Armenian News
RFE/RL Report
Armenia Slides In `Economic Freedom' Rankings
Tatevik Lazarian
28.01.2015
A cabinet reshuffle initiated by President Serzh Sarkisian last spring
has contributed to a further deterioration of Armenia's position in
global "economic freedom" rankings drawn up by two conservative
U.S. institutions.
"The Wall Street Journal" and the Heritage Foundation think-tank rate
178 countries and territories on ten indicators of economic freedom,
including the rule of law, the size of government and market openness.
Armenia retained the status of a "moderately free" economy in their
2015 Index of Economic Freedom released on Wednesday. However, it is
52nd in the latest WSJ/Heritage rankings, down from 41st and 38th
places it occupied in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
The survey attributed the drop to a "considerable deterioration in
property rights, labor freedom, and monetary freedom." It also cited
the unexpected April 2014 resignations of Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian and several liberal economists that held senior posts in his
cabinet.
"In 2014, the president dismissed several well-known reformers and
formed a new cabinet including officials who allegedly have grown
wealthy from their government connections," said the survey. "For
example, the finance minister [Gagik Khachatrian] has long been
subject to media allegations of corruption."
"The judicial system, hobbled by corruption, impedes the enforcement
of contracts. Scores for rule of law are below average," it added.
Hayk Gevorgian, a veteran journalist with the "Haykakan Zhamanak"
daily who has long reported on Khachatrian's extensive business
interests, described the reference to the Armenian minister as
"remarkable." He said the problems highlighted by the WSJ/Heritage
researchers stem from the country's flawed political system.
"I'm not surprised with the worsening of Armenia's ratings," Gevorgian
told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). "I'm surprised that
they had gone up before in the first place."
The U.S. survey noted that Armenia still "performs relatively well in
most categories compared to world averages." But it said economic
freedom in the country "has been on a five-year downward path."
news.am
Armenia's human rights record uneven - Human Rights Watch
29.01.2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Armenia's human rights record remained uneven in
2014, states Human Rights Watch World Report 2015, Armenian News -
NEWS.amreports from Washington, D.C.
According to the report, Armenia's authorities continued to interfere
with peaceful protests.
"Torture and ill-treatment in custody remained a problem, and
investigations are ineffective, even when opened. Journalists
continued to face pressure and violence," stressed the report.
According to international observers, although changes to alternative
service to compulsory military service garnered praise, serious abuses
in the army persist. Also, local groups documented forced psychiatric
hospitalization.
"Violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender
identity are serious problems," noted the authors of the report.
In addition, Armenia's government has yet to lift unnecessary
restrictions on access to pain medications for people with terminal
illnesses.
At the same time, Human Rights Watch added that in July joint
statement by the UN, EU, OSCE, and CoE commended Armenia for adopting
a Human Rights Action Plan as an opportunity for meaningful
accountability and human rights progress.
tert.am
Nagorno-Karabakh freer compared to Azerbaijan - report
28.01.15
The international human rights watchdog Freedom House has given
Nagorno-Karabakh a higher status of freedom compared to Azerbaijan.
In its recent report, which includes also disputed territories,
Nagorno-Karabakh has been rated as a Partly Free state as opposed to
Azerbaijan, which is among the Not Free countries.
Armenia also has been rated as Partly Free , together with Georgia and
Turkey. Azerbaijan; Iran and Russia accomplish the list of Not Free
states.
The organization's experts have pointed out to downward trends in
countries considered important regional role-players including
Turkey, Russia and Azerbaijan)
On the index comprising 195 countries, a total of 89 states (46) have
been named as Free, 55 (28%) - as Partially Free and 51 (26%) - as Not
Free.
news.am
Islamized Armenians are baptized and learning the language
25.12.2014
YEREVAN. - The Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia continues to carry out
activities with the Islamized and clandestine Armenians.
Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakopyan told the aforesaid to reporters,
but she added that, for understandable reasons, this work is not
widely presented.
"But we are pleased with the results. The Government of Armenia helps
them visit the historical homeland.
"Moreover, an exception is made for the [respective] people over the
age of 20 to be permitted to participate in the [ministry's] Come Home
[motherland visiting] program, which is intended for
[Diaspora-Armenian] teenagers.
"Two of them were not only baptized, but they stayed in Armenia to
learn Armenian. Later, they will return to Tigranakert [i.e., today's
Diyarbakir, Turkey] to open an Armenian school there. Hundreds of
people in that region want to learn Armenian," the minister stated, in
particular.
Jan 28 2015
UK Government - no recognition for so-called 'Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic' or its 'court'
28.01.2015
Baku, January 28, AzerTAc In response to a Parliamentary Question by
Lord Kilclooney, Foreign Office Minister of State Baroness Anelay of
St Johns has stated that the UK government "does not recognize the
'so-called' Nagorno Karabakh Republic".Lord Kilclooney's question was
about the fate of two Azerbaijani civilians (Shahbaz Guliyev and
Dilgan Asgerov) who were ambushed and captured by Armenian armed
forces whilst trying to tend the graves of their relatives in the
occupied territories.As well as dismissing the 'NK Republic' Baroness
Anelay also stated that the British government "does not recognize the
legal framework of the Court proceedings in question".The Minister of
State also said that the British government had raised the fate of the
two hostages with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
epress.am
Threat of Drought in Armenia: Drinking and Irrigation Water
01.29.2015
Due to the scarcity of precipitation during the winter, Armenia is in
danger of a drought, writes Haykakan Zhamanak daily.
The level of snow coverage around the Republic is 60% below the
season's norm. That signifies that the large reservoirs have not been
filled. According to experts, if there is no heavy snowfall by
February 15 and abundant rain in March, Armenia will have serious
problems with drinking and irrigation water.
arka.am
Hyatt Place Hotel to host open door day for those wishing
YEREVAN, January 29. / ARKA /. On February 27 the Hyatt Place Hotel in
Yerevan will host an event for all those wishing to study in the
United Kingdom, USA or China. The event called Open Door Day is a
joint effort by London Eye educational center in Yerevan and INTO
Foundation.
Head and founder of London Eye Gayane Yeghiazaryan told a news
conference today that INTO is a rapidly growing network of
university-based study centres, offering new and higher quality
standards of preparation for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in
the UK, US and China.
It provides an exceptional educational experience to help
international students succeed in a fast-moving, globally competitive
world, she added.
"In the UK our partners are London City, EXETER and other
universities. We also cooperate with six American universities,
particularly the University of North Florida, Arizona State University
and others, " INTO head Sam Jones said, adding that in China its
partner is the Nankai University. The training of foreign students in
these institutions is conducted in English.
"Armenian students can also receive education in these institutions",
he said.-0-
tert.am
31.01.15
Brandy manufacturing companies, whose number crosses 30 in Armenia,
are said to be facing economic hardships due the market instabilities
and the currency decline.
According to the paper, the crisis has not left the brandy businesses
owned by businessman politician Gagik Tsarukyan and Prime Minister
Hovik Abrahamyan unaffected. The layoffs aside, most employees in
those companies are reported to be in a state of idleness.
The paper says that only two brandy companies - MAP and the Proshyan -
presently carry out exports but they too are said to be unable to
reeceive any money from Russian ventures. The paper claims that the
brandy manufactures agreed in their contracts with Russian companies
to carry out transactions in Rouble, but later borrowed loans in US
Dollars from Armenian banks.
Businessmen now propose that the Government reformulate the loans in
the Armenian Drams. Premier Hovik Abrahamyan, who cannot decide on
such a measure himself, reportedly refers them to President Serzh
Sargsyan, expecting the latter to issue a corresponding instruction to
banks. As for the businessmen, the paper says they expect their
negotiations with the president to result in granting them a "loan
holiday" to enable them to have the necessary money to pay in at least
a year. "But that's impossible too. Many banks have finished the year
with a negative balance, as it is, let alone the $39 billion worth
fundamental capital," the paper quotes bankers as saying.
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