Author: Takmazian

"DON’T CHARGE SURIK"

2/suicide
05:59 pm | September 22, 2009

Society

On September 18 at 2:50 p.m. the Jrashen village council alarmed
the Spitak police division that Anahit Khaneyan, 44, had committed
suicide on her roof by hanging herself.

The investigative group left for the scene and found Khaneyan’s body
hanging from the wooden column of the roof.

There were no traces of bruises on the body. Khaneyan had written
a note reading: "Don’t charge Surik [her husband]. Surik is not
guilty. We were a nice family."

A forensic medicine examination has been assigned and according to
the police, the facts are being cleared up. Preliminary investigation
is underway.

FOUR GRAVITY SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SIGNED

armradio.am
22.09.2009 15:47

On September 22, 2009 the Millennium Challenge Armenia (MCA-Armenia)
SNCO signed a contract with Arpa-Sevan Open Joint Stock Company
(Armenia) to perform construction works on the Aygezard, Shenik,
Mantash and Vardenis gravity systems. The contract was signed by Ara
Hovsepyan, MCA-Armenia CEO and Paruir Hakobyan, Director of Arpa-Sevan.

Present at the signing ceremony was the RA Deputy Prime-Minister,
Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan. Mr. Gevorgyan
is also member of MCA-Armenia’s Governing Council.

The contract price is 5, 512, 827.12 US dollars and the term of the
contract is 20 months.

More than 61, 000 farmers in 23 communities of Ararat, Armavir,
Gegharkunik and Shirak marzes will benefit from the construction of
these gravity systems.

Construction of the four gravity schemes is one of the key components
of MCA-Armenia Irrigation Infrastructure Activity, under which
MCA-Armenia will conduct rehabilitation works on 6 main canals,
renovate 17 pumping stations, help the farmers in more than 70
communities to upgrade their tertiary irrigation systems, and make
improvements to the Ararat valley drainage system.

Interfax, Russia
Sept 18 2009

Three Armenian opposition lawmakers lose mandates as organizers of unrest

YEREVAN Sept 18

Armenia’s Central Election Commission has annulled the mandates of
three parliamentary deputies, the commission told Interfax on
Thursday.

"The opposition deputies Sasun Mikaelian, Akop Akopian and Myasnik
Malkhasian are under court verdicts," it said.

The deputies were earlier charged with organizing mass disturbances in
Yerevan on March 1, 2008. Akopian and Malkhasian were freed under
amnesty and Mikaelian was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Mikaelian’s place will be filled by Republican Party member Ovanes
Saakian under the party ticket. Elections will be held in the two
electoral districts, where Malkhasian and Akopian ran, the commission
said.

Clashes erupted between police and opposition activists protesting the
outcome of the presidential election in Yerevan on March 1, in which
ten people were killed and over 250 injured.

Earlier, Khachatur Sukiasian gave up his parliamentary mandate. He had
been on a wanted list on charges of organizing mass disturbances in
March 2008.

TBILISI, BATUMI, MIN-VODI, EUROPE AIR DIRECTIONS TO FUNCTION FROM OCTOBER 1

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: "Opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border will be economically profitable for Armenia, it will
give an opportunity to certain transportation means to go to the
Mediterranean Sea, but we must also take into account how much the
economic expenditures will be reduced after the opening of the border,"
during today’s meeting with journalists the Head of "Armavia" company
Michael Baghdasarov said.

According to him, the opening of the border is profitable because
the company will no more implement flights through the Georgian
territory. Besides that after the opening the cargo transportations
will also be profitable to be conducted through a financially cheaper
way on railroad.

"For Turkey the opening of the border is also profitable that it will
obtain a great market of realization," M. Baghdasarov said.

Referring to the international economic crisis M. Baghdasarov said that
"the crisis goes on and will still continue to, though its tempos in
the world have decreased. It has a tendency to deepen by the end of
the year, but the Armenian specialists understand their tasks well
and in virtue of that there are hopes that it will not continue in the
same tempos at the beginning of the next year, and will be smoother".

"One of the best ways to overcome crisis is to create new jobs,"
M. Baghdasarov said noting that during the last five years nearly
five dozens of new job places have opened in the "Armavia" airlines.

According to him to ensure the further development of the Armenian
aviation Tbilisi, Batumi, Min-Vodi, Europe directions will function
from October 1. Referring to the actives of the company M. Baghdasarian
said that during the last year they have increased due to the
activity of "Armavia" and wide consumption of petroleum. The volumes
of realization of cement have reduced for known reasons.

"After opening the border the prices of petroleum will decrease for
10% as it is rather expe ian border," M. Baghdasarov said.

SARKISIAN EXPLAINS TURKEY MOVES TO ARMENIAN PARTIES
Irina Hovannisian

Armenialiberty.org
Sept 17 2009

Armenia — President Serzh Sarkisian and leaders of 52 Armenian parties
meet to discuss Turkish-Armenian agreements on September 17, 2009.

