Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

TIGRAN KARAPETIAN: NOT JOINING ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ON THRESHOLD OF ELECTIONS IS BETRAYAL BY ZHARANGUTIUN

Noyan Tapan

M arch 17, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s authorities and opposition
do not differ from each other in anything: their goal is the same,
to have power at any price. Tigran Karapetian, the Chairman of the
People’s Party, stated at the March 17 press conference. According to
him, the political force headed by him has declared its decision to
run for the Yerevan councillor members’ May 31 elections long ago,
but neither the opposition nor the pro-governmental media recorded
that fact.

Touching upon the preelection roll of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), T. Karapetian said that on the whole he positively estimates
the presence of the name of first President Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
first place. However, as the PP Chairman added, in case of winning
the elections the first President will not agree to work as a Mayor
and will cede his place to Stepan Demirchian, who is in the second
place. "And Demirchian is the person, who collapsed, degradated the
Ardarutiun (Justice) bloc, and his former team-mates are currently
in the power links," T. Karapetian said.

As to Zharangutiun (Heritage) party’s decision to run for the
councillor members’ elections individually, according to the PP
Chairman, in this case not joining ANC is just a betrayal. According
to T. Karapetian’s estimation, by not joining ANC Zharangutiun proves
its not being a real opposition. The speaker also mentioned that
among Mayor’s candidates known so far he likes Bargavach Hayastan
party representative, RA Minister of Health Haroutiun Kushkian,
"as he is a state figure, a businessman, and an intellectual."

THE "DOCUMENT" ON SALE OF A LARGE BATCH OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS TO ARMENIA IS FALSIFIED

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 16, 2009 Monday
Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accomplished a two-day visit to
Baku. He discussed bilateral relations, resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and preparation for the third Caspian summit to be held in
the capital of Azerbaijan with his Azerbaijani colleagues.

Journalists were very interested in the issue of the Gabala radar
station.

Lavrov announced, "Russia is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan
in the use of the Gabala radar station. Naturally, we will implement
this interest through agreements with the Azerbaijani colleagues." The
period of rent of the Gabala radar station by Russia expires in
2012. Literally on the eve of Lavrov’s visit, Azerbaijani mass media
reported that the Pentagon reportedly grew interested in use of the
Gabala radar station. However, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov hurried to assure the Russian guest and the journalists,
"The transfer of the Gabala radar station to some other country is
not on the agenda."

Afterwards it was the turn of Lavrov to sooth down the Azerbaijani. He
said that a "document" which claimed that Russia allegedly supplied
a big batch of weapons to Armenia published by the local press was
fabricated.

Interfax, Russia
March 13 2009

Armenia considers sending peacekeepers to Afghanistan – diplomat

YEREVAN March 13

Armenia is considering sending peacekeepers to Afghanistan, head of
the Armenian Foreign Ministry section for NATO issues Arman Israelian
announced on Friday.

"The Foreign Ministry is discussing the issue and a positive decision
is likely to be made," he said at a South Caucasian youth forum
dedicated to the 60th anniversary of NATO.

Armenian peacekeepers are currently stationed in Kosovo. Previously
Armenia was involved in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq.

Gishi Pursues Former Fame

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

March 10, 2009

The village Gishi having passed a stable development during the Soviet
years today is one of the prospering communities of the Republic as
well, and the major part of its own problems settles itself. During the
last year, restoration works were implemented in the village, this was
mentioned about by Gevorg Balayan, the community head, in his account
on the works implemented in the village in 2008. During the accounting
meeting, which was participated by the NKR Prime Minister Ara
Haroutyunyan, the tasks for this year were also discussed.

During the hard years of war and post-war period the village roads and
units of vital importance were disregarded, the villager only thought
of cultivation of the privatized lands and satisfaction of the family
needs. Today, when the works have been regulated to some extent by
state support and develop in natural way, inhabitants of Gishi settle
down to restoring and preserving their property. There is a medical
post, a ceremony house, a community administration building and an
operating club in the village. This year a new school and a nursery
school for 127 children under school age will be built by the state
programme.

During the accounting year, from 765 hectares of arable land 595
hectares instead of the 268 hectares of the previous year were
cultivated. The considerable part of autumn sowing works were carried
out on the privatized lands. The support provided by the Government
facilitates the villagers’ work. Nobody quitted the village during the
years of war, today as well inhabitants of Gishi do not think of work
abroad, they develop their native land through overcoming the
difficulties. There is a large perspective here, the villagers speak
more of achievements, the village had 1385 inhabitants, in 2008, 25
children were born and 26 families were founded in Gishi. A section of
the Karmir Shouka – Martouni road being under reconstruction passes
through the village, and will contribute to the prosperity of the
community. The internal water system is liable to reconstruction. The
sore subject of the community is the irrigation system. Inhabitants of
Gishi anticipate the state support in settling the problem.
Disagreements arose in concern with the problem of providing the
regional administration centre of Martouni with drinking and irrigating
water from the water supplies of Qahriz, because the inhabitants of
Gishi were deprived of irrigating water. The problem requires a
mutually beneficial settlement. As a result of discussions carried on
round the proposals of the Prime Minister, the head of the regional
administration and the villagers a mutual agreement was reached. During
the three months of the irrigation season people of Gishi will make use
of the water, and the citizens of Martouni will be provided with water
from the artesian wells.

The questions of the inhabitants of Gishi directed to the Head of the
Government were not only of communal character: they are troubled by
the absence of a refrigerated slotter-house in the Republic, by the
opportunity of getting village machinery and by other issues. The
question concerning the villagers’ seniority raised by Rafael
Hairapetyan, teacher of the Russian language and literature, causes an
overall anxiety.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Case of Seven hearing to be held without accused?
12.03.2009 19:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only accused present at the hearing, Grigor
Voskerchyan, was hospitalized because of ill health. The other six
accused Myasnik Malkhasyan, Sasun Mikaelyan, Hakob Hakobyan, Alexander
Arzumanyan, Suren Sirunyan, and Shant Harutyunyan were removed from
the courtroom over disrespect for the court for 10 days.

Having been postponed twice, the hearing was continued today, attended
by Grigor Voskerchyan’s attorney Stepan Harutyunyan. Like the day
before, the hearing was held with one accused Grigor Voskerchyan, who
repeatedly filed a petition against the judge. Mnatsakan Martirosyan
refused to consider it, alleging that similar petition has already
been filed before. The attorneys filed a petition for rejection of
secretary of the sitting, claiming his deviation from duties.

The judge left the courtroom for an hour’s discussion of the petition,
yet the hearing couldn’t be continue because of Grigor Voskerchyan’s
worsened health. He was examined by the doctor who asserted he had
high blood pressure. According to Voskerchyan’s attorney, the judge
has been informed about the ill health of the accused during the
hearing, yet refused to take it into consideration. The hearing will
be continued tomorrow.

Prime Minister of Armenia: Armenia does not support state protectionism

2009-03-13 19:12:00

ArmInfo. Armenia does not support state protectionism. The government
policy aims to overcome the temporary difficulties in the country that
originated for quite objective reason, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran
Sargsyan told media Friday.

He said protectionism for a long period of time leads to negative
consequences. In future, when global economy will overcome the crisis,
it will be possible to speak of changes in Armenia’s policy. Only in
this case it will be possible to speak of minimizing government
guarantees and providing state loans. `That is why the current measures
should have temporary nature’, T. Sargsyan said. He underlined that
many states have resorted to protectionism being aware of its
harmfulness. In particular, car industry is in question, which enjoys
state support. `Such measures are taken also in Armenia and it is
difficult to call these measures protectionism. It is assistance in
overcoming temporary difficulties by combined efforts’, the premier
said.

As regards the recall of the bill on amendments to the Law on Customs
Duty by the government, the premier explained that the national dram
devaluated by 20% whereas the law provides for a 10-15% growth of the
customs duty on a series of imported commodities. This devaluation is
an impetus for development of the country’s export potential and
creates favorable conditions to stiffen the local competition. `The
developments will show if the government will return to this bill or
not’, the premier said. He underlined that the increase of the customs
duties will have temporary character and will apply to the commodities
produced in Armenia. Thus, this government measure aims to support
local producers. If the customs duty rises by 15%, local producers will
grow their capacities to 30%, the premier said.

Panorama.am
17:45 12/03/2009

ARMED FORCES OF AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES CEASEFIRE

On the night of 12 March and during the day the ceasefire has been
violated in the contact line of Azerbaijan-Nagorno Karabakh, reports
the Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh. The Azeri armed forces fired
the military units of NKR army in the directions of Qarvend, Ashagh
Saidahmedli, Karachanbeili, Ashagh Veisali, Kuropatkino, Seisulan,
Levonarch, Karmiravan and Yarmdja.

The NKR defense army took appropriate measures and the rival stopped
shooting. Nagorno Karabakh armed forces did not suffer losses.

Source: Panorama.am

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armen Harutyunyan: public better prepared for democracy than political system
10.03.2009 14:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It’s not a secret that human rights are not
protected properly in Armenia, the republic’s Ombudsman said.

