to Armenia-Iran
inter-parliamentary relations, educational-cultural ties, development
of tourism and regional cooperation were also discussed.

REPRESENTATIVE OF HERITAGE PARTY COMPARES ANC-PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY COOPERATION WITH FAKE MARRIAGE

arminfo
Thursday, May 3, 15:18

Heritage Party has joined no electoral headquarters for it has
easily made sure that the given body aims to “legalize” electoral
irregularities of the Prosperous Armenia Party, a member of the ruling
coalition. Ruben Hakobyan, Vice Chairman of the Heritage Party Board,
made such statement in a press conference on Thursday.

To recall, Heritage, ARFD, ANC and Prosperous Armenia signed
a declaration to set up a single electoral headquarters, but
later Heritage withdrew from the given union because of certain
disagreements. It has become a reason for harsh criticism of the party,
which was accused of aiding and abetting the ruling Republican Party.

Hakobyan said that at the very beginning of the headquarters’
formation Heritage Party suggested a provision banning the parties
involved in the given structures from charity. However, Prosperous
Armenia was the first to oppose the suggestion. Hakobyan said that in
the given situation the Armenian National Congress for some unknown
reasons refused its role of “Trumpet of Truth”, though previously
the Congress had not avoided even the street language to unveil the
authorities’ actions.

“This Union of the Armenian National Congress and Prosperous Armenia
Party is like a fake marriage wherein each party has its exact task.

The task of Prosperous Armenia was to shut the Congress’ mouth, while
the motives of the Congress in this game are not clear to me,” Hakobyan
said. For conclusion, he expressed confidence that the “honey moon”
of the oppositional ANC and coalitional Prosperous Armenia Party will
not last long.

ARA NRANYAN: ARMENIA NEEDS A NEW KIND OF ECONOMY

Panorama.am
03/05/2012

Armenia needs a new kind of economy, ARF parliamentary faction
member Ara Nranyan told a meeting with businessmen initiated by ARF
Supreme Body.

“There are two types of economies in Armenia. One is the one you will
find in executive body documents. It is the virtual economy. And then
there is a system which faces real challenges,” Nranyan said.

“We suggest building a new economy in Armenia. The current economy is
unable to solve our problems: to create jobs, to attract investments,
to ensure competition. Therefore ARF’s election program envisages
building a new economic model in Armenia free of neoliberal dogmas,
in line with the international experience and in consideration of
the future challenges,” the ARF member concluded.

REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATE KARAPETYAN – NO HOUSE, LAND OR CAR?
Grisha Balasanyan

HETQ.AM
09:14, May 3, 2012

There are five candidates running for a seat in parliament from the
32nd Election District in Armenia’s north-eastern Tavoush Marz. Let’s
take a brief look at their finances.

Karen Karapetyan (Republican Party) – He’s the former Presidential
Chief of Staff and sits on the board of the Tashir Benevolent
Foundation.

On his financial disclosure, he claims to own no house, land or car.

He received a 1.9 million AMD salary as Chief of Staff. His other
income, 86.8 million AMD, derives from shares in the company, Tashir
Invest Group.

As of March 1, Karapetyan had bank deposits of 180 million AMD and
$189,000.

Ofelya Vahanyan – Her financial disclosure is a blank page. She
reported no income during the past year.

Nayiri Aroyan (Armenia’s People Party) – She claims to be unemployed
with no money in the bank. The candidate owns an apartment in Yerevan
and a car over twenty years old.

Anoushavan Nikoghosyan – He is the Director of ANDAV Ltd. He owns
real estate in Stepanavan and an apartment in Yerevan. He reported
an annual salary of 720,000 AMD from the company last year.

As of March 1, his bank accounts totalled 1.2 million AMD.

Artak Mirzoyan – This candidate is also unemployed, but he has an
apartment in Yerevan and land in the community of Bovadzor.

He reported 200,000 AMD in revenue from the sale of fodder grass,
324,000 in social benefits, and 500,000 AMD in financial assistance
from an unnamed individual.

As of March 1, his bank deposits total 777,000 AMD.

ZHOGHOVURD: LAW ENFORCERS RESUME INVESTIGATION INTO KHACHIKYAN’S CASE

Panorama.am
03/05/2012

According to Zhoghovurd, law enforcement bodies have resumed
investigation into the case of former Chairman of Social Security
State Foundation Vazgen Khachikyan who was fired on charges of misuse
of public funds. The examination of the case will enter active phase
after the elections, the paper says.

