Author: Zakarian Garnik

RA GOVERNMENT APPROVED OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES PACKAGE FOR NEW FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT’S CREATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Government approved a package of amendments to
laws on "Banks and banking activities", "Bankruptcy", "Bankruptcy
of banks, credit and investment organizations", "Bonds market",
"Insurance and insurance activities".

Packet of changes aims to create a new financial instrument
subordinated loans to increase capital of financial and trade
organizations. The mechanism allows of a more effective attraction
of additional capital, than authorized capital increase.

Subordinated loan is a loan, which ranks after other debts should
a company fall into receivership or be closed. Subordinated loans
typically have a higher rate of return than senior debt due to the
increased inherent risk. Accordingly, major shareholders and parent
companies are most likely to provide subordinated loans, as an outside
party providing such a loan would normally want compensation for the
extra risk.

KARABAKH GENERAL PROSECUTOR ATTEMPTS TO WEED OUT CORRUPTION
Anahit Danielyan

hetq.am/en/karabakh/kakshatagh/
2009/05 /08 | 12:29

In November, 2006, Garnik Chobanyan, the village mayor of Hakari in the
Kashatagh district of Karabakh, made a trip to Berdzor to take receipt
of over two tons of diesel fuel. After signing the papers, they tell
Mr. Chobanyan that their reserves of diesel fuel have been depleted
and that there is only some 400 liters left. They advise the mayor to
take the 4oo liters and promise to deliver the balance when available.

During our recent trip to Hakari, the mayor told us that on his
frequent trips to obtain diesel fuel he was never given any. After this
incident the regional administration was twice changed. In 2008, the
current administration went to court to try and force Mr. Chobanyan
to pay the money for the diesel fuel he never obtained. Luckily,
the mayor was able to prove to the court that he had only received
400 liters of fuel.

As a result of these events, the losses sustained by the government
have never been recouped, nor have the court fees. As to where the
diesel destined for Hakari wound up is anybody’s guess. Most probably
it was sold off and never reached its intended target.

Similar examples abound when a government official, who tries to cover
up his tracks after making an error or a dubious side deal, seeks to
accuse someone who is either totally innocent or more innocent than
he or she.

At a recent press conference, NKR General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan
spoke about a similar incident involving criminal charges against
Zhora Grigoryan, the district leader of Karvatchar, who was also the
director of "Trans-kar" Ltd. at the same time. The General Prosecutor
told reporters that the Karvatchar mayor carried out construction
work intended for the town through the company he owned and that as
a result some $6 million was pilfered.

The "Trans-kar" company is a government-run enterprise and naturally
Mr. Grigoryan didn’t have the right to be mayor and company director
at the same time. Mr. Zhora Grigoryan isn’t the one at fault here. It
is rather the government body that designated him "Trans-kar" director,
in violation of the law, which is to be held accountable.

Let us remind readers that in the first quarter of this year eleven
criminal cases of corruption were initiated. One involved the former
head of the Kashatagh Regional Authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, charges
with selling off government property.

General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan doesn’t rule out the possibility
that this case will set a precedent to call all the former heads
of the regional authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, Hamlet Khachatryan,
and the others, to be held accountable for their actions.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH SUMMIT IN PRAGUE
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2009 GMT+04:00

"Cautious optimism", "window", "golden opportunity" and other similar
euphemisms that were called to disguise what has long been clear are
already a thing of the past; NKR will never be returned to Azerbaijan
and Baku has to admit it.

The next meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan at
the summit of "Eastern Partnership" due in Prague will apparently not
introduce a breakthrough in the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. By the way, we would not even discuss this issue as
everything is clear as it is. But one circumstance made us do it,
namely the absence of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the notorious
Armenian-Turkish "road map", which no one has ever seen and which
simply does not exist.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Exactly at the threshold of the summit, Armenian and
Azerbaijani Ministers of Foreign Affairs left for Washington at Hilary
Clinton’s invitation. To all appearances, negotiations at the State
Department were conducted as expected: minimum information and various
"deductions" of the analysts, leading as always to one and the same
idea – no breakthrough is foreseen in the NKR conflict in the near
future even if Armenian-Turkish relations are normalized. "Cautious
optimism", "window", "golden opportunity" and other similar euphemisms
that were called to disguise what has long been clear are already
a thing of the past; NKR will never be returned to Azerbaijan and
Baku has to admit it. Sure, the pill must be sugared, for instance
by giving carte blanche to various energy projects where Azerbaijan,
or, to be more accurate, the Aliyev clan, is involved.

As usual, co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group did not fail to express
themselves. In the words of French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the
mediators "are looking forward to further progress. The co-chairing
countries presented the final version of the basic principles to the
parties two years ago, in late 2007, and we hope that the leaders
can make a progress in validation of these principles."

"The Prague meeting will be the fourth meeting between the Presidents
after the St. Petersburg meeting a year ago in June, which appeared
to be quite constructive. The Moscow meeting was constructive too;
it ended with signing of the Moscow Declaration where the Presidents
agreed that it is very important that the regulation be political,
based on all the principles and norms of the international law. Later,
they met in Zurich in late January 2009, and it was another positive
meeting. Thus, we very much hope that in this framework, Prague will
be a continuation of constructive meetings," said Fassier.

But in Prague President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will also meet
President of Turkey Abdullah Gul. It is natural that in light of the
cabinet change of Turkish ministers, certain changes are outlined
in foreign policy of the country, which will be discussed at the
encounter. It is possible to assume that after the Prague meeting
negotiations on restoration of Armenian-Turkish relations will
become more intensive, especially if we take into consideration
the fact that the United States is interested in them. At least
outwardly Russia in this issue is thus far passive, possibly because
she believes that without her neither Armenia, nor even Turkey shall
resolve anything. However, in our opinion, this is one of the grossest
mistakes of the Russian-Caucasian policy, which, by the way, hardly
exists. Erdogan’s visit to Moscow is only refinement of the components
discussed during the meeting with Barack Obama in Ankara. But the
Turkish Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Baku is quite accurate a
step; this is exactly what he should do. And if someone seriously
considers that Turkey will not "disappoint" Azerbaijan, he is
wrong. Everything is already fixed and the leak of information about
certain agreements of the type "road map", return of regions and
other similar nonsense is necessary only as an evasive maneuver.

In all these arrangements there is one imminent risky point for Armenia
and it outweighs everything else: they want to force Yerevan to ratify
the Kars agreement. But it is exactly what Armenia should never do,
if she doesn’t want to commit a suicide. Everything else originates
from it.

JOURNALIST ATTACKED IN YEREVAN AGAIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 13:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the night of May 6th the anchorman of Shant TV
news program was beaten. About midnight two unknown persons beaten
Nver Mnatsakanyan and escaped after that, press office of RA Police
reported.

Necessary medical assistance was provided to the injured at
Armenia Medical Center. Forensic medical examination is scheduled,
investigation is underway.

A VOUCHER TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Sergei Markedonov

RIA Novosti
21:31 | 05/ 05/ 2009
MOSCOW

The Europeanization of the post-Soviet space has received new
incentives. On May 7, Prague will play host to the constituent summit
of Eastern Partnership to be attended by EU leaders and heads of six
republics of the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) taking part in this program.

On the same day, another round of talks between Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev will
take place in the Czech capital. The project’s initiators are pinning
special hopes on its results.

The initiative on Eastern Partnership was the result of Swedish and
Polish diplomacy last year. In effect, this was the first serious
public claim by New Europe to play the first fiddle in the European
orchestra. At that time, on the eve of its EU presidency, France
was the first to support this initiative. Originally, such European
grandees as Germany and Britain did not show much enthusiasm for
this idea. But the subsequent five-day war in the Caucasus caused
fears in Europe about "the empire’s revival" and the consolidation of
"Russia’s exclusive influence in Eurasia" (which the EU perceives as
a prerequisite of stronger authoritarian rule inside Russia).

It goes without saying that the Baltic countries and Poland were
particularly zealous in aggravating these phobias. They received
new arguments – the Kremlin’s unilateral recognition of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia’s independence, and the change of Russia’s status
in the South Caucasus. Be it as it may, a thorough analysis of this
issue last December in Brussels produced a document, which defines
the main provisions and prospects of Eastern Partnership.

The draft joint Declaration of Eastern Partnership reads that this
program will be based on such fundamental values as democracy,
supremacy of law, respect for human rights, international law, and
the market economy. All these values are set against the principles of
19th century Realpolitik. But this is only on paper. Considering all
kinds of obstacles existing in reality, the project aims at creating
"preparatory courses", or Europe’s "anteroom."

Eastern Partnership has already been compared with the EU’s agreements
with Lithuania and Poland before the expansion of united Europe in
2004. However, there are some serious nuances and major differences
between these agreements and the current project. Post-Soviet
republics are not invited to join the EU, although their leaders are
naturally interpreting partnership as the doors to Europe flung wide
open. However, last January EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
openly stated that Eastern Partnership did not provide for the
admission of post-Soviet states into the EU.

The EU as an institution is trying to save face. Political correctness
and adherence to propaganda do not allow it to reject post-Soviet
states out of hand. Today’s EU ideology is similar to Soviet-style
progressivism, under which society can only move forward, from simple
to sophisticated, from bottom to top, from old to new. Therefore,
there is no alternative to Europe’s expansion. It is beyond doubt,
and it only remains to argue about when it will take place. For this
reason, many new EU members (old-timers have very different opinions on
their membership) are particularly active in shaping unreasonably high
expectations in their partners. In this particular case, the matter
is not so much about grants and foreign financing that concern our
homebred, envious "patriots". The talk about fast Europeanization stems
from Soviet mentality, which is no weaker in Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia
and Azerbaijan than it is in Russia. This is a way of thinking when
an idea (in this case, a markedly anti-Russian, European idea rather
than the communist one) is being elevated to the absolute, divorced
from reality, and denied thorough analysis. This approach leads to
the emergence of myths, overrated expectations, and practical mistakes.

Having decided that "Euro-Atlantic fraternity" has no alternative,
Tbilisi launched its attack on Tskhinval. As a result, Russian
tanks are now stationed 30 km (little more than 19 miles) from the
Georgian capital, while Georgia has lost control over the district
of Akhalgori and the Kodor Gorge. Its chances of retrieving Abkhazia
and South Ossetia are close to zero even within the borders of the
Soviet period, not to mention those of 1992-1994.

But Georgia is an extreme case. For the time being, other EU
partners are actively discussing "change of orientation," notably,
the renunciation of post-Soviet integration in favor of Europe.

Needless to say, the CIS is not a very effective structure. Its goals
are vague, and it lacks a vision of the future. However, this institute
of "civilized divorce" provides for the recognition of university
diplomas and visa-free travel for the Eastern partners. Anyone
who graduated from the Kharkov Pedagogical Institute, or Kishinev
University in 1983, has every chance to get a job on the vast expanses
of Russia. This is of real value provided by the CIS. What company in
Rome, Milan, Paris, or Frankfurt would accept diplomas of a medical
institute from Baku, a technical or pedagogical vocational school from
Yerevan, Kishinev, Odessa, Zhitomir, or Minsk? (The latter diploma
should also be supported by evidence of democratic transit).

Everything in the EU is going according to plan, just as things had
been running in Soviet times. The constituent summit will take place
on May 7. Later on, summits will be held on a regular basis, and the
Brussels bureaucracy will take charge of the project itself. As in
the case with NATO summits, there will reports about "progress," but
these "steps forward" are not likely to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, make Georgia more tolerant to the motives of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, or turn Transdnestr into "European Moldova."

It is clear that the partners’ relations with Russia are not likely
to improve as a result of the project’s implementation. Many in the
countries, which are waiting for "vouchers" to Europe, believe that
this project is aimed at reducing Russia’s influence in Europe and
Asia. It is difficult to expect positive results when blind faith
and ideology prevail over knowledge and reality.

Sergei Markedonov is department head at the Institute of Political
and Military Analysis.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s and do not
necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

RESIGNATION DECREES OF ARFD MINISTERS NOT YET SIGNED BY PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2009 20:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "ARFD cabinet ministers will hold their offices
unless the President signs decree on their resignation," ARFD
parliamentarian Armen Roustramyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent,
adding that Provincial Governor of Aragatsotn Gabriel Gazelyan and
his party colleagues, as well as ARFD Ministers wait till their
resignation decree is signed by President. Mr. Roustamyan believes
the President will issue the decree within a couple of days.

Art Review
Sculpture Born of Scissors and Paper

Karen Sargsyan
CUTTING EDGE The Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art’s artist in
residence in the fall, Karen Sargsyan, an Armenian living in
Amsterdam, in his studio in Peekskill.
ion/westchester/03artwe.html

Sculpture Born of Scissors and Paper

The Armenian artist Karen Sargsyan creates sculptures from cut paper,
on display now at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art.

By BENJAMIN GENOCCHIO
Published: May 1, 2009

It is hard to define sculpture these days. Artists continue to make
three-dimensional objects, but the range and variety of materials they
employ defy classification. This is enchantingly evident in a show by
the Armenian artist Karen Sargsyan at the Hudson Valley Center for
Contemporary Art.

One of Karen Sargsyan’s sculptures from the exhibition `Abroad
Understanding.’ Mr. Sargsyan, 36, makes figurative sculptures from
cut paper. The works in the current show were created during his stay
in Peekskill last fall as the center’s artist in residence. Depending
on how you look at it, the exhibition consists of either hundreds of
individual cut paper sculptures arranged across the mezzanine gallery
or a single installation made up of many parts.

Immediately eye-catching is a figure trailed by a black dog on the
landing outside the show’s entrance. The figure is leaning over the
railing, looking down at the galleries below. Both dog and figure are
intricately constructed from layers of colored paper and are
remarkable for their playfulness and dynamism; from certain angles, it
looks as if the dog is getting ready to bite the man’s bottom.

Dominating the exhibition is the sculpture of an outsize figure sunken
into a collapsed throne with a scepter across his right leg. He is a
king, or at least has the trappings of royalty. To his left is a
kneeling knight, while surrounding him is a group of jesters who seem
to be performing for his entertainment. It is a theatrical scene
reminiscent of baroque paintings of life in princely courts.

Especially interesting about this grouping of figures is the way in
which each of them is engaged in some sort of dramatic gesture, highly
suggestive of movement, yet frozen in space and time. I like this
tension, for it invites deeper contemplation of the symbolism of the
scene. Why is the king sacked out on the floor? Has he been deposed
and is living in exile? Are these additional figures that surround him
all that remain of his once loyal and devoted subjects?

Viewers looking for guidance on how to interpret this installation
will find little relief in the oblique title, `Abroad Understanding.’
Nor is there an exhibition catalog or brochure to narrow things down a
little. Still, clues can be found in the work itself. The clothes on
the figures appear frayed, even chewed up or eaten away, suggesting
that the king has been out of power for some time. He and his
entourage are living in exile.

You might also notice that the expressions on the faces of several of
the figures are strained, suggesting feelings of suffering and
pain. That Mr. Sargsyan can convey pathos in paper is indicative of
his tremendous skill with scissors, and no doubt why in 2007 he won
the Netherlands’s prestigious Thieme Art Award, given annually to a
promising young artist, and is being heralded as a rising art world
star.

Mr. Sargsyan, who lives in Amsterdam, originally worked in clay, later
moving to paper. It was a smart decision, for while there are numerous
contemporary artists working with ceramics, no contemporary
international artist that I can think of makes work on this scale
using slivers of cut paper. It helps him stand out from the crowd – in
the same way that colorful Styrofoam sculptures distinguish Folkert de
Jong, another well-known young Dutch artist.

But that is where the comparison ends, for the two artists have
different sources of inspiration. Whereas Mr. de Jong is interested in
political issues and history, Mr. Sargsyan is interested in
theatricality and process.

Littering the floor around Mr. Sargsyan’s figures are bits and pieces
of scrap paper, several preparatory sculptures of human faces and
limbs, along with paper renditions of scissors and a tape
dispenser. By not cleaning up the gallery the artist invites us to see
the space as a studio, as a laboratory for ideas, and the artwork as
an active, changing work in progress.

The artist’s choice of material raises obvious questions about the
durability of his installations, since paper tends to discolor, sag
and even degrade over time, especially when exposed to light and
moisture. But Mr. Sargsyan uses a special kind of heavy-duty archival
paper, much like that used as a support for drawings and paintings. He
believes that with good care, these sculptures can last forever.

`Karen Sargsyan: Abroad Understanding’ Hudson Valley Center for
Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street, Peekskill, through May
24. Information: (914) 788-0100 or hvcca.org.

More Articles in New York Region ‘ A version of this article appeared
in print on May 3, 2009, on page WE8 of the New York edition.

PanARMENIAN.Net

First Armenian football league: 4th round results
02.05.2009 13:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a result of the 4th round of First Armenian
League, Dilijan’s Impulse and Yerevan’s Shengavit ranks as top teams.

Results for the 4th round:

Banants-2 – Gandzasar-2 – 0:2
Goals: Armen Grigoryan – 23rd min., Hyrapet Avagyan – 43

Shirak-2 – Pyunik-2 – 0:2
Goals: Roumyan Hovsepyan -30. Khoren Manoucharyan – 88

Mika-2 – Banants-3 – 1:0
Goal: Grigor Balabekyan

Shengavit – Pyunik – 6:0
Goals: Henrik Hatroutyunyan 7, 12, Martun Hakobyan – 25, Edgar
Kazaryan – 38, Hovhannes Mnatsakanyan – 75, Garegin Mashoumyan – 87

Total results:
1. Impulse – 9 (3 matches)
2. Shengavit – 9 (3 matches)
3. Pyunik-2 – 7 (4 matches)
4. Gandzasar-2 – 7 (4 macthes)
5. Shirak-2 – 3 (3 matches)
6. Mika-2 – 3 (3 matches)
7. Banants-3 – 2 (4 matches)
8. Banants-2 – 1 (3 matches)
9. Pyunik-3 – 1 (3 matches)

ARMENIA TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO WARD OFF SWINE FLU

ARKA
Apr 30, 2009

YEREVAN, April 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Government intends to take all
necessary measures to lessen risks of swine flu epidemic, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at Thursday’s governmental meeting.

He said that World Health Organization, seeing how fast the virus is
being transmitted, raised the degree of current risk of the disease.

"We are ready to make every effort to lessen the risk", the premier
said.

Healthcare Minister Harutyun Kushkyan said he convened an emergency
meeting today morning.

It was placed on record at the meeting that not a single case of
swine flu has been reported in the country.

The minister said that all necessary steps have been taken to prevent
epidemic and control in Zvartnots and Gyumri airports tighten.

He also said that the country has necessary devices and medicines.

Kushkyan said that thermal imaging scanners will be purchased and
installed in the airports in two or three days to spot swine flu.

The scanners measure passengers’ temperature. This will enable doctors
to stave off epidemics.

Agriculture Minister Aramayis Grigoryan, in his turn, said that his
ministry is doing whatever necessary to ward off the disease.

"All imported cargoes are being examined in check points and
disinfected", he said.

Grigoryan proposed restrictions in pork and poultry import.

=0 A Emergency Minister Mher Shahgeldyan said that his ministry’s
all units are in high alert now.

He proposed to take preventive measures not only in airports, but
also in aircrafts.

TWO DASHNAK COMMITTEE HEADS TO REMAIN IN OFFICE

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.04.2009 17:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARFD will keep the posts of committee heads,
ARFD parliamentarian Vahan Hovhannistan said today during the
session. According to the MP, Dashnaktsutyun party can create a
civilized atmosphere for debates by preserving its seats in National
Assembly.

"The party decided to keep the posts of two standing committee
heads. Unlike Ministers, MPs are members of a representative body;
they are not appointed; they are elected by the county’s people,"
member of ARFD Supreme Body Rouben Margaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
correspondent. Speaking about Vice-Speaker Hrayr Karapetyan, he said
that the party had of course called for his resignation and besides,
the law does not allow opposition members to hold that post. "In
his statement, Hovik Abrahamyan meant Armen Roustamyan and Arthur
Aghabekyan’s posts, as this does not contravene the Parliament’s
internal regulations," he said.

On April 27, ARFD Dashnaktsutyun officially waived membership in the
coalition and ministerial posts in Government. ARFD member Hrayr
Karapetyan held the post of NA Vice Speaker; Armen Roustamyan was
Head of Foreign Relations Committee, and Arthur Aghabekyan was Head
of Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Committee.

During the NA Session held on April 29, Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
proposed ARFD representatives not to resign their posts in Parliament
and withdraw the resignation notices of Standing Committee Heads.