President Serzh Sarkisian acknowledged that his conciliatory policy
toward Turkey is fraught with pitfalls for Armenia on Thursday as
he discussed it with leaders of more than 50 Armenian parties mostly
loyal to his administration.

The five-hour meeting, held behind the closed doors and boycotted by
the country’s most outspoken opposition forces, was part of "internal
political consultations" which the Armenian and Turkish governments
have pledged to hold before signing fence-mending agreements next
month.

"I too see risks, I too have concerns," Sarkisian said in his opening
remarks publicized by the presidential press service. He nonetheless
defended Armenia’s dramatic rapprochement with Turkey that began
shortly after he took office in April last year.

Armenia — President Serzh Sarkisian briefs Armenian party leaders on
his recent agreements with Turkety on September 18, 2009."Let us judge
together," continued Sarkisian. "Are we sacrificing our convictions
and our belief in truth with these documents, or we are paving the
way for driving them home instead of confining ourselves to secluded
purity? Let us understand that together."

The president referred to two draft protocols envisaging the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and
the reopening of their border. Local opposition groups, notably the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), strongly object to
some of their key provisions such as formal recognition of Armenia’s
existing border with Turkey.

Dashnaktsutyun was represented at the meeting by one of its top
leaders, Armen Rustamian. He said he reiterated the nationalist party’s
concerns and pressed Sarkisian to clarify whether the protocols can
be altered before their signing by the two governments.

"It emerged that major changes in them could be made only during the
[parliamentary] ratification phase," Rustamian told RFE/RL. "This
means that if there are really important and serious views [voiced on
the subject,] the negotiating party must take them into consideration
but will be free to decide whether or not to back them … This is
simply unacceptable to us."

Rustamian added that the Dashnaktsutyun concerns were echoed by other
party leaders and seemed to have influenced Sarkisian’s thinking. "I
think that as a result of the discussions, some changes occurred
in the president’s attitudes," he said. "Thank God, there were also
other political forces that had the same concerns and expressed them
in one way or another."

According to Aram Karapetian, the leader of the opposition Nor
Zhamanakner party who also attended the meeting, most participants
agreed that the protocols are "flawed." He said they were also
worried that the planned formation of a Turkish-Armenian commission
of historians would thwart greater international recognition of the
Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire. "Serzh Sarkisian looked a
different person after the meeting," claimed Karapetian.

"He had the same concerns which others had," said Vazgen Manukian, the
veteran leader of the National Democratic Union, a once influential
party loyal to Armenia’s current leadership. But, he said, Sarkisian
at the same time made a convincing case for the continuation of the
Turkish-Armenian dialogue.

"When you lock yourself in a room, you won’t have any concerns,"
Manukian told RFE/RL. "But when you get out, walk the streets and
start talking to others, there will always be problems. That’s what
makes life interesting."

Meanwhile, the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) and
Zharangutyun party defended their decision to boycott what they see as
a meaningless discussion. HAK spokesman Arman Musinian also said that
the opposition alliance led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian
will not cooperate with the authorities on any issue until the latter
release all of the opposition members arrested following the February
2008 presidential election.

For his part, Zharangutyun leader Armen Martirosian insisted on the
party’s demands for a national referendum on the Turkish-Armenian
agreements. "Besides, the foreign minister said in the National
Assembly yesterday that nothing will be changed in the finalized
protocols," said Martirosian. "So what are we supposed to discuss?"

DELEGATION HEADED BY THE ARMENIAN VICE PRIME MINISTER TAKES PART IN THE OPENING CEREMONY OF "SOCHI-2009" 8TH INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Official delegation headed by the
Armenian vice Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration
Armen Gevorgyan took part today in the opening ceremony of "Soch-2009"
8th international investment conference.

Public relations department of RA Ministry of Territorial
Administration told Armenpress that within the frameworks of the
conference the main thematic discussion was held with the participation
of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Afterwards the representatives of Armenia got acquainted with the
pavilions presented within the frameworks of the conference. They also
visited the Armenian pavilion where the Armenian Development Agency
presents the products and services of "BAMO", "Arev", "Antihail",
"NGMD", "Sis-Massis" companies, "Diagnostica" medical center,
"Ararat brandy-wine-vodka factory" and the Tavush province.

The delegation headed by Armen Gevorgyan met the representatives of
"Olympstroy" company during which the "Armenia" hotel complex was
presented in the electronic variant which will be constructed in the
Imiritian valley in Sochi.

The specialists of "Olympstroy" also presented the projects of
construction of hotel complexes by other CIS states.

Armenia is one of the first states to react the proposal of Russia
to construct a hotel in Sochi in the national architectural style
and the hotel design is already drafted.

During the meeting opportunities of involvement of the Armenian labor
force in the construction works of Olympic establishments as well
as supply of construction materials of Armenian production have also
been discussed.

On the same day vice Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan returned to Yerevan
but the other members of the delegation will continue to partake in
the works of "Sochi-2009" 8th international investment conference by
September 20.

OMBUDSMAN YET AGAIN TRIES TO PLEASE EVERYONE

Tert
Sept 18 2009
Armenia

The report which referred to events that took place after last
year’s elections came to the conclusion that the causes of the
situation were objective, which is a result of systemic mistakes
by governing authorities, said Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan during a
press conference today.

According to Harutyunyan, the negative examples in the report were
mainly connected with the opposition. "There is nothing in the
Commission’s conclusion that says that the state of emergency [that
is, the media lockdown] was only applied to opposition media." It
is important to note that during the events of March 1, when the
president declared a media lockdown, only national media were able
to broadcast news.

Harutyunyan also emphasized the conclusion was too mild in terms of
the ten victims and noted that the commission has tried to spare
the prosecutor’s office from the beginning to the end. "Mainly,
they speak about the police, the Special Investigation Service;
they speak as little as they have to. There is no mention of the
prosecutor’s office."

The human rights defender also considers it favourable that the
report mentions a display of gloveless,"bare hands" holding a weapon,
subjecting people to beatings, but does not reveal whose weapon it was.

Touching upon the negative aspects of the report, the ombudsman said
it lacks clarity adding, however, that "giving one-sided evaluations
on specific tenets, the commission has been objective, in general,
which is most important."

"The Commission unequivocally states that the main reasons were
systemic, institutional reasons; that is, over-centralization of
governing bodies, a class of people who had special advantages,
and other [reasons]," the ombudsman stated.

In Harutyunyan’s opinion, that’s the reason which created such a
situation, "but who and how they directed the situation is another
matter."

DISCUSSION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS TO LAST UNTIL OCTOBER 13

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2009 16:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Within coming weeks discussions of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols will start, and I will take part in them,
so we have decided to launch consultations from the meeting with
leaders of political parties of the country," Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said in Yerevan today, opening the meeting with party
leaders. According to him, current consultations will lay the basis
for further debate on the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Acording to the president, very important and positive phase,
i.e. public and political discussions of the Protocols have started
in the Armenian society since signing the agreement on normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations.

"In those days I have carefully examined all the proposals and
views, including negative ones. I also have heard the concerns of
the society. I also see the risks and have some concerns in regard
to protocols.

However, we must understand how we run the risk and what we will get
and what we intend to do.

Inviting the Turkey’s President to Armenia, I intended to start talks
on the possibility to normalize relations and to make clear that people
suffered from Genocide, has the strength and will to give a helping
hand first and ready to follow the generally accepted international
standards, " Serzh Sargsyan said.

Serzh Sargsyan mentioned that the current phase is a phase of
discussion and ratification of the Protocols, which presented in
the public as the defeat of the Armenian foreign policy. He offered
to discuss what these protocols can give to Armenia and what can
Armenia lose.

" I do not think that the establishment of diplomatic relations with
Turkey and opening of the border are the program-maximum or program-
minimum.

I consider this process as providing a minimum platform to begin
a dialogue with the Turks. We have a lot of problems with Turkey,
which must be addressed: economic, political and historical. I think
that we are on the way of so problems.

If we closed any door to solve the problem, you have to say about
it. We need to understand all the gaps to be addressed together. If
we really want to normalize relations with Turkey, let’s understand
what everyone will do and what we must all do in this direction,
" Serzh Sargsyan said, adding that no political force has declared
that it is against normalization of relations with Turkey so far.

The meeting between the president and leaders of political parties
lasted about five hours behind closed doors. 64 political forces were
invited , only 52 came.

ARMENIAN TEAM TO KNOW THEIR RIVALS AT SELECTION FOR EURO-2012 IN FEBRUARY 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2009 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Team will get familiar with
their rivals at World Cup 2012 qualifying group on February 7, 2010
in Warsaw.

UEFA Executive Committee approved the scheme for the qualification
round of Europe – 2012 championship. The competitions will be attended
by 51 national team, 14 trips to the final stage will be raffled off.

Hosts: Ukrainians and Poles will go to Euro 2012 without any selection.

Champions of Europe 2008 Spaniards are not granted such a right.

Teams will be divided into nine qualifying groups. 10 trips to the
Euro 2012 will receive winners and one best second team.

The remaining eight teams will compete for the second remaining four
vacancies in the playoffs.

VARDAN KHACHATRYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS SMALL PART OF MOSAIC

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.09.2009 15:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish relations are a small part of the
mosaic invented by world powers, according to RA National Assembly
member Vardan Khachatryan.

"Having experienced the negative consequences of Berlin process and
Lausanne conference, Armenia should be cautious about the Protocols,
which do not leave room for maneuvering. Powers are ruling," he said,
adding that Turkey and Azerbaijan are important factors for Europe.

"If these protocols are ratified, the process of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be frozen. Relations with
Diaspora will be strained," Khachatryan said.