The paper asked Khachikyan whether he has been invited to Prosecutor’s
Office or Police.

“No, your information is not true,” he is quoted as saying.

A NEW CHURCH IS BEING BUILT IN ARTSAKH’S GISHY VILLAGE

ARMENPRESS
3 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS: On April 29 Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan
conducted the groundbreaking ceremony of Saint Grigor Lusavorich church
in Gishy village, Martuny district. The construction of the church
is initiated and financed by Karen Baghramyan, Russian businessman,
Gishy native resident, the information center of Artsakh Diocese of
Armenia’s Apostolic Church told Armenpress.

Architectural design is by Valery Hayrapetyan. Artsakh Diocese
clergymen by the leadership of Pargev Srbazan initially washed
the cornerstones by name of Jesus Christ, his apostles, four
evangelists and Saint Grigor Lusavorich with wine and water; hence
those cornerstones were placed in the base of construction of the
scheduled church. Consecration ceremony followed then.

The benefactor himself installed the church’s construction protocol in
the grounds of the church. Reportedly Pargev Archbishop congratulated
Gishy villagers on the occasion; Artsakh Archbishop high estimated the
fact that Artsakh native compatriots do not forget their mother land,
and contribute to the patriotic initiatives.

Artsakh Republic National Assembly deputies, government members,
representatives of regional and municipal authorities partook in
the event.

LE BUREAU DE SURVEILLANCE DES ELECTIONS SAISIRA LA COUR CONSTITUTIONNELLE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 3 mai 2012

Les trois partis ayant forme ledit Bureau, Armenie prospère,
Dachnak et CNA, ont fait part de leur intention de saisir la Cour
constitutionnelle afin de faire reconnaître comme anticonstitutionnels
les articles 11, 31 et 33 du Code electoral qui interdisent de rendre
publiques, une fois les elections terminees, les listes d’electeurs
avec la signature des personnes ayant vote. Les trois partis
estiment que le fait que les listes d’electeurs restent secrètes
après le vote, permettent aux autorites de les manipuler. Vartan
Oskanian, N°2 d’Armenie prospère, a estime, lors d’une conference de
presse, que cette saisine de la Cour constitutionnelle n’avait pas
d’alternative, puisque les irregularites dans les listes electorales
sont si importantes et massives, d’après lui, que l’unique moyen de
croire en la sincerite des resultats des elections etait de pouvoir
verifier les listes des personnes qui avaient vote. Il a dit esperer
que la Cour constitutionnelle prendrait une decision raisonnable, vu
l’enjeu des prochaines elections pour l’avenir du pays. M. Oskanian
etait venu a la conference de presse avec des centaines de temoignages
d’irregularites dans les listes electorales.

Le representant du CNA, Levon Zourabian, quant a lui, a affirme
qu’il y avait une enorme quantite d’adresses où plus de 10 personnes
etaient immatriculees. Dans certaines circonscriptions 20% des
electeurs vivaient dans 4% des appartements… Les listes electorales
contenaient, selon lui, des adresses d’immeubles, qui, soit n’existent
plus, soit sont inaptes a l’habitation.

Pour saisir la Cour constitutionnelle, la signature de 27 deputes est
requise, ce qui est a la portee des Dachnaks et d’Armenie prospère. Le
parti Heritage, qui, dans un premier temps, s’etait associe a ce bureau
pour le quitter quelques jours après, n’a pas exclu que ses deputes
apposent egalement leur signature sur la requete des trois partis. /
Rapporte par l’ensemble de la presse

L’editorial de Jamanak qualifie de ” naïve ” cette initiative des trois
partis, estimant que ” saisir la Cour constitutionnelle armenienne,
signifiait en d’autres termes perdre son temps “, puisque cette
instance n’avait jamais censure aucune action anticonstitutionnelle,
demeurant ” attachee au pouvoir executif “.

L’editorial s’etonne qu’Armenie prospère souhaite faire reconnaître
comme anticonstitutionnels certains articles du Code electoral qu’il
a lui-meme votes.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

ITALIANS TO OPEN BRANDY-WINE FACTORY IN ARMENIA

news.am
May 03, 2012 | 01:15

Golden Grape Armas Company continues the construction works of the
wine-brandy factory in Armenia’s Aragatsotn region with the support
of Italian capital. But the programs of the company have been delayed.

The outer construction works of the factory are completed. Currently
the inner construction works are underway. The company applied to
the Armenian Government asking to extend the deferment of value-added
tax for imported investment goods until February 1, 2013.