Author: Vatche Chakhmakhchian

Procurement Of Indian Rocket System On Armenia’s Radar

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Defence Aviation Post
Aug 25 2018


Armenia has expressed interest in procuring the Pinaka rocket system developed by the city-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), which is a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

KM Rajan, the director of the laboratory, told TOI on Friday, “Armenia has shown an interest in the Pinaka rocket system and so we carried out extensive firing trials for their delegation last month at Pokhran in Rajasthan.

The results were excellent. Since it is a government-to-government decision, we are yet to receive word about an official agreement of the procurement. Armenia is interested in both the versions of the rocket.”

Several foreign delegations, including Armenia, had visited the defence expo at Chennai this year. “Southeast Asian countries have also expressed an interest in the Pinaka system, but they are yet to officially approach the Indian government,” said a senior scientist of the ARDE. Read More: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/procurement-of-indian-rocket-system-on-armenias-radar/articleshow/65536066.cms

Germany’s Merkel: Atrocities against Armenians must not be forgotten

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Reuters
Aug 24 2018
 
 
Germany's Merkel: Atrocities against Armenians must not be forgotten
 
Reuters Staff
 
 
YEREVAN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday addressed the massacre of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 after meeting with the country’s prime minister, saying the atrocities committed against Armenians should not and would not be forgotten.
 
Merkel avoided using the term “genocide” in her remarks, sidestepping a possible repeat of tensions that flared with Turkish President Tayyap Erdogan after the German parliament in 2016 branded the massacre a genocide.
 
Merkel called the 2016 remembrance ceremony by the Bundestag an “important step in the culture of remembrance” but stressed that the language used was a political – not legal – classification. “We understand what atrocities were committed against countless Armenians. This suffering should not and will not be forgotten,” she said.
 

We are entering new stage after 100-day period, says Armenia’s PM

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
| 12:28 | August 16 2018
Category
Politics

During 100 days of its activity the Armenian government has solved the main task, that is to ensure the country’s normal activity and the constant development of the economy in the post-revolutionary period, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during today’s Cabinet meeting.

“In my opinion, after a 100-day period we are entering a new phase the main essence of which is to make major reforms in order to open new breath for our country and economy, in order to be able to record concrete prospects and results also in the context of budgetary discussions. I hope the content and energy collected during these 100 days, the results of which will be summed up tomorrow during the meeting at the Republic Square, will enable us to implement and be consistent on the issues put by the Armenian citizens before us”, the PM said.

He said there is no doubt that the government solves these issues effectively. “The victory of the Armenian people is inevitable”, PM Pashinyan stated.

Ara Papian: Kocharyan is not one of those people who will sink alone, he will give names (video)

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
  • 14:41 | August 15,2018 | Politics
  • Հայ

Ara Papian, head of the Modus Vivendi Center says that according to our constitution, the President of the Republic is immune, but there is a precondition: Robert Kocharyan is immune to actions stemming from his status.

“The SIS made a mistake in the sense that it presented a rather disputable charge. I think then there can be another charge, which is easier to prove, let’s say illegal enrichment.”

Ara Papian believes that failure of Robert Kocharyan’s conference was wrong. “Kocharyan is not one of those people who will sink alone, he will give names. The society should know the whole truth about March 1.”

Ara Papian does not think that the failure of the news conference has been directed by the current authorities. According to another opinion that he has heard, the aforementioned was directed by Kocharyan so that he would not answer questions.

If Robert Kocharyan wants to speak, he can organize a press conference today, invite reporters to his house, and answer questions on live broadcast.”

According to Ara Papian, the trial should be fair and competitive. “I am convinced that whatever decision the court will make, some part of the society will not accept it. If Justice was through the phone call, they would not release Kocharyan,” he said.

Putin, Nazarbayev deem situation surrounding CSTO sec gen problematic

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Kazakhstan General Newswire
Monday 10:10 AM MSK
Putin, Nazarbayev deem situation surrounding CSTO sec gen problematic
 
AKTAU. Aug 13
 
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has addressed the situation surrounding the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) secretary general at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
 
"From all the issues, which should be discussed, this is the issue of the CSTO secretary general, which became a problem for us," Nazarbayev said.
 
"As to broader relations, as part of the CSTO, the EAEU, here there is a very large agenda, major programs, and there are some problematic issues, like those you have mentioned now," Putin said.
 
Armenian representative Yury Khachaturov now serves as CSTO secretary general.
 
Khachaturov was identified as a defendant as part of a criminal case opened by Armenian law enforcement in July.
 
The Armenian Special Investigation Service has indicted Khachaturov in a case dealing with the dispersal of a demonstration on March 1, 2008. Ten people were killed and over 250 injured when security forces dispersed thousands of protesters following a presidential election won by Serzh Sargsyan.
 
Khachaturov was serving as the head of the Yerevan garrison of the Armenian Armed Forces at the time.
 
He was appointed CSTO secretary general for three years in 2017.
 
On July 28 of this year, a court in Yerevan ruled to arrest Khachaturov on charges of violating the country's constitutional order in 2008 and granted him bail. The Special Investigation Service allowed Khachaturov to leave Armenia and go to Moscow to perform his duties as CSTO secretary general as long as he reports when necessary.
 
Armenia has suggested that CSTO member states start the procedure of replacing the secretary general.
 
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has also been arrested on charges of violating the constitutional order in 2008

A1+: Hayk Marutyan’s biography

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
  • 12:19 | July 30,2018 | Social
  • Հայ
  • Рус

Hayk Marutyan spent 7 years at the Yerevan Secondary School No. 83. The 8-10th grades he studied at the Anania Shirakatsi School.

In 1992 – 1997 he studied at the Yerevan State Engineering University.

In 1995 – 2002 he played in the KVN team of the Polytechnic Institute “Armenian Project”.

In 1996 – 2002 he worked in the company “Sharm” as a screenwriter, director, actor of “220 volts”, “Vailur”, “Mer Baky”, “Mer Baky 2”, “Tuyn Kaset”, “Urish Kaset”, “Banda”, “Commercial act”(together with the “Armenia” TV company).

In 2002, together with friends, he founded the company “Cool Studio”, where he worked as an actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He created the following projects: “Cool Program”, “Cool TV series”, “7.5”, “No Comment”, “Ala Bala Nitsa”. Also participated in all projects as an actor.

He participated in numerous television and film shootings.

Starting from May 2018, he actively participated in the “Make a step” movement of the Republic of Armenia.

His wife is Iva, Czech by nationality, whom he met in 2004, when the latter was a volunteer in Spitak, as part of the Red Cross mission. He has two children: Alice and Arthur.

Hayk Marutyan is a candidate for mayor of Yerevan from the Civil Contract Party.

Letters to Editors – 07/30/2018

Vatche Chakhmakhchian 
Dear Armenian News readers,

    We bring to your attention the following letters we've received.
    No statements made in these letters are to be construed as
    recommended by Armenian News's Administation or by USC. Nor does Armenian News's
    Administation or USC endorse the contents, opinions or information
    presented in these letters.

***************************************************************************
    From: "Alexanian, Moorad" <[email protected]>
    Subject: Letter to the Editor of the Providence Journal
    Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:05:25 +0000


    
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.providencejournal.com_opinion_20180719_letter-2Danthony-2Dalexanian-2Dus-2Dcan-2Dhelp-2Dturkey-2Dby-2Drecognizing-2Dgenocide&d=DwIB-g&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=bMjV5BtOkeqCoLmXc9dY6q_Cz53ed0PyirMUETGP4MI&s=8ZjAfa_xl3Vk03nurZPDefYhDSA6OfktK87utdAGsII&e=

    Posted Jul 19, 2018 at 5:34 PMUpdated Jul 19, 2018 at 5:34 PM

    What can the United States do to reverse the direction in which President
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking Turkey, from a secular parliamentary
    republic into a presidential regime rooted in conservative Islam ("Turkey
    marks 2nd anniversary of thwarting violent coup," News, July 13)?

    U.S. recognition of the Armenian genocide would force 80 million Turkish
    people to confront their country's past and serve as a real warning of
    what could be in their future. Witness the salutary and cleansing effect
    that German recognition of the Nazi atrocities of World War II had on
    present-day Germany.

    Anthony Alexanian
    Greenville


***************************************************************************
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RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/24/2018

Vatche Chakhmakhchian 
                                        Tuesday, 

Karabakh Army Chief Warns Of Missile Strikes On Azerbaijan

        • Sisak Gabrielian

Nagorno-Karabakh - General Levon Mnatsakanian, commander of the Karabakh 
Armenian army, addresses military personnel, 10Dec2016.

The Armenian military could “paralyze Azerbaijan’s economy” with missile 
strikes if Baku provokes renewed hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, Karabakh’s 
top military commander said on Tuesday.

“That is definitely part of our tactical plans,” Lieutenant General Levon 
Mnatsakanian told a news conference in Stepanakert. “In general, the art of 
warfare requires strikes on these facilities as well as military targets in 
case of a resumption of hostilities, which will damage the [enemy] economy and 
won’t allow appropriate supplies to the armed forces.”

“I see no need for that yet … But if there is a need to strike [those targets] 
we will not hesitate for a second,” he said.

Mnatsakanian implied that a big hydroelectric power station near the 
Azerbaijani town of Mingachevir is one such potential target. A recent accident 
there caused major power outages in Azerbaijan.

Other Armenian political and military leaders have said in the past that 
Azerbaijan’s strategic oil and gas installations could also be targeted in the 
event of another Karabakh war. The Armenian military can hit them with 
ballistic missiles, including state-of-the-art Iskander systems supplied by 
Russia in 2015 or 2016.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry was quick to react to Mnatsakanian’s warnings, 
dismissing them as “absurd” and saying that its missile defense systems 
adequately protect domestic economic and military facilities. In a statement 
cited by the APA news agency, the ministry also said Baku itself has 
sophisticated missiles capable of destroying key Armenian facilities.

“Before making such irresponsible statements, the enemy should think about the 
fact that in the territory of Armenia there are facilities the destruction of 
which would make it impossible to live there for centuries,” it warned in a 
clear reference to the Metsamor nuclear power plant.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev threatened military strikes against 
“strategic” Armenian targets during a June 26 military parade in Baku. The 
parade featured Belarusian-made Polonez and Israeli-made LORA missiles which 
were supplied to the Azerbaijani army in recent months. They reportedly have a 
firing range of 200 and 300 kilometers respectively.

Mnatsakanian said that the Armenian side has the capacity to shoot down these 
missiles. But he did not elaborate.


Ex-Sarkisian Bodyguard Pays Hefty Bail

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - Vachagan Ghazarian empties his bag filled with cash after being 
arrested by the National Security Service in Yerevan, 25 June 2018.

A high-ranking officer who headed former President Serzh Sarkisian’s security 
detail for over two decades was released from pre-trial custody on Tuesday 
after posting a record-high bail of 1 billion drams ($2.1 million).

Armenia’s Court of Appeals on Friday ordered investigators to free Vachagan 
Ghazarian from custody on bail. Ghazarian, who is facing corruption charges, 
delayed the hefty payment and remained under arrest in the following days, 
however.

A spokeswoman for the Armenian Justice Ministry’s prison department told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that he has been set free after all 
pending investigation. The Special Investigation Service, a law-enforcement 
body conducting the probe, confirmed that he paid what appears to be the 
largest court bail in Armenia’s history.

Ghazarian stands accused of failing to declare to a state anti-corruption body 
at least $5 million in cash mostly held in his and his wife’s bank accounts. He 
was obliged to do that in his capacity as deputy head of a security agency 
providing bodyguards to the country’s leaders. He held that position until the 
end of May.

Ghazarian was arrested on June 25 and formally charged three days later with 
illegal enrichment and fraudulent asset disclosure. He is the first person in 
Armenia known to be prosecuted on such charges.

Ghazarian apparently denied the charges when he appeared before a district 
court in Yerevan on June 28.




Armenian Lawmaker Faces Renewed Tax Probe

        • Sargis Harutyunyan

Armenia - Parliament deputy Mihran Poghosian at a session of the National 
Assembly in Yerevan, 19 May 2017.

Armenian tax authorities have launched a fresh investigation into companies 
that are thought to be controlled by a controversial parliamentarian affiliated 
with former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK).

The largest of those companies, Katrin Group, has long enjoyed a virtual 
monopoly on imports of bananas to Armenia. It was founded by Mihran Poghosian, 
a former head of an Armenian state body enforcing court rulings. He was elected 
to the parliament on the HHK ticket last year.

Shortly after mass protests swept Sarkisian from power in April, the State 
Revenue Committee (SRC) launched a tax evasion inquiry into Katrin Group and 
three other firms linked to it. They promptly admitted failing to pay a total 
of 600 million drams ($1.2 million) in taxes, leading the SRC to close the 
criminal case.

The SRC announced on Tuesday that it has reopened the probe after discovering 
evidence of greater tax evasion on the part of the four business entities. All 
of them will now undergo fresh and “complex” audits, the national tax and 
customs service said in a statement.

A deputy head of the SRC, Rustam Badasian, declined to speculate about the 
amount of further unpaid taxes suspected by SRC investigators. “This is what 
the new audits will be conducted for,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service 
(Azatutyun.am). Poghosian could be summoned to the SRC for questioning, added 
Badasian.

Poghosian did not answer phone calls and could not be reached for comment. 
Independent media outlets have for years accused him of having extensive 
business interests thanks to his government position and connections. He has 
denied that.

Poghosian, 42, resigned as head of the State Service for the Mandatory 
Execution of Judicial Acts in April 2016 shortly after it emerged that he 
controls three shadowy companies registered in Panama. The Special 
Investigation Service (SIS) launched at the time a criminal investigation into 
the revelation made by the Hetq.am publication. The latter cited leaked 
documents known as the Panama Papers.

The SIS said in January 2017 that it will not press criminal charges against 
Poghosian because it has found no evidence of his involvement in “illegal 
entrepreneurial activity.” Shortly afterwards, the ruling HHK nominated him as 
a candidate for parliamentary elections held in April 2017.

The current head of the SRC, Davit Ananian, promised a tough crackdown on 
companies and individuals underreporting their earnings when he was appointed 
to run the government agency in late May. The SRC claims to have recovered more 
than 20 billion drams ($42 million) of unpaid taxes from 73 companies since 
then.


Press Review



“Zhoghovurd” notes that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian spoke on Monday by phone one week after a Russian 
military exercise in an Armenian village which was strongly criticized by 
Pashinian. The latter also said last week that Moscow is in a position to 
prevent another war in Karabakh. “It is evident that Putin and Pashinian also 
touched upon these topics,” speculates the paper. It says that Moscow is not 
accustomed to dealing with a legitimate and defiant Armenian government.

“Zhamanak” hails a stern warning that was issued by Armenian Defense Minister 
Davit Tonoyan to Azerbaijan. The paper says he was right to say that Baku will 
no longer have a “monopoly” on starting hostilities in Karabakh. This will only 
contribute to peace and stability in the region, it says.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” blasts the Armenian mining industry, saying that it has 
been the number one of source of “plunder” in the country. The paper says that 
Armenia has lost billions of dollars as a result of that, not to mention damage 
inflicted on its environment. “For many years, former government officials 
thought not about maximizing state revenue and minimizing environmental damage 
but about what they should to pocket as much money as possible for their 
personal budgets,” it says.

“Hraparak” says that the absence of government orders issued to courts alone 
will not guarantee judicial independence in Armenia. “Judges are scared and 
dependent on anything but the law,” says the paper. “They can face disciplinary 
proceedings at any moment on the basis of any slipup. The get low salaries: 
500,000 drams (over $1,000) is not enough for complete independence.”

(Tigran Avetisian)




Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

‘EU stands ready to support Armenian government’s reforms agenda’ – Katarína Mathernová

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
ArmenPress, Armenia
'EU stands ready to support Armenian government's reforms agenda' – Katarína Mathernová


YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission is on a visit to Armenia on 19-21 July. She underlined the importance of deepening relations on the basis of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for the benefit of the citizens of Armenia. The visit of Deputy Director-General Mathernová is an important milestone in EU-Armenia relations as it is the first senior-level visit by the European Commission to the country since the new government took office. It takes place after the last week's high-level meetings of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels, the EU delegation to Armenia said.

During her visit, Deputy Director-General Mathernová said: “Since the provisional entry into force of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement on 1 June, the EU’s relations with Armenia are closer than ever. The EU stands ready to support the Government's reforms agenda and will continue to work together with the Government to best meet the hopes and expectations of Armenia's citizens. Our recent opinion polls show that 80% of citizens across the country describe relations between Armenia and the EU as positive. The EU is the biggest trade partner in Armenia and the main donor with increasing support over the years providing €46 million in 2018 in bilateral assistance only. Working jointly towards achieving the “20 Deliverables for 2020” within the framework of the Eastern Partnership is another major objective of our cooperation to bring tangible benefits to our citizens."

Discussions with the government during the visit, including with Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Mher Grigoryan, focused on how to maximise the impact of EU-Armenia cooperation by concrete actions: (1) deepening engagement by providing EU expertise through High Level Advisors to help formulate and implement reforms; (2) a CEPA facility which can mobilise around €80 million for private sector investment; (3) hold an EU week in Armenia in September with a series of events around the Partnership Committee in Trade configuration. Deputy Director-General Mathernová also met Minister of Economic Development and Investments Mr. Artsvik Minasyan, as well as with Armenian private sector representatives and International Financial Institutions. They discussed how to best develop together Armenia’s economic potential, including by unlocking the full capacity of the private sector and supporting small and medium size enterprises.

Reinforcing the effectiveness of public services was also high on the agenda during the visit. Together with Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, Deputy Director-General Mathernová launched the project "EU for Armenia – E-Gov Actions". This brings together all the government applications supported by the EU under one platform, such as e-register.am and e-request.am. These online portals have transformed the way in which citizens and businesses interact with their local and national administration by increasing quality of service, efficiency and transparency. Moreover, Deputy Director-General Mathernová met with leading civil society representatives to discuss key issues of governance and human rights as well as EU support.

Looking ahead, Deputy Director-General Mathernová and Armenian Government representatives agreed to continue and enhance close cooperation in view of the government's ambitious reform programme to achieve concrete results for the benefit of Armenian citizens.