PaperBoy

At the NA session convened by the Government today yesterday’s drafts are being discussed with the 2nd reading. The discussion started from the package of Committee on Prevention of Corruption and adjacent laws. Author, the NA Deputy Speaker Arpine Hovhannisyan first thanked for cooperation, noting that a number of proposals by Dashnaktsutyun and Yelk alliance were accepted, particularly they relate to participation of opposition representatives in the committee’s competition council, the proposal of Yelk alliance lawmaker Gevorg Gorgisyan regarding the issue of selection of the committee’s staff on holding testing. Gevorg Petrosyan, lawmaker from Tsarukyan alliance, made a remark that the committee lacks the principles of legality, impartiality, independence. Arpine Hovhannisyan replied, “We, lawyers, can see and hear what we want; the committee cannot operate out of those principles.” Yelk alliance lawmaker Edmon Marukyan said that he was on business trip and couldn’t express his opinion, “Within the frames of current opportunities, we can make use of the establishment of the committee as much as possible, though, it could have been stronger. If all the citizens voted for Yelk, the situation would be different. I will be surprised, if Republican lawmakers apply to this committee or the Informer’s system, as it is the mechanism of the opposition and from the very first day we will apply to it. That’s why we support this package of drafts.” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1261227.html

As it is known, the Russian-Armenian agreement on “Providing a State Export Loan to the RA Government” was signed in Yerevan on June 26, 2015, according to which Armenia was to purchase 200 million USD worth weapons and ammunition from Russia, paying back the loan amount during 10 years. The agreement on purchasing weapons “on credit” came into force only in February 2016. The weapons purchased within the framework of the agreement were due to be supplied to Armenia during 2016 and 2017. And though, as previously informed, the types of weapons to be supplied by the agreement were quite old (technologies of 80s, 70s, and even 60s), delivery of some relatively modern (10-20 years old) weapons was also envisaged. Examples include TOS-1А “Solntsepyok” heavy artilleries and “Smerch” multiple rocket launchers. “Union of Informed Citizens” tried to find out from the Government how much of the weapons and other items of military significance the RA Armed Forces have received within the framework of the agreement. In response to our enquiry, we were informed that the loan obligations of the Armenian side by the agreement formed 35.6 million USD by June 1, 2017. In other words, according to Clause 2 of Article 2 of the Agreement, almost two years after signing the agreement the Armenian side has received only about 35 million USD worth weapons and other items of military significance from the envisaged 200 million worth items. Such a slow delivery of weapons to Armenia is difficult to explain taking into account the speed with which Russia is supplying weapons to Azerbaijan, Iraq, Syria and other countries involved in military conflicts. Anyhow, according to the agreement, only 7 months remain for the delivery of the rest of the weapons (worth 165 million USD). P.S. Note that “Iskander” tactical missiles were obtained from Russia outside of the scope of this agreement. You can find more information about them here. “Union of Informed Citizens” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1261225.html

Yerevan Council of Elders “Yerkir Tsirani” faction has convened a session outside the Municipality. You can follow live on Facebook. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1261223.html

On 8 June Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Kashatagh region and met in the Hochants village with the community heads of the region’s northern wing. President Sahakyan began the meeting handing in high state awards to a group of representatives of the region for the services rendered to the country. Issues related to the activities carried out and the results registered in 2016, as well as the implementation of a range of ongoing projects were addressed thereafter. Head of Kashatagh regional administration Souren Khachatryan, officials of the regional administration and community heads delivered corresponding reports. President Sahakyan overall rated as satisfactory the 2016 socioeconomic indicators registered in Kashatagh region. Bako Sahakyan noted that the region had been maintaining leading positions in the agricultural sector for several years, adding that a range of new projects covering diverse spheres were scheduled there with consequent benefits for the development of the region. Premier Arayik Haroutyunyan and other officials attended the meeting. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1261221.html

A 430-meter-long glass bridge was constructed across a deep canyon in China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and opened in summer 2016. Designed by architect Haim Dotan, the bridge is believed to be the world's longest and tallest glass pedestrian bridge. Glass panels are set into its walkway, giving visitors vertigo-inducing views and photo opportunities of the canyon below. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/241348/

