Author: Kalashian Nyrie

EDIK BAGHDASARYAN ASSAULT TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY
Ararat Davtyan

-2/
2009/06/04 | 19:06

Court Media

Today, the trial got underway in the November 17, 2008 assault of
Hetq Chief Editor Edik Baghdasaryan.

Other than 20 year-old Karen Harutyunyan, law enforcement has yet
been unable to identify the two other individuals who attacked
Mr. Baghdasaryan as he left the Hetq offices in the evening on the
day in question.

Karen Harutyunyan not only denied participating in the attack but
refused to offer testimony. However, the preliminary investigative body
substantiated the charges against Mr. Harutyunyan, premeditated assault
by an individual or group resulting in medium level physical injury,
and the case was sent to the Kentron Nork-Marash District Court.

At today’s session, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan presiding, Edik
Baghdasaryan and his son Tigran Baghdasaryan were questioned. Also
questioned was Karapet Atoyan, who works as a guard at the building
housing the Hetq offices. The latter two were called as witnesses
but their testimony didn’t have direct bearing on the case.

Satenik Amirbekyan, a suponead witness, failed to show up in court
without providing any forewarning.

Another material witness, Norayr Avetisyan, a prinicipal with the
military training academy, had notified the court that due to "family
matters" he would be outside the country as of June 2. He requested
that the court pardon his absence and use the testimony he previously
had given.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Avetisyan had been walking through the
area and its was the shots fired from his gun that sent the assailants
fleeing. He was the one who identified Karen Harutyunyan as a former
resident in his courtyard.

Mr. Harutyunyan’s defnse lawyer, Vahagn Manukyan, motioned the court
to arrange for Mr. Avetisyan to be present at the trial, describing
him as the principal witness. The court promised that it would notify
the two absent witnesses to be present at the nest session.

Judge Martirosyan asked Mr. Baghdasaryan if he could offer any concrete
evidence pointing to those responsible for organizing the attack.

Mr. Baghdasaryan replied that after the attack Karen’s mother came
to his house and said that she is Vardan Ayvazyan’s son’s doctor
and that the two boys regularly met each other. The Hetq editor said
that this started him to think that the attck might be linked to a
series of articles he had written reagrding the business dealings of
Vardan Ayvazyan.

Judge Mnatsakanyan then asked if Mr. Baghdasaryan was preparing to
ask for financial damages.

"I haven’t launched a civil case against the defendant. In general
I find it meaningless to punish Karen Harutyuyan, even if he was one
of the attackers, if those behind the assault are not to be exposed,"
said Mr. Baghdasaryan

The trial will continue on June 10 at 3:00 pm.

STANDING COMMITTEES HEAR THE FINAL REPORTS ON BUDGET EXECUTION
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
05.06.2009 16:29

The Standing Committees of the National Assembly today heard the final
reports on the 2008 budget execution. Heads of economic structures
were present at the hearings. The parliamentarians, however, focused
on the activity of those structures under the conditions of the
global crisis rather than the reports. In particular, Chairman of
the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition Ashot
Shahnazaryan spoke about the prices of fuel, mainly petroleum.

"The prices in our republic have risen with 40 drams over the past
month and a half. We have already asked the two dominating companies to
present reports on the causes of the price rise. We have simultaneously
been watching the international prices. In some countries the price
for one gallon went up 80 cents over the past 10 years. We do not
see considerable deviation in our price policy," he said.

At the request of the Chairman of the Standing Committee on
Finance-Credit and Budgeting Affairs Gagik Minasyan, Minister of
Energy Armen Movsisyan presented the future programs of the sphere.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "I PROPOSE TO GIVE NEW IMPETUS TO THE RELATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND KOREA THROUGH THE LEGISLATORS’ MUTUAL VISITS"

National Assembly of RA
June 3 2009
Armenia

On June 2 the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the
Republic of Korea to Armenia Mr. Lee Kyu-hyung (residence in Moscow).

Welcoming the guest the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament expressed
his condolences to the people of the Republic of Korea on the tragic
death of the former president of the country Roh Moo-hyun.

Touching upon the bilateral relations Mr. H. Abrahamyan distinguished
the necessity of enlivening the contacts. He noted that parliamentary
friendship groups have already been formed in the parliaments of
the Republic of Armenia and Korea, and proposed to give new impetus
to the relations of the two countries through the legislators’
mutual visits. In this context Mr. H. Abrahamyan proposed to use the
opportunities of such mutual visits and also include representatives
from business circles of the two countries in the delegations.

