Author: Babajanian Karo

EX-SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RULES OUT SUPPORTING ROBERT KOCHARYAN

arminfo
Friday, May 20, 20:45

Ex-speaker of the Armenian parliament, the former member of the
opposition Armenian National Congress, Karapet Rubinyan, said at
today’s press-conference that he rules out his joining any political
force, which may in some way support the second president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan.

To note, Rubinyan lift Armenian National Congress in April of the
current year as he did not agree to the new soft tactics of the ANC
regarding the authorities.

At the same time, as Rubinyan said, from time to time he meets
representatives of other opposition forces, in particular, the
“Heritage” and ARF Dashnaktiutyun parties.

REJECTION OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO AN ALLY INVOLVED IN HOSTILITIES WOULD DISCREDIT CSTO

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 17:44 AMT

Deputy Director of Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan said that
rejection of efficient and immediate military assistance to an ally,
which is involved in hostilities with a third country, would only
discredit CSTO as a military and political factor on the post-Soviet
territory.

It can cause irreversible consequences for the further destiny of
the organization, Minasyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“And it is especially topical to consider it in the analysis of all
trends in the military and political processes around the Karabakh
conflict. This should not be conceived as a negative statement
concerning the CSTO activity in South Caucasus. To the contrary, one
can firmly state that the CSTO and strengthening of Armenia-Russia
military and political cooperation are the most important constraint,
which contributes to maintenance of regional stability and security
in South Caucasus,” concluded Minasyan.

The Society is Tired of Figures of ’80ies
SIRANUYSH PAPYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:58:53 – 20/05/2011

Interview with ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan

The political situation of Armenia of the last one year has been many
times described as uninteresting and marshy. How would you describe
the current phase?

There are really changes, but returning to the most discussed and
interesting for the society issue – the power-opposition dialogue,
I would rather call it a power-HAK dialogue. Though the sides are not
inclined to calling it a dialogue (but Galust Sahakyan has twice said
it is), nevertheless, a conversation on certain ideas at the level of
discussions is underway. But I do not know whether the HAK expresses
the sum of various political approaches of people dissatisfied with
the power.

There is a big part of the society that does not share the ideas of
both the opposition and the power. Why is not a new force with other
ideas and approaches formed? Our previous interlocutor said those
two forces do not allow to. Do you agree with this opinion?

Of course, the society is used to see these two forces as those
expressing the main opinions. But there are many people within the
society who do not believe that the opposition can be a constructive
power, while following the opposition means to believe it will be a
constructive power, which will create a more positive country. I do
not think their existence hinders the formation of a new force. Today
many dwell on the creation of a third force but this causes smile.

Then why does the third force not created?

I think there are various reasons: there is some nihilism of
possibilities of influencing the course of events in the current
situation. I believe the society is tired. There cannot be a continued
atmosphere of political fight. There is another idea that it is
possible to influence on developments through indirect political ways
too. Not always, change of power, moreover through a revolution, can
bring about positive consequences. And finally it became a tradition
in Armenia when protest is expressed through emigration of people,
who could be not the organizers but at least the followers of the
third force. All these are the reasons but not the primary ones.

Do we have a problem of political leaders? All talks are around the
three presidents of Armenia.

A relative of mine has recently said that our society is already
tired of the political figures of the ’80ies. All of our presidents
represent this generation and their behavior and decisions are similar
in some sense. These three figures have been our leaders and today the
society connects all its expectations with one of them. Maybe this is
the reason why there are no 4th and 5th names. Our experience showed
that every new figure should know the art of power, and there is some
fear that an inexperienced person needs time to get acquainted with
the art of politics. But this is not the primary reason either. The
first and foremost reason is the nihilism, the tiresome.

Do you think Robert Kocharyan’s return to politics is real?

I do not rule out his return. Moreover, I think he has not left the
politics, but he just did what the Constitution demands. I am sure
he still has his role in the politics. I think our politics isolated
from us thanks to his efforts.

Will the March 1 be fully revealed?

I think it is possible, but the revelation depends on the relationship
and aspirations of two political figures – Robert Kocharyan and Serge
Sargsyan. If Serge Sargsyan thinks it is necessary and possible to do
that and isolates Robert Kocharyan from the ambience of danger, then
the March 1 will be revealed, if not fully, but as much as possible.

But I think it will never happen due to various reasons including
internal arrangements between those two people.

Will there not be sharp changes and developments?

Unlike the number of HAK representatives in the future parliament I
think there will be no change in the home and foreign policy life of
our country. There can arise issues of redistribution of property;
the same what we have now.

MINISTER: PRICES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN ARMENIA EXPECTED TO START FALLING IN JUNE

/ARKA/
MAY 20, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Prices for agricultural products in Armenia
will start going down in June, Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan
said on Friday.

He told journalists that the monitoring being held all over the country
for estimating volumes of this year’s crop gave grounds for thinking
that Armenia would have medium apricot crop this year.

Expectations for other fruits are higher.

“Crop capacity in some communities is good, while in other communities
it is not so good,” he said. “That is why the average expected apricot
crop is being gauged.”

In his words, grapes crop is expected to be large this year.

According to official statistical reports, Armenia recorded 11.1%
year-on-year inflation in the first quarter of this year. This
inflation rate is among highest in the Commonwealth of Independent
States.

In 2010, Armenia’s agriculture faced 15.7% decline due to bad
weather.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES RELEASE OF 50.6 MILLION LOAN TO ISOTOPES PRODUCING COMPANY

/ARKA/
MAY 20, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 20, /ARKA/. The Armenian government approved today release
of a budget 50.6 million drams loan (about $137,000) to isotopes
producing company as part of a plan to construct the Armenian cancer
treatment center.

Economy minister Tigarn Davtian said to a Cabinet session that
the funds will be channelled into construction of the building and
preparation of construction documents. He said the loan is provided
at LIBOR+4% interest rate with a grace period until 2015.

The Armenian cancer treatment center is a joint program of the
ministries of health and economy and the National Competitiveness Fund
of Armenia. In 2010 November an agreement was signed with the Belgian
company IBA Molecular to acquire a proton accelerator Cyclone 18/18,
worth $5 million. The total cost of the program is $30 million.

The cyclotron radionuclide accelerator will be used for producing
isotopes as part of the project worked out by Yerevan Institute of
Physics, for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. According to
the health ministry, 30,000 people suffer from cancer and their number
grows by 3 percent every year. Authorities say the cost of treatment
at the center will be affordable and may be around $1000. According to
Armenian health ministry, about 600 Armenians with cancer are being
treated abroad every year, but their real number is believed to be
much higher. ($1 ~V 374.62 drams ). –

Sarsılmaz Turkish company to supply pistols to Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2011 – 14:35 AMT

Sarsılmaz Turkish company is going to export pistols to Azerbaijan.

Currently, works are carried out with respect to the company’s
distributors and meetings are held with relevant structures of
Azerbaijan.

Officials of the company say they export various shotguns to Azerbaijan
now, According to a study, guns of Sarsılmaz are in top 5 in the
Azerbaijani market, APA reported.

ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER SYSTEMATIC VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL COMMITMENTS

news.am
May 20, 2011 | 14:15

YEREVAN.- Armenia stands for honoring commitments on arms control,
said Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan.

The official stressed that the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe, as well as the political commitments of the OSCE in the
field of arms control are important components of security system in
the South Caucasus.

“In this regard I would like to express our grave concern about
systematic violation of commitments on arms control, which could lead
to unintended consequences,” he said speaking at an international
conference held in Yerevan.

Kirakosyan noted that official Yerevan supports a proposal on signing
a new Treaty on European Security.

“Strengthening and development of general security, as well as the
adoption of new legal obligations for all the sides will undoubtedly
make a positive contribution to the deepening of regional stability,
he said.

IAEA EXPERTS IN ARMENIA, NO REASON FOR CONCERN – MINISTER

news.am
May 20, 2011 | 16:36

YEREVAN. – The Armenian NPP is operating normally, there is no reason
for concern, said Armen Movsisyan, Armenian Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources.

He said that OSART experts, working under the auspices of International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are monitoring technical conditions of
the Armenian NPP. Working group has arrived in Armenia to monitor
security of Metsamor nuclear power plant.

“It is a scheduled inspection. It is conducted regularly,” Movsisyan
told journalists.

Last week Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said after an
accident at Fukushima Armenia revalued security level of the Metsamor
NPP and is ready to receive experts of International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA).

“Energy Minister and all the departments were instructed to revise
security rules taking into account events in Japan,” he said in an
interview with RFE/RL.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, last month Ashot
Martirosyan, Head of the Nuclear Safety Committee, Government
of Armenia, said that after the Fukushima nuclear accidents, EU
member-states have been offered to conduct serious safety tests at
their NPPs.

DU MATERIEL MEDICAL POUR L’ARMENIE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 21 mai 2011

la Ville de Marseille soutient Erevan

La Ville de Marseille vient d’effectuer un don important de materiel
medical a l’Armenie. Un container rempli d’appareils de dialyse,
scanners et autres materiels de soins, ainsi que dictionnaires
francais offerts par Marseille a des ecoles d’Armenie, photocopieurs
et autres biens estimes a près d’un million d’euros en valeur a neuf
a pris la direction d’Erevan via le port georgien de Poti. Au c~ur
de cette operation, Didier Parakian, Adjoint au Maire de Marseille
qui n’a pas menage ses efforts pour la reussite de l’operation d’aide
a l’Armenie. Didier Parakian obtenait de Jean-Paul Segade, directeur
de l’Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM) l’envoi en
Armenie du materiel ” reforme ” des hôpitaux publiques de la region
marseillaise. Un materiel en très bon etat de fonctionnement mais
qui ont depasse l’âge de 7 ans et qui se trouvent ainsi ” reformes “.

Coordonnes par Gilles Frinkian, ingenieur et responsable du materiel
des Hôpitaux de Marseille, ainsi que de l’active implication
de Ferdinand Gracian de l’association Chene qui s’est occupe du
chargement, le materiel fut embarque a Marseille a bord d’un bateau.

Il arrivera courant juin en Armenie. Didier Parakian ” ce materiel qui
est ainsi recupere a Marseille est en parfait etat de fonctionnement.

En Armenie, il pourra etre utilise pendant de nombreuses annees
encore. Et c’est une chance que ce materiel puisse etre dirige vers
l’Armenie qui en a tant besoin. Je dois remercier tous nos partenaire
qui ont accepte de faire leur maximum lorsqu’ils apprenaient que le
materiel etait destine a l’Armenie, pays ami de la France et proche
du c~ur des milliers de marseillais d’origine armenienne “.

LA RECONSTRUCTION DE L’AEROPORT D’EREVAN BIENTIT ACHEVEE
Marion

armenews.com
samedi 21 mai 2011

Le groupe Corporacion America, qui gère l’aeroport d’Erevan, s’est
engage, mercredi 18 mai, a financer la fin de sa reconstruction et
a doubler la capacite de l’aeroport cette annee.

Le groupe, preside par Eduardo Eurnekian, milliardaire argentin
d’origine armenienne, a repris l’aeroport Zvartnots près d’Erevan en
2002, après la signature d’un contrat de gestion de 30 ans avec le
gouvernement armenien.

Il s’est engage a construire un nouveau terminal d’aeroport et a
moderniser les installations aeroportuaires. Le terminal des arrivees
est en service depuis 2006, alors que les travaux sur le terminal
des departs sont toujours en cours.

Andranik Shikhkian, directeur general adjoint de l’aeroport a declare
aux journalistes que la construction sera terminee d’ici la fin de
cette annee. Il a indique que le groupe, qui exploite plus de 30
aeroports a travers l’Amerique du Sud, a investi 160 millions de
dollars dans l’installation de 34 000 mètres carres.

Selon A. Shikhkian, jusqu’a 3 millions de passagers par an pourrait
transiter par l’aeroport, contre 1,1 millions de passagers en 2010. ”
Par rapport a l’Azerbaïdjan et a la Georgie, nous aurons une capacite
deux fois plus importante, tant en termes de trafic de passagers que
de l’utilisation de la technologie moderne “, a-t-il affirme.

A. Shikhkian a ajoute que le nouveau terminal accelerera egalement
considerablement l’enregistrement des passagers a Zvartnots. ” Au
lieu de 24 comptoirs d’enregistrement existants nous en aurons 46. ”

Le responsable a egalement exprime l’espoir que l’aeroport attirera
davantage de vols de transit d’Europe, du Moyen-Orient et d’Asie. ”
L’aeroport se chargera maximum de 10 vols par heure. À l’heure
actuelle, nous en enregistrons 5. ”