Armenia Power bills not to be subsidized through state budget: Prime Minister

June 30, 2015 By administrator

The subsidies to cover extra costs of electric power won’t be provided from Armenia’s state budget, Prime Minister said.

Hovik Abrahamyan, however, didn’t expand on the sources the funding will be provided from. He also refrained from comments on the Electric Networks of Armenia’s possible nationalization, Tert.am reports.

“It is still too early to discuss that. We still have to wait for debates; as a result of the auditing, we’ll have what we will and will by all means make our decision public,” he told reporters.

The PM did not respond to remarks about the reported allegations that the auditing will fall short of revealing the abuses in the system. He said the outcomes will be known as early as in July.

http://http://www.tert.am/am/news/2015/06/30/amh/1721816

#ElectricYerevan Armenian PM sounding Like Erdogan accusing Protestors that appeared at Baghramyan have other motive.

June 28, 2015 By administrator

YEREVAN. – Some forces that appeared at Baghramyan Avenue have a goal not to solve the problem of electricity, but destabilize the country and provoke clashes between our citizens, Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan said in a statement. Report news.am

They are focused not on social and economic element, but unclear aspirations, PM said, adding that this may be concluded taking into account response to president’s offer on audit.

“We have expressed readiness to engage representatives of expert community and civil society. In such a situation, the decision to keep demonstrators illegally block Baghramyan Avenue is unclear, especially as the initiative group said the protest will continue at Freedom Square. The members of the initiative “No to Plunder” by receiving a positive solution of the issue, demonstrated high quality of legal conscience that is in the interests of society and the state. Their decision confirmed optimistic view that we have a really good generation of young people who feel responsible for their moves.

Confirming the readiness of the authorities in achieving solutions to problems through dialogue and collaboration, I once again urge our fellow citizens who continue to protest on Baghramyan Avenue, to refrain from anti-constitutional actions not to aggravate the situation,” the statement reads.

The visit of the Armenian Prime Minister in Tbilisi confirmed the good relations between Armenia and Georgia

May 19, 2015 By administrator

The visit by Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan on May 17 in Tbilisi was intended to reaffirm the good relations between Armenia and its neighbor Georgia, which have strengthened their cooperation since the departure of Georgian President Saakashvili. During his working visit for a day in the Georgian capital, Hovik Abrahamyan met with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili, with whom he discussed the prospects of enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic field, as well as several issues of regional and international order.

The stated objective of this brief visit was to address the Georgians, and especially the supporters of the Georgian opposition, as well as Armenians and other peoples of the region, a clear message about the state of relations between the two countries who intend to remain excellent despite the diplomatic discomfort caused by the recent meeting between the President of the Armenian Parliament, Galust Sahakyan, and Anatoly Bibilov, his counterpart from the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which has, like Abkhazia, the political and military support of Russia recognized the independence of both territories in August 2008.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the visit Mr. Bibilov had at the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the mission to observe the parliamentary elections that took place there. This had earned a reprimand from the Ambassador of Armenia in Georgia Yuri Vardanyan, the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Gigi Gigiadze, which had expressed “deep concern” about the meeting in Tbilisi which authorities Armenian had however indicated that it was a “private” character. The Georgian Foreign Ministry had said in a statement that the meeting was against the spirit of friendship which traditionally governs the relations between Georgia and Armenia, and that it violated the bilateral relations.

Similarly, Armenia did not appreciate that his Georgian neighbor does not participate in the ceremonies of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan, the Georgian Parliament has also rejected a resolution on the recognition of this genocide. These incidents do not contribute to facilitate relations between the two neighbors, who chose divergent political and economic policies, Georgia have signed an association agreement with the European Union while Armenia has waived its European Integration rally since January 1st Eurasian Economic Union led by Russia, with which Tbilisi is still latent conflict because of its support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The two countries pledged to strengthen their cooperation within the limits of their respective integration processes.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015,
Gari © armenews.com

Italian PM: Pope’s statement on #ArmenianGenocide was absolutely righteous

April 17, 2015 By administrator

The Pope’s statement on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide was absolutely righteous, and if Turkey wants to join the European Union (EU), it must adopt the European values, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said at the meeting with the students at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, News.am reports citing Italy’s La Stampa daily.

“I support Turkey’s European integration,” Renzi said and added: “But Ankara needs to make a decision and accept that it shares our values.”

No specific decision on British delegation’s presence at Armenian Genocide centennial events – ambassador

February 6, 2015 By administrator

No specific decision on a British delegation which would visit Armenia to attend events marking the Armenian Genocide centennial has yet been made in Great Britain, British Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Jane Leach told reporters on Friday in response to Tert.am’s question.

“An invitation was sent to our prime minister last year, and he replied last year to say that he understood the huge importance of this centenary for the Armenians around the world and said he regretted that he wasn’t able to be here in person. I know that the Church of England is sending representatives and we’ll be able to confirm a little bit later who is coming,” Mrs Leach said.