During the talk the sides in detail touched upon the perspectives of
inter-parliamentary, trade-economic cooperation, as well as in the
sphere of energy between the Republic of Armenia and Korea.

RUSSIA CUTS INVESTMENTS TO ARMENIA BY 3.04 PCT

ARKA
June 2, 2009

YEREVAN, June 2. /ARKA/. Russian investments in Armenia dropped almost
3.04 pct to $33.1mln this year, the RA National Statistical Service
(NSS) reports.

According to statistics, Russian investments comprised 17.8% of total
investments in Armenia and 20.1% of direct investments. During the
period under review, Russian direct investments in Armenia’s economy
dropped 49% year-on-year.

Russia is the third largest investor in Armenia and the number two
direct investor in the country’s economy.

The lion’s share (86.1% or $28.6mln) of investments was injected into
the communications sector. Russia invested $1mln 782,400 (5.4% of
total investments) in electricity, gas, water and steam distribution,
$930,000 (2.8%) in cultural activities and recreations, $881,200
(2.7%) in others services, $769,200 (2.3%) in wholesale trade and
brokerage business (without cars and motorbikes trade).

Russia also allocated funds for hotel and restaurant business
($109,000), shoe and leather making ($79,900), food and beverage
industry ($30,000) and education ($13,500).

Russian investments in Armenia totaled $186.3mln in Q1 2009, compared
to $100.8mln in the same period last year, with direct investments
totaling $54.9mln.

Foreign quarterly investments in Armenia reached $186.3mln with
$139.3mln direct investments.

CONDUCTOR VADIM SHUBLADZE AND PIANIST ANAHIT CHAUSHYAN TO PERFORM IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.06.2009 15:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 12, Aram Khatchaturyan Concert Hall will
host the joint performance of RA Philharmonic Orchestra and Belgian
pianist Anahit Chaushyan, under the guidance of Tbilisi Philharmonic
Chamber Orchestra’s Art Director Vadim Shubladze . The concert will
feature symphony-requiem by Bzvaneli, prelude to Wagner’s Rienzi and
Beethoven’s piano concert N 4.

Vadim Shubladze was born in 1934, studied in Tbilisi State
Conservatory, conductors department. His first performance was when he
was a student. He appeared with the Traviata of Verdi in the Mariinsky
Opera and Ballet Theatre, St. Petersburg. A month later he performed
in the Spendiarov Opera Theatre, Yerevan. Vadim Shubladze is the
first performer of many classic and contemporary composers. He is
one of the most sensitive and intelligent conductors of the former
USSR. In 1991 he successfully worked with contemporary composer –
pianist Michael J. Smith. Mr. Smith has written for Vadim Shubladze
and the Tbilisi Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and these pieces has
performed and premiered by Shubladze and orchestra in Tbilisi and
Sweden with great success.

Now he is principal conductor of the Tbilisi, Georgia State Radio
and TV Symphonic Orchestra and the artistic director of the Tbilisi
Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.

FFA PRESIDENT CALLS ON TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN MATCH AGAINST TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

/PanARMENIAN.N et/ President of the Football Federation of Armenia Ruben
Hayrapetyan addressed a request to football fans to support Armenia’s
youth national football team (up to 21 years) in the forthcoming
match of the qualifying round of Europe-2011 Championship against
Turkish counterparts.

"Ironically, we have met with different age-groups from Turkey for
five times within the last year. Our youth national football team
proved last year, that is able to wage an equal struggle and even
carry victory over strong rivals. The change of generations is taking
place in the youth national football team of Armenia, nevertheless
our football players are experienced enough and I am sure they will
have successful performance in the qualifying round of Europe-2011
Championship," Mr. Hayrapetyan assured.

The football fans play a significant role in the football match,
they become the 12th player in the field, FFA president said.

"I am confident, that with your help and thanks to a wholehearted
play of the Armenian football players we will be able to carry the
victory. I call on everybody to support Armenian football players
in the forthcoming match against Turkish national team," Ruben
Hayrapetyan said.