`The authorities should take action instead of thinking about reports
issued by various foreign organizations and states,’ Armen Harutyunyan
said during the presentation of his 2008 report.

`We do our best to be impartial. But when we criticize the authorities
we are accused of playing into the opposition’s hands, or on the
contrary,’ he said, adding that presently, the public is better
prepared for democracy than political system.

Armenian company ACP negotiates with Russian VTB bank on attraction of
extra credit

2009-03-09 16:08:00

ArmInfo. Armenian metallurgy company Armenian cooper Programme [ACP] is
negotiating with Russian VTB bank on attraction of extra credit up to
$280 mln instead of the arranged earlier $249,5 mln, director of ACP,
Gagik Arzumanayan, told journalists when replying to the ArmInfo
correspondent’s question, Monday.

He also added that to fulfill the programme of launching of the Tekhut
cooper and molybdenum mine field in the north of Armenia they need
attraction of extra funds. The credit between ACP and VTB bank at the
sum $249,5 mln was signed in 27 May 2008 in Yerevan. Arzumanyan also
said that last week in Moscow he met leaders of the Russian bank. "We
seem to find the format which will make it possible to start financing
of the Tekhut in a month or two", – he said and added that $280 mln
credit will be given the company through several tranches. He hopes the
first tranche $50 mln will be given in 2009.
Arzumanyan recalled that according to the credit programme mining and
processing of ore from the Tekhut deposit will start in 2011.

To recall, Russian VTB and ACP signed a US$249.5 million credit in
Yerevan on May 27 2008. The credit was provided for 12 years. Ore
reserves at Tekhut deposit total 450 million tons, whereas copper
reserves make up 1.6 million tons with average 0.355% of copper
content. Molybdenum reserves total 99,000 tons with average molybdenum
content of 0.021%. Nearly 25-30,000 tons of copper and 800 tons of
molybdenum are to be recovered annually to ensure 40-50% of total
copper and about 20% of total molybdenum recovery in the country. ACB
was given a license for exploitation of the deposit for 25 years in
2001. Liechtenstein-registered Vallex F.M. Establishment holds 81pct
stake in the Armenian Cooper Programme CJSC and a citizen of Russia
Valery Mejlumyan holds a 19pct stake in the company. V. Mejlumyan says
the turnover of Vallex group for 2007 totaled US$160 million, profit –
US$20 million.

Third Armenian-Azerbaijani Public Peace Forum devoted to
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take place in Vienna

2009-03-08 13:57:00

ArmInfo. The International Alert organization will hold the third
Armenian- Azerbaijani Public Peace Forum on the topic "Security:
Challenges and Opportunities, and Mechanisms for Building Confidence"
in Vienna on March 24-27. The discussions will be devoted to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, International Alert Projects Manager Eurasia
Programme Dessislava Roussanova told ArmInfo.

She pointed out that there are going to be two main issues that will be
discussed: the issue of growing insecurity in the region, and possible
mechanisms and measures to build confidence between Armenian and
Azerbaijani societies.

According to Roussanova, in the course of last years, and particularly
in the past months after the summer of 2008, the organization has been
monitoring very closely the perceptions of the population from all
sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict divide concerning different
aspects of security. There is one prevailing view among many Armenians
and Azerbaijanis – this is the view that a profound lack of trust
between the societies involved in the disputes in the Caucasus is a
main reason for the growing sense of insecurity, fear and threat that
people experience. But there is also a shared sense among the
populations that developing more trust between societies can be the
only real guarantor for reaching peace and stability.

At the Forum, the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations, as well as some
international actors, will be discussing ideas and proposals for
measures and initiatives that could help the process of confidence
building between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Although the sessions
of the Forum will be taking place behind closed doors all agreed final
ideas and recommendations will be made available to the
public after the Forum. The participants in the Forum will be overall
36 Armenian and Azerbaijani experts and civil society leaders.
Furthermore, there is going to be significant participation of experts
and civil society leaders from Nagorno-Karabakh.

This is the Third Armenian-Azerbaijani Public Peace Forum. The previous
two were in May 2008 in Istanbul and in October 2008 in Brussels.
"These events are taking place in the framework of
International Alert’s long term initiatives aiming to support peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As you know we are one of
these organisations that have been working in the Caucasus for almost
20 years now. Otherwise we work in 24 other regions in the world that
have been affected by conflicts. We have many global initiatives as
well. But the South Caucasus has been always one of our priorities",-
she said.