During the past six months, the policy of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) is undergoing changes. PanARMENAIN.Net presents some of them, including reduction of personnel, tax collection growth and tax amnesty, as well as tax exemption for self-employed citizens. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/240293/

Officially stated, food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the cells to provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth. People usually consume food of animal origin after cooking, but there are some who prefer it ‘live’. In 2007, a newspaper reported that a man from south east China claimed that eating live frogs for a month cured his intestinal problems. He also eats live mice and rats. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/241139/

Tom Catena, an American physician, has been practicing in Gidel in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan since 2008. Known by locals as “Dr. Tom”, he has been on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Mother of Mercy Catholic Hospital to care for the more than 750,000 citizens of Nuba amidst ongoing civil war between the government of Sudan and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement. On May 28, 2017, he was announced the laureate of Aurora Prize for rekindling faith in humanity. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/240739/

A number of bills today passed their first reading in the National Assembly. With 55 votes in favour and 25 against, the legislature passed the amendments to the RA laws on Social Guarantees for Persons Holding Public Offices and on Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia. The draft amendments to the RA Laws on Television and Radio and on State Duty were passed with 87 votes. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260841.html

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier is in Armenia to bid farewell to the staff of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “We are here because, unfortunately, we have been unable to reach a consensus and extend the mandate of the OSCE’s Office in Yerevan. We have to end our work with Armenia,” the official said during a press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The office has faced an uncertain future since Baku vetoed late last year a further extension of its mandate, objecting to a humanitarian demining program implemented by it in Armenia. However, the move will not hinder the organization from cooperating with Armenia. “The OSCE will continue to stay involved here [in the region],” said Lamberto Zannier. Edward Nalbandian said in turn, “Abusing its right to veto, Azerbaijan forced the closure of the Yerevan office, blocking the renewal of its mandate. Baku attempted to present this within Azerbaijan-Armenia dimension, while in reality it is related to the OSCE-Azerbaijan relations. Azerbaijan had a similar OSCE office shut down in Baku in 2015. Anyway, the OSCE Chairmanship did not give a relevant assessment to Baku’s steps. “The OSCE is governed [in its work] by the consensus rule and we never point our finger at the side that breaches the agreement. I regret the closure of the office and we are trying to find ways to continue our work here. But we need to discuss some financial issues,” the OSCE Secretary General said. For the first time, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have voiced direct targeted criticism this year, urging Azerbaijan not to violate the ceasefire on the line of contact. But it did not prevent Baku from escalating the situation on the border with Artsakh. “It is about the time that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries passed from words to concrete actions,” the Armenian FM said. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260839.html

Remarks by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at the joint press conference with Lamberto Zannier, the OSCE Secretary General Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to welcome Lamberto Zannier, the OSCE Secretary General, in Yerevan. Armenia’s involvement in all the dimensions of the OSCE’s activity, implementation of the OSCE programmes in Armenia can indeed be considered exemplary. The visit of the Secretary General takes place at a time when the Organization has to close its last office in our region since one of the OSCE participating states, Azerbaijan, by abusing its right of veto, blocked the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Yerevan Office. Baku attempted to present this within Azerbaijan-Armenia dimension, while in reality it is related to the OSCE-Azerbaijan relations. This is an act directed against the OSCE itself. I believe that the OSCE Chairmanship, as well as the participating states and the Secretariat have made relevant conclusions in regard to this destructive step of Baku, which totally contradicts the OSCE vision and goals. Regarding the Office I would like to add that we anticipate that many programmes, which Office has been implementing, will continue to be realized within other formats. We have had a comprehensive discussion with Mr. Zannier both during a tete-a-tete meeting and with participation of delegations that followed. We exchanged views on the issues of the Organization’s agenda, activities in all three dimensions, discussed the process of implementation of the priorities of the Austrian Chairmanship. We also touched upon the Parliamentary elections held in Armenia on April 2. We stated that the unprecedented number of observers monitored the elections. The assessments of the international observation missions are indeed valuable, according to which the elections were well organized, fundamental human rights were respected and the voting results reflect the will of the people of Armenia. I presented to Mr. Zannier the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries aimed at advancing the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. We highlighted the importance of implementation of the agreements reached during the last year’s summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg, the realization of which, as you know, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct. We also focused on other urgent international and regional security-related issues. Using this opportunity I would like to emphasize that during his six-year tenure the Secretary General and I established solid working contacts and warm personal relations, which greatly contributes to effective cooperation within the OSCE. As most probably, this is the last visit of Mr. Zannier to Armenia in his current capacity, I would like to thank him for close cooperation and wish him every success in his future endeavours. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260835.html