52.85% of the voters participated in the elections for the Yerevan City
Council

armradio.am
31.05.2009 21:36

407 745 citizens or 52.85% of the voters participated in the elections
for the Yerevan City Council, the Central Electoral Commission
reported. The picture of voter turnout in the 13 electoral districts is
as follows:

Electoral District 1 (Avan, Nor-Nork) ` 32 078 voters or 52.3%8;

Electoral District 2 (Nor Nork) ` 30 650 voters or 51.59%;

Electoral District 3 (Kanaker Zeitun, Nor Nork) ` 30 610 voters or
49.86%;

Electoral District 4 (Arabkir) ` 25 864 voters or 45.40%;

Electoral District 5 (Davitashen, Arabkir) ` 30 211 voters or 49.92%;

Electoral District 6 (Adjapnyak) ` 29 027 voters or 51.48%;

Electoral District 7 (Adjapnyak, Malatsia Sebastia) ` 38 407 voters or
67.49%;

Electoral District 8 (Malatsia Sebastia, Shengavit) ` 38 634 voters or
64.03%;

Electoral District 9 (Kentron, Adjapnyak) ` 27 220 voters or 51.63%;

Electoral District 10 (Kentron, Nork Marash) ` 26 563 voters or 47.49%;

Electoral District 11 (Shengavit, Erebuni) ` 34 698 voters or 56.24%;

Electoral District 12 (Shengavit, Erebuni) ` 34 180voters or 55.83%;

Electoral District 13 (Erebuni, Nubarashen) ` 29 603 voters or 44.35%.

 Russia to unite energy systems of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran:
Azerenergy head

30 May 2009 [14:09] – Today.Az

The Russian side will launch operations within synchronization project
of energy systems of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia in the nearest
future, Azerenergy JSC (production and sale of power energy in
Azerbaijan) head said.

"We have worked much in our territory. I think the Russian side will
launch operations within the agreement that was concluded earlier in
the nearest future," Pirverdiyev said.

Realization of this project will allow implementation of mutual volume
of power energy between Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran, as well as draw
other countries of the region to this project. Earlier Russia and Iran
held talks about type of cooperation. One of sides insisted on mutual
sale of power energy, the other one – on exchange.

Presently, Azerbaijan realizes joint project with Iran to increase
energy exchange up to 700 MWt.

Its completion will allow supplying of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
with 150 MWt of power energy, as well as total Azerbaijani energy
system with 400 MWt in winter.

The program is realized in collaboration with Iranian Sunir company
and includes construction of a 330kv electricity transmission line-
Alibayramli thermal power station – Imishli, second line Imishli –
Parsabad, a 220km electricity transmission line- Alibayramli TPS –
Salyan, Salyan-Masally, Masalli-Astara, as well as a substation Salyan
and expansion of four more substations. The gross length of the
electricity transmission line will make up 350km.

Energy exchange between Azerbaijan and Russia continues, Pirverdiyev
said.

Roughly 8.5 million kilowatt/hour of electric power was exported from
Russia to Azerbaijan in the first quarter compared to 33 million
kilowatt/hour of electric power exported from Azerbaijan to Russia.

Roughly 335.5 million kilowatt/hour of electric power was exported
from Azerbaijan to Russia in 2008. Roughly 111.3 million kilowatt/hour
of electric power was exported from Russia to Azerbaijan in 008.

/Trend Capital/

LESS THAN 15 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AT MEETINGS

A1+
05:30 pm | May 27, 2009 | Politics

The Labour Socialist Party of Armenia (HASK) which stands for Yerevan’s
Mayor will hold no more pre-election meetings.

The Party has held no large-scale event during the whole campaign.

Since the offset of the election campaign, May 2, the HASK has used
TV and radio transmissions and press conferences.

HASK candidate for the city mayor Movses Shahverdian says some 15
people are usually present at their meetings.

"It is no use covering the meetings. We simply do our work," said
Mr. Shahverdian.

The latter is convinced that the HASK will pass the 7-percent
threshold.

Remind that six parties and an alliance run in the mayoral election.

The Armenian Labour Socialist Party is the sixth on the list.

FIRST ARMENIAN REPUBLIC WAS DECLARED IN A HARD AND UNEQUAL BATTLE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.05.2009 20:58 GMT+04:00

In his congratulatory address to the Armenian people, National Assembly
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan particularly notes, "The Armenians managed
to build a statehood in hard times, after the collapse of two big
empires. Having led an unequal battle for their independence, they
did manage to declare the First Republic. And today, 91 years later,
we can build our sovereign state and achieve fair solution of Artsakh
issue thanks to the First Armenian Republic and the victories we held
in the battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa."