WHAT PROBLEM DOES THE SALE OF FIFTH GENERATING UNIT SOLVE?
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
21 June 06
How can a man selling his furniture or fridge to support his family be
described, even if that man is the only man in the family? The sale
of the fifth generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan
was but a global model of this example. Therefore, a description is
necessary. However, the public does not have enough information to
give a description, a description of the deal. Serge Sargsyan promised
to give this information. He said there are details, and on learning
these details the public will become convinced that the state property
was sold successfully. But these details have not been presented
yet. Either because of being busy, or having forgotten or hoping that
the public will forget about the promise to announce the details.
It is also possible that there are no details at all. In this case,
the deal and its authors must be described relying on what there is.
And what is there? The generating unit was sold to solve the problem
of gas for people for three years. Roughly speaking, these 250 million
dollars from the sale of the generating unit will be spent on buying
gas, in other words, we deal with a “generating unit for gas or gas
for generating unit” deal. Surprisingly, the government of Armenia
and the international financial organizations evaluated this deal as
positive. From the point of view of the price and the conditions of
contract may, in fact, quite good. It is necessary, however, to find
out the purpose of the deal. Was it to sell the generating unit or
was it to compensate for the rising price of gas? If the purpose was
to sell the generating unit, why did not they put it out to tender,
why no bids were made? After all, the Iranians also had a proposal
regarding the block; of course, they bid a lower price, but instead
the generating unit would remain the property of Armenia. The Iranian
proposal was a loan, but it is more logical than irretrievable
spending of the money from the sale within three years and losing
the property. In other words, the Armenian government does not and
will not benefit from the deal.
The explanation that by subsidizing gas the Armenian production
becomes more competitive is almost as far from being logical as the
deal itself. In fact, they can similarly sell whatever the state has
and cover all the expenses on energy instead of subsidizing. Hence,
our economy will become competitive not only in the region but also in
the European Union. The situation is total absurdity. Over the next
three years, when the government will be subsidizing our economy,
the economies of Georgia and Azerbaijan will simply adapt to the high
price of gas. And when the government stops subsidizing businesses
in three years, it is impossible to imagine the state of Armenian
businesses against Georgian and Azerbaijani businessmen.
Besides, people who think that the economies of Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan compete are badly mistaken. These are so tiny that the
notion of competition does not even occur, because the economies of
the three countries have an insignificant presence on foreign markets.
In other words, it is obvious that the arguments of the government are
excuse rather than explanation. Besides, it is difficult to believe
that the Armenian government agreed to sell the generating unit for
the sake of the Armenian producers and population, because the same
government does not make any efforts to relieve the revaluation of
the Armenian dram, which raises the costs of local production and
empties the pockets of the population.
In the meantime, the revaluation of the dram affects the fifth
generating unit as well. The 250 million dollars that the government
of Armenia receives must be paid to Armrusgasard. It is clear that it
must be paid in drams, because the currency in Armenia is the dram,
as the “witnesses of revaluation of the dram” like to repeat.
Whereas Russia is going to pay 250 million in dollars. The dram is
being revaluated, and 250 million dollars in a dram amount is less now
than at the moment of the deal. Besides, the revaluation may continue,
whereas the price of gas does not change. In fact, 250 million dollars
may not make the necessary dram amount for subsidies in the upcoming
three years. In other words, the sale of the generating unit does
not appear to solve even the problem of subsidizing gas. And it is
becoming more urgent to find out what problem it solves.

MANVEL BADALYAN IS UNDER MORAL PRESSURE
Lragir.am
21 June 06
The Council of Civil Service cannot face all the 42 government agencies
alone, stated Manvel Badalyan, Chair of the Council, June 21 at the
National Press Club. And in order not to face the government agencies
alone, Manvel Badalyan anticipates the practical assistance of the mass
media to reveal the drawbacks in the system of civil service. Manvel
Badalyan admits there are drawbacks, and they are inevitable because
it is a new system in Armenia. The system of civil service is four
years old. Within these four years, says Manvel Badalyan, 8 amendments
were made to the civil service legislation.
“These are made and will be made in the future as well to eliminate
the loopholes that emerge often. Our people are very gifted,” says
Manvel Badalyan. According to him, it is difficult to predict what
a person may do. Manvel Badalyan confesses that in appointing civil
servants subjectivity of ministers and heads of agencies is a problem
in all the ministries and government agencies in Armenia. However,
the chair of the Council of Civil Service says they try their best to
hold fair examinations for the minister and heads of other agencies
to see and give up nepotism because at any rate they have to pass an
exam to get the post. Manvel Badalyan says the situation has changed,
and the ministers realize that nepotism does not work any more. “You
always ask is there pressure? There is no pressure. Where must pressure
come from? If the political government of the Republic is the champion
of this system and made a political decision to introduce this system,
who should make pressure?” says Manvel Badalyan. According to him,
pressure is only moral, it comes from neighbors and acquaintances. They
expect to get some post without thinking that Badalyan is faithful to
justice and law only. Manvel Badalyan says he likes his work and does
not imagine someone who would like it more. The chair of the Council
of Civil Service does not even hide the reason for his devotion. He
says he feels good when he cracks down on fraud in appointing civil
servants and clears the way for the worthy.

SHORTAGE OF SPECIALISTS IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
21 June 06
On June 21 at the National Press Club Manvel Badalyan, chair of the
Council of Civil Service, questioned the statements that there are a
great number of specialists in Armenia. He announced that 431 contests
held by the Council of Civil Service did not have a winner.
Hence, Manvel Badalyan asks where the specialists “the excess of which
is so often considered” are. Manvel Badalyan answers his question:
“They are in the private sector where they are paid better.” The chair
of the Council of Civil Service explains the complaints that people
who are not aware of the sphere win contests for civil service posts
are explained by the lack of specialists.
According to Manvel Badalyan, if the examinations were unfair, and
higher marks were mediated, 431 contests would not remain without
winners. “One of these people would have found a mutual friend or
acquaintance,” says Manvel Badalyan. However, despite the lack of
qualified specialists, the number of participants of contests for
vacant posts of civil servants grows, the age becomes younger.

GRAND INSURANCE COMPANY TO START PAYING COMPENSATION TO RELATIVES OF THE KILLED IN AIR CRASH NEAR SOCHI
Yerevan, June 20. ArmInfo. Grand Insurance Company is to start paying
compensation to the relatives of the killed in the crash of A-320
Airbus near Sochi no more than in 20 days, Artak Antonyan, Grand
Insurance Company Executive Director, told ArmInfo.
The compensation will be paid after all the necessary documents are
registered, Antonyan said. At present, 109 relatives of the killed
have submitted necessary documents to the company, the documents of
another 4 passengers will be submitted within the coming two days, he
said. All the necessary documents were sent to London for confirmation
and transfer of compensation.
To note, Grand Insurance Company reinsured 100% aviation risks at
LLOYD’S reinsurance corporation in London.

AZERBAIJAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: CORRUPTION WILL NEVER ALLOW AZERBAIJAN TO CREATE ITS ARMY
Yerevan, June 20. ArmInfo. Corruption will never allow Azerbaijan to
create its Army, Zardusht Alizade, an Azerbaijan political scientist
said, commenting the statement of Azerbaijan’s FM Elmar Mamediarov
about the readiness to give Karabakh the “highest autonomy status” .
Alizade noted in the interview to the “Real Azerbaijan” newspaper
that the authorities continuously change their positions. “The only
thing that remains unchanged is the position that this problem can
be resolved in the framework of territorial integrity. It proceeds
from the fact that Azerbaijan has no possibility to put pressure on
Armenia. Authorities themselves do not strive to this as the most
important for them is to grab more and not to resolve the Karabakh
conflict”, Alizade said. He reminded the statement of authorities that
they are building an Army able to assure the country’s territorial;
integrity. “But it is a lie. As Lenin said, where corruption exists,
no development can be there”, Alizade concluded.

ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOOKS TO SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ANSWERS TO AMBASSADOR EVANS FIRING
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 10:24
Armenian Americans across the US will be closely following the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearings for US Ambassador
to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland, in hopes of gaining concrete
insight into the exact nature of the State Department’s policy of
complicity in Armenian Genocide denial – particularly as it relates
to the firing of the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall
Evans, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30
pm in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, 419 Dirksen Senate
Office Building and is open to the public.
The hearing comes as Armenian American activists across the US continue
to call on Senators to demand a full explanation for the early recall
of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

93 PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES WILL RECEIVE GOLD MEDALS
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 11:46
93 out of about 49 thousand public school graduates will receive gold
medals this year.
Head of Public Education Department of RA Ministry of Education and
Science Narine Hovhannisyan told “Arminfo.” 30 of the gold medal
holders are from Yerevan, other 63 are from marzes of Armenia, except
for Armavir.
The number of medal holders is great in Syunik, Tavush, Gegharkunik
and Shirak marzes. Seven, six and five graduates received excellent
grades in Aragatsotn, Kotayk and Lori marzes correspondingly. Two
pupils got high marks in Ararat marz, and one in Vayots Dzor.
To remind, 127 graduates submitted applications to RA Ministry of
Education and Science to take centralized exams for gold medals. 41
of these were Yerevan residents.

OSCE MISSION PLANNING TO CARRY OUT MONITORING OF THE CONTACT LINE
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 14:15
The OSCE Mission intends to carry out monitoring at the contact
line of the Armed Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the
direction of Aghdam.
June 15 NKR Ministry of Defense had applied the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office with the request to
hold a crisis monitoring at the border with Azerbaijan to assess the
real situation with the objective to deny the imaginary reports of
the Azeri media on arsons on the territories under NKR control.
NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed readiness to assist the
OSCE Mission in conducting the monitoring.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKADI GHUKASYAN: AZERI ATTEMPTS TO DEPRIVE OUR PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENCE ARE SHORT-SIGHTED
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 14:40
NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan characterized the Azeri
attempts “to deprive our people of freedom and independence” as
“short-sighted.” Arkadi Ghukasayn mentioned this in his address
to the participants of the international scientific conference on
“Nagorno-Karabakh Republic: Past, Present, Future,” that started in
Stepanakert today.
“Today Azerbaijan is trying to turn back the history and to deprive
our people of freedom and independence acquired at the cost of
irreversible losses.
This is a hopeless path. I’m confident the future belongs to the
talks between NKR and Azerbaijan aimed at searching for mutually
beneficial ways and launching cooperation between the two countries,”
NKR President informed.
“The past 15 years showed the world that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
has the right to have its own independent republic, which was declared
in compliance with USSR laws and the international law. Notwithstanding
the fact that NKR has not been recognized by the international
community so far, our republic is far ahead of Azerbaijan in regard
to the commitment to European standard, ” NKR President stated.
Arkadi Ghukasyan underlined that “a combatant army equipped with newest
armaments has been created in NKR, and it is the most trustworthy
guarantee of the security and prosperity of our country and people.”

HEAD OF ARMENIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH MEETS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW IN ISTANBUL
AP Worldstream
Jun 21, 2006
The head of the Armenian Orthodox Church met with Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I on Wednesday as police tightened security to protect
the visiting leader from Turkish protesters.
Karekin II has angered Turks by saying the country committed genocide
against Armenians around the time of World War I, an allegation
vehemently denied by Turkey.
Dozens of riot police guarded Karekin, whose official title is
Catholicos of All Armenians, after a group of nationalists protested
his arrival Tuesday night for a weeklong visit to the Armenian
community in Turkey.
He was accompanied by police out of the airport through a separate
entrance, media reports said Wednesday.
Turkey, which has no diplomatic relations with Armenia, denies that
Turks committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived under the Ottoman
Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the
empire collapsed.
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation in the world to
officially adopt Christianity, while Turkey is 99 percent Muslim.
Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of some 250 million Orthodox
Christians worldwide.