Op-Ed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Day of UN Peacekeepers When I entered the United Nations Secretariat building for the first time as Secretary-General in January, my first act was to lay a wreath honoring more than 3,500 United Nations staff who died in the service of peace. Later that same week, two Blue Helmets were killed in the Central African Republic, where they were working to prevent violent confrontations between communities from descending into mass killings. United Nations peacekeepers place themselves in harm’s way every day, between armed groups that are trying to kill each other or to harm civilians. Countless lives have been saved and improved by UN peacekeeping over the past seventy years;countless families ravaged by war have been given a new start.Independent research has shown the worth of peacekeeping:it prevents the spread of violence; and it typically reduces the numbers of civilians killed by more than 90 percent, compared to before the deployment. We also know peacekeeping is cost-effective. The UN peacekeeping budget is less than half of 1 percent of global military spending, and is shared between all 193 UN Member States. US studies show that UN peacekeeping missions are an estimated 8 times more cost-effective than when the US acts alone. That investment pays off many times over when we consider the economic growth and prosperity that follow from increased stability and security after successful peacekeeping missions. In our interconnected world, the emergence of global terrorism means that instability anywhere is a threat everywhere. United Nations peacekeeping operations are on the frontlines of our efforts to prevent the emergence of lawless regions where insecurity, transnational crime and extremism can flourish. They are an investment in global peace, security and prosperity. Our missions have contributed to a legacy of stability, development and economic growth from El Salvador to Namibia, and from Mozambique to Cambodia. Fifty-four operations have completed their mandates and closed; two more, in Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire, will do so in the months ahead. While the United Nations is facing up to the challenges and shortcomings of our peacekeeping efforts, we should also recognize the successes of our mission for peace. The Central African Republic was facing the threat of genocide when peacekeepers arrived two years ago.Today, the country has elected a new government in a peaceful and democratic process, and is struggling to move towards peace and stability, disarmament and the rule of law. Our mission, MINUSCA, is providing crucial supportto reduce the threat posed by armed groups, but the situation remains challenging. It is frightening to imagine the tragic consequences if peacekeepers had not been there. In South Sudan, UN peacekeepersare sheltering more than 200,000 civilians whofled when their homes were destroyed by the fighting. As famine stalks the country, UN peacekeepers are providing security for humanitarian agencies to deliver lifesaving aid. Peace in our world may seem like an abstract concept. But peace on the ground depends on gruelingly hard work, every day, under difficult and dangerous conditions. The world relies on United Nations peacekeepers to go where others cannot and will not, despite the many obstacles they must confront. Too often, United Nations peace operations face a gap between our goals and the means we have to achieve them. In many places, peacekeepers are deployed where warring parties show little commitment to peace. Our missions themselves are increasingly targeted by parties to conflict and violent extremists. Dealing with this new reality requires a serious strategic reform on our part, based on an analysis of the mandates and capacities of our missions and our partnerships with governments and others. We must adapt peace operations to the dangerous and challenging environments they now face. We have already made reforms that have reduced costs significantly and given us greater flexibility to deploy peacekeepers at short notice. But more remains to be done. I am determined to work with governments, regional organizations and other partners to make sure peacekeeping has the tools and rules it needs. United Nations peacekeeping has been tarnished in recent years by appalling cases of sexual exploitation and abuse that are an outrageous violation of everything we value. Tackling this scourge is a priority for the whole United Nations system. I have presented a plan to all UN Member States that is aimed at ending impunity, and will create victims’ rights advocates in our peacekeeping missions and at UN headquarters. I intend to mobilize world leaders around these critical steps. When people around the world are asked about their priorities, from New York to New Delhi, from Cairo to Cape Town, they give the same response.They want safety and security, to raise their children in peace and give them education and opportunities to shape their future. United Nations peacekeepers are one of the ways in which we deliver on that universal aspiration and make the world safer for everyone. Mr. António Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260833.html

Gevorg Petrosyan, Nora Arustamyan and Hakob Nazaryan will substitute the three MPs from the Tsarukyan alliance, who have renounced their parliamentary seats. Commenting on media reports that Nora Arustamyan, who is the daughter of Tsarukyan’s friend, will replace Khachik Manukyan in the National Assembly, Iveta Tonoyan, Spokesperson for Gagik Tsarukyan, said, “There are political agreements and there are private agreements.” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260831.html

The first hearing in the case of the 14 members of the Sasna Dzrer group will be held on June 8, DataLex public information system reports. Case has been assigned to Artush Gabrielyan, a judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Erebuni and Nubarashen administrative districts. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260829.html

“I am not going to join anyone to create a living hell for another person,” Anahit Bakhshyan, a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders, said after she was asked whether she was going to join Zaruhi Postanjyan and turn [Mayor] Taron Margaryan’s life into a living hell. “I am coming to work and cooperate, raise problems and demand a solution to them, control the activities of the mayor. I do not want to see a hell anywhere,” said Anahit Bakhshyan. She says she has learned serious lessons from her four-year work in the City Council and she is going to use her experience in her future work. “Everyone must work and consistently raise the problems. Only in that case shall we be able to change many things.” Anahit Bakhshyan is most concerned over the imperfection of question and answer session during the sittings of the previous council. She says they will not allow such things to occur during the sittings of the next City Council. “The Municipality does not like question and answer sessions and wants to have them removed from the agenda but they are envisaged by law.” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260826.html

All factions represented in the City Councils have worked well in the past four years. They have had achievements but it is not enough, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan said during the last sitting of the outgoing City Council. He added that the demands of Yerevan citizens are not fully met. “In view of drawbacks, I can only say that we did not have enough time [to address them all]. But we have received the vote of confidence of our co-citizens. And this period is enough to realize everything else,” he said. Speaking about an incident that occurred in one of his campaign offices on the day of municipal elections in Yerevan, Mr Margaryan said, “We had normal elections. I do not want to assess other political forces; all of them are members of the City Council and received a vote of confidence by residents. They are ready to serve the interests of our citizens and we are ready to cooperate with them. Zaruhi Postanjyan earlier announced that that she was going to turn Taron Margaryan’s life into a living hell. When asked to comment on Postanjyan’s statement, the Yerevan mayor said, “I think we are going to have interesting sittings [with Postanjyan’s presence]. You will attend them and see everything with your own eyes.” Asked whether Postanjyan was ill-disposed towards him, Taron Margaryan said, “The time will come and you will see everything.” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260823.html

Israeli jazz bassist, composer, singer and arranger Avishai Cohen will perform with his trio in Yerevan on May 31.The concert will be held at the Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall. The stage is undoubtedly a place where Avishai feels at home, his critics say. Today Avishai Cohen talked to journalists in Yerevan. “I shall present my favourite works to the Armenian audience but the most important thing is that I shall improvise while playing and I do not even know myself what I am going to perform. I listen to different kinds of music and I get inspired. My desire to make changes in music is accounted for it,” Mr Cohen said. Avishai Cohen was born in Jerusalem in 1970. At home, music was already in the air, with his mother listening to classical and traditional music. He began to play the piano at an early age. 1992 was crucial for him when he moved to New York with his family. The young man had a tough beginning, performing in the streets working in construction to get by. He gained recognition gradually. Avishai Cohen has cooperated with Danilo Pérez, a Grammy-winning pianist from Panama, and Chick Corea, a legendary pianist, composer, arranger and jazz music legend. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260821.html

The Criminal Court of Appeal was scheduled to hear on Tuesday a decision to remove the ban imposed on in-person meetings of three members of the Sasna Dzrer group – Gagik Yeghiazaryan, Vardan Geravetyan and Aram Hakobyan. Just before the start of the trial when the defendants were brought into the courtroom, Gagik Yeghiazaryan’s brother tried to approach and kiss his brother. This caused a stir in the courtroom and ‘the accompanying battalion’ removed the three defendants from the courtroom. The judge has not showed up yet. Those present in the courtroom are chanting, “Sasna Dzrer”,”Death to the regime!” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260819.html

On the occasion of Republic Day marked in Armenia on May 28, Serzh Sargsyan bestowed state awards and honorary titles to a group of individuals who are not accepted unanimously by the public. Human rights activist Janna Alexanyan says Baghramyan 26 (Presidential Palace) does not take into account the merits of awardees. “It was especially noteworthy that people who rendered definite services to Serzh Sargsyan during the enactment of the constitutional amendments were awarded. Serzh Sargsyan awarded all those who served him, rather than the state, with the exception of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who carries other values,” she said. “Armenia has entered a phase of critical changes,” Serzh Sargsyan announced during the awards giving ceremony at Baghramyan 26. “These changes rest first of all on the principle of justice. To change the image of our country, we have to always reveal and honor those worthy. That’s the way to tell good from bad, truth from lie, decent from indecent. Societies reach success only if they rely on true values,” he continued. The human rights activist has some reservations about this approach. “There is no justice in Armenia and we see its absence at every step. Those awards are not something special, but if he awards his favourites, he is to award others as well,” Janna Alexanyan stresses. The human rights defender felt an atmosphere of justice during the awards giving ceremony of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. At the same time, she was surprised to hear the foreign guests of the ceremony calling Armenia ‘a humanitarian country.’ “Armenia is an anti-human country where the ruling elite does everything against people. Man is not a value here. That wonderful event may leave its mark but not on the elite. It is a consolation, a vision for a society that a person should be appreciated for his merits.” Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260817.html

The National Assembly has initiated hasty discussions of several legislative measures, which is not welcomed by the parliamentary opposition. Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the opposition Yelk alliance in the Armenian parliament, says an automatic approach is not acceptable to all projects. “Our faction has a packet of proposals concerning two of the drafts, therefore we suggest that comprehensive discussions be held, otherwise we find that the culture of debates is being abolished in parliament,” he said. Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan said they only determine the period which cannot be exceeded. Artak Zeynalyan from the Yelk alliance also disapproved the method of hasty discussions, saying the drafts needed serious consideration. “I suggest that the National Assembly vote against all drafts so that the government will not come up with such an initiative again because this is a disrespectful attitude towards parliament,” said Edmon Marukyan, another lawmaker representing the Yelk alliance. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260813.html

“The powers of three lawmakers have been terminated,” Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ara Babloyan announced at the beginning of the special sitting of the Armenian parliament. Those MPs are Harutyun Gharagyozyan, Khachik Manukyan and Artyom Tsarukyan. The three were elected to the new parliament from the Tsarukyan bloc. They announced their decision earlier in May and had 15 days to reconsider their decision, however they did not retract their resignation letters. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260810.html

The National Assembly convenes a special sitting on May 30. The legislature will discuss a number of draft laws, including the draft amendments to the RA Laws on Television and Radio, Social Guarantees for Persons Holding Public Offices, Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia and others. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260807.html

At least 11 people were killed by falling trees and debris from buildings as a storm swept through Moscow on Monday. More than 168 people are reported to have been injured in the city’s deadliest storm in more than 100 years, officials said. Most of the injured were hospitalized. Some of them are said to be in a serious condition. According to recent reports, there are six men and five women among the victims. Source: http://en.a1plus.am/1260805.html

The history of cosmetics spans at least 6000 years and is present in almost every society on earth. Some argue that cosmetic body art was the earliest form of ritual in human culture, dating over 100,000 years ago from the African Middle Stone Age. The evidence for this comes in the form of utilized red mineral pigments (red ochre) including crayons associated with the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/240620/

Cannibalism is as old as the hills. It is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh or internal organs of other human beings. The expression cannibalism has been extended into zoology to mean one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food, including sexual cannibalism. It has been both practiced and fiercely condemned in several wars, especially in Liberia and Congo. It was still practiced in Papua New Guinea as of 2012 for cultic reasons and in ritual and in war in various Melanesian tribes. Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/240580/