As regards the Turkish president’s invitation to world leaders to attend the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli and the level of a British delegation that is expected to visit Turkey, Mrs Leach said she has no information on the level of a British delegation. However, British soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gallipoli.

According to Turkish media, Prince Charles is expected to visit turkey. However, Mrs Leach has no accurate information at her disposal.

Asked about her personal presence, Ambassador Katherine Leach said she will visit the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims in Tsisternakaberd if she is invited.

France confirms hundreds of nationals fighting as terrorists in Mideast

January 12, 2015 By administrator

The French prime minister says around 1,400 people from France have either joined Takfiri terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq or are planning to do so.

“There are 1,400 individuals who are involved in the departures … for terrorism in Syria and in Iraq,” Manuel Valls said on Monday, adding, “There are close to 70 French citizens or residents in France who have died in Syria and Iraq in the ranks of the terrorists.”

Valls confessed that there has been a huge rise in the number of French nationals fighting for terrorist groups in the Middle East over the past two and a half years.

“It is a massive jump in very little time: there were just about 30 cases when I became interior minister [in mid-2012] and 1,400 today” he stated.

France has been a staunch supporter of Takfiri militants fighting to topple Syria’s legitimate government since 2011. However, France’s vigorous backing of the extremist groups has backfired as terrorists allied with the Takfiris launched deadly attacks in the French capital, Paris, earlier this month, killing 17 people.

The Takfiri terrorist groups, with members from several Western countries, control swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, and have been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.

Iraq PM to visit Iran for talks on fight against ISIL

October 19, 2014 By administrator

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is to visit Iran on Monday for talks on Baghdad’s battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), which holds swathes of the country, his office said.

The one-day trip is part of Abadi’s bid “to unite the efforts of the region and the world to help Iraq in its war against the terrorist group,” it said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The visit also aims to strengthen cooperation between the two neighbors “in the fields of energy, and housing and construction,” among other areas.

Iraq is fighting to push back ISIL, which overran much of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland in a lightning offensive in June.

Tehran is a key backer of the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

According to senior Iraqi Kurdish officials, it has deployed troops on the Iraqi side of the border in the Khanaqin area northeast of Baghdad.

They say Iranian forces also played a role in the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli, where security forces and allied militiamen broke a months-long jihadist siege at the end of August.

Evidence also indicates that Iran sent Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack jets to Iraq, though it is unclear who subsequently piloted the aircraft.

A US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes against ISIL in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, where the jihadists also hold major territory.

Washington and its allies have also sent military advisers to assist Baghdad’s forces.

Abadi has repeatedly stated that he opposes the presence of foreign ground forces in Iraq.

Georgian PM visits Armenian Genocide Memorial (Video)

August 21, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN. – Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili visited Armenian Genocide Memorial together with his Armenian counterpart Hovik Abrahamyan.

The officials laid flowers at the memorial and honored memory of the victims near eternal flame.

Irakly Garibashvili planted a fir at the Memory Alley of the memorial complex.

As reported earlier, he will meet with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan during his two-day official visit to Yerevan.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

Iraq’s Prime Minister Agrees to Relinquish Power

August 14, 2014 By administrator

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki on Thursday night said he agreed to relinquish power, state television reported, a move that came after days of crisis in which Mr. Maliki’s deployment of extra security forces around the capital raised worries of a military coup. report NYT
While the country is not at peace, Mr. Maliki’s decision, nonetheless, appeared to pave the way for the first truly peaceful transition of power, based on democratic elections and without the guiding hand of American military forces, in modern Iraq’s history.
In stepping aside Mr. Maliki agreed to end his legal challenge to the nomination of his replacement, which was made on Monday when Iraq’s president nominated Haider al-Abadi, a member of Mr. Maliki’s own Shiite Islamist Dawa Party.
Mr. Maliki’s decision came after days of negotiations with his former Shiite allies, who urged Mr. Maliki to give up in the face of growing international opposition to his rule, including from the United States and Iran, and the sense among most Iraqi leaders that his removal was necessary to bring the country together in the face of an onslaught by Sunni militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Mr. Abadi, according to the constitution, has 30 days from the time of his appointment – which was Monday – to form a new government. During that time, Mr. Maliki remains the caretaker prime minister, and the commander-in-chief of the military.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/15/world/middleeast/iraq-prime-minister-.html?emc=edit_na_20140814

President Massoum asks al-Ibadi to become Iraq PM

August 11, 2014 By administrator

The Shiite National Alliance candidate Haider al-Ibadi has been nominated as Iraq’s new premier. Iraqi President Fouad Massoum named him to form a new government, despite a ruling in favor of incumbent Nouri al-Maliki.

On Monday, Iraq’s president asked Ibadi to form a new government, despite opposition from Maliki, who has said he wants a third term as prime minister.

“The country is now in your hands,” Massoum told deputy parliamentary speaker Ibadi, in a televised ceremony. “I hope you will be successful in forming a broader-based government.”

Massoum’s request came despite a legal ruling by Iraq’s highest court earlier on Monