Author: Badalian Vardan

FOUNDING PARLIAMENT TO START ACTING APRIL 24

13:45 | March 13,2015 | Politics

This year we shall get rid of the regime, and we are starting
operations on April 24, Chairman of the Founding Parliament Movement
Garegin Chugaszyan said on March 13.

“There are different methods and tools to choose from but we shall
not reveal them for tactical reasons,” Mr Chugaszyan said adding that
if people are subjected to violence they have to right to revolt –
something that happened on March 1, 2008.

“We shall participation in the events commemorating the Armenian
Genocide Centennial, at the same time we shall fight for justice and
our rights,” he said.

Garegin Chugaszyan says all people who say ‘April 24 is a holy day’
can join their struggle on April 25. He does not exclude new arrests
and violence by April 24.

Founding Parliament, a successor of the Pre-parliament movement,
seeks a regime change in Armenia.

BELARUS SAYS READY TO HOST KARABAKH TALKS

10:39, 13 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Belarus is ready to host negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei made the statement during
the meeting with Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 12 March, BelTA reports..

The press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry quoted Vladimir
Makei as saying: “I would like to confirm our readiness to host peace
talks on Nagorno-Karabakh at the time specified by the relevant OSCE
resolutions. If necessary, we could also provide the venue for the
final stage of the negotiation process on working out a comprehensive
peace agreement”.

The Belarusian Foreign Minister also remarked he was glad to welcome
the Minsk Group co-chairs and the personal representative of the
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Vladimir
Makei mentioned their visit to Minsk as historic.

“Belarus resolutely supports OSCE efforts in favor of stepping up
regional security and stability, finding peaceful solutions to resolve
existing and long-drawn conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh one.

We are ready to make our own contribution the way we did within
the framework of the Ukrainian crisis,” stated Vladimir Makei. The
Belarusian Foreign Minister went on saying that Belarus shares
the vision of the Minsk Group co-chairs on ways to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Belarus fully agrees with the idea that as a priority it is now
necessary to reduce tensions along the conflict line in order to avoid
human casualties. “Belarus highly appreciates the incessant effort on
the part of Minsk Group co-chairs and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

The efforts are of primary importance not only for the sake of
restoring security in the conflict zone but also for enabling favorable
conditions for top-level contacts,” stressed the Minister.

Apart from that, Vladimir Makei stated that Belarus welcomes the
intensification of contacts between leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Belarus maintains close friendly relations with both countries,
including contacts at the level of the heads of state. The fact could
be useful for advancing the peace process.

The press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry specified that on
12 March Vladimir Makei met with co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group:
Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United
States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France. They were joined
by personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk. The co-chairs and the personal representative informed the
Belarusian Foreign Minister about the situation in the conflict zone
and the development of the negotiation process. Prospects of future
cooperation were discussed, including Belarus’ possible assistance
with the settlement process.

ARMENIA NEEDS PHASAL STEPS BEFORE ADOPTING EEU COMMON CURRENCY

17:46 * 13.03.15

Before adopting the common currency proposed by the Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU), Armenia needs to implement phasal steps to
avoid a conflict of interests and resulting negative developments,
says an economist.

Speaking to Tert.am, the Control Chamber’s first president, Ashot
Tavadyan, stressed the need of a coordinated monetary-loan policies
and refinance interest rate.

He cited the EEU accession treaty, Article 63 of which says that
price surge in the member states should be less than 5% higher from
the inflation rate of those countries where surge appeared to be
the lowest.

“The treaty of course calls for a coordinated monetary-loan policies.

But in that case, the currency exchange rate too, should be maximum
proportionate,” Tavadyan added.

He said it is also possible to create a special fund which would
compensate social expenses in case of an essential currency change
in any of the countries.

“The changes should be proportionate against the US Dollar, and
the Euro and correspond to the inflation rate in the countries in
question,” he added.

As for the refunding interest, Tavadyan said he finds it too high
compared to the general inflation rate. He said he doesn’t think that
such a rate potentially contributes to economic growth. “A coordinated
monetary-loan policies apply also to currency,” he said, noting that
last year’s double slump in the oil prices slowed down the currency
flow to Russia, raising US Dollar’s price almost all around the globe.

Tavadyan said he expects the common currency plan to lead to a conflict
of interests among the EEU member countries, but added that Armenia can
avoid possible problems in case pf actively protecting its interest.

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH ARMENIAN CONSERVATIVES

17:36, March 13, 2015

On March 4, members of the Armenian Canadian Conservative Association
(ACCA) met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper shortly after
he announced upcoming changes to legislation affecting Canada’s
justice system.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Honorable Peter MacKay,
Minister of Justice, and Ms. Roxanne James, the Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Approximately twenty ACCA members were present, led by their Chair
Vatche Demirdjian and Vice-Chair Sevan Hajinian, who reiterated to the
Prime Minister the organization’s support for Canada’s Conservative
Government and its governing principles.

After Prime Minister Harper congratulated ACCA members for the founding
of their organization, Ms. Hajinian provided the Prime Minister with
a copy of her book, The Armenian Genocide Denied.

PROSPECTS OF ARTSAKH-EU COOPERATION DISCUSSED IN STEPANAKERT

14:36, 13 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On March 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Minister Karen Mirzoyan received delegates of the EU-Armenia
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of
Armenia headed by Co-Chairman of the Committee Samvel Farmanyan.

During the meeting, Karen Mirzoyan presented a range of issues on the
NKR foreign policy agenda. The issues related to the current stage
of the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the steps taken towards the international
recognition of the NKR were touched upon.

The sides also exchanged views on the opportunities and prospects
for the development of relations between the NKR and the EU,
in particular, implementation of practical programs within the
framework of the parliamentary cooperation. In this context, the
sides stressed the importance of ensuring an unimpeded access to
Artsakh for the EU official representatives and the necessity of
objective and comprehensive presentation of the NKR stance in the
European structures.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT AZERI NATIONALS IN KARABAKH

16:42, 13 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross
visited the two Azeri national Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilham Askerov
in Stepanakert. Communication Programs Director of the ICRC Yerevan
Office Zara Amatuni confirmed the news to Public Radio of Armenia.

ICRC representatives conveyed information about their families.

Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev are charged under Articles 7 and 5
of the Criminal Code of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. They are accused
of kidnapping and violence against a minor, murder committed by an
organized group motivated by ethnic hatred, espionage, unauthorized
border trespass, carrying artillery weapons.

The Azeri saboteurs crossed the NKR border in July, 2014. The third
commando, Hasan Hasanov, was killed, and his body was handed over
to Baku.

The actions of the subversive group left an underage resident of
Karvachar region and a soldier killed and a woman wounded.

The First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction sentenced Dilham
Askerov to life imprisonment, and Shahbaz Guliyev to 22 years in jail.

The Court of Appeals later upheld the verdict.

LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY PLANNING TO PROCEED TO AMULSAR MINE CONSTRUCTION STAGE

15:02 March 11, 2015

EcoLur

President and CEO of “Lydian International” Company Howard Stevenson
said that “Lydian International” Company plans to ensure the complete
financing of Amulsar project and to proceed to the mine construction
stage in 2015, as “Geoteam” CJSC informs.

Lydian International presented its Amulsar Project at the World’s
biggest mining conference, the Prospectors’ and Developers’ Association
of Canada (PDAC) trade show and conference from 1-4 March.

“We are glad to be able to continue to present the project and Armenia
in high-profile events like PDAC. At these times of economic volatility
attracting investments is a challenge. We gave a presentation on
Amulsar project as part of the PDAC conference and we are glad that the
interest in the investment potential of Amulsar and Armenia is still
high. As we plan to proceed to the full financing of the project this
year, we look forward to the start of the construction and to building
a world-class mining project in Armenia, beneficial for the country,
the communities and the investors,” Howard Stevenson, President and
CEO of Lydian International said.

Reminder: “Lydian International” Company as represented by its
“Geoteam” subsidiary is going to develop Amulsar gold mine located
in the borderline of Vayots Dzor and Syunik Regions. “Lydian
International” Company shareholders are International Finance
Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD).

MICHAELLE JEAN REAFFIRMS DESIRE TO COLLABORATE WITH GROUP OF FRANCOPHONE AMBASSADORS OF FRANCE

19:04, 12 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 12 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. On March 11, Secretary General of the
International Organization of La Francophonie, Mrs.Michaëlle Jean
received Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the Organization
and President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors of France,
Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanyan and members of the Group’s Bureau.

As the Department of Press, Information and Public Relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia reports to
“Armenpress”, during the meeting, Ambassador Ter-Stepanyan assured the
Secretary General of the Organization that the Francophone Ambassadors
of France would provide their assistance to Francophone activities.

The Ambassador presented the Group’s activities and, in this context,
welcomed the cooperation with the International Organization of La
Francophonie. The Secretary General reaffirmed her desire to work
closely with the Group and called on the Francophone Ambassadors to
work together to prepare for the Ministerial Conference of Francophonie
to be held in Yerevan in Fall 2015.

TOURIST VISITS TO ARMENIA GROW 11.3% TO 1.2 MILLION IN 2014

YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. Armenia hosted over 1.2 million visitors
in 2014 – 11.3% more than a year earlier, Mekhak Apresyan, chief
of the Armenian economy ministry’s division in charge of tourism,
told journalists on Thursday.

he said.

In his words, the tourist inflow intensified in 2014 thanks the
government and the private sector’s vigorous activity and cooperation
with concerned agencies, which improved the tourist services provided
in the country.

he said.

Apresyan added that tourism in Armenia continues diversifying and that
the government’s policy in this area can be considered accomplished.

he said.

He also stressed that Armenia is becoming better known at the world
tourist market.

he said.

On October 23, 2013, Armenia’s government approved the program of
provision of competitive and sustainable air transportation services
in Armenia.

The program was based on a joint study by McKinsey & Company and the
National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. Apresyan said that
thanks to the open sky policy in Armenia, the number of flights and
the number of passengers grew. —0—–

ARF ABOUT TURKEY’S VAIN THREATS TO COUNTRIES THAT RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

18:10, 12.03.2015

YEREVAN. – Turkey’s threats to countries that have recognized the
Armenian Genocide in vain, ARF Dashnaktsutyun member Artsvik Minasyan
said commenting on Armenian parliament’s trip to Czech Republic.

According to him, in private conversations with Czech politicians,
he mentioned this fact, citing the example of France. When Paris
was going to criminalize denial of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s
politicians were threatening to burn their bridges, and now Turkish
firms are advertising goods as before.

“Genocide was recognized by Czech Republic’s neighbors Poland and
Slovakia, and no action by the Turkish side followed. And we see that
our Czech colleagues listened to these arguments,” he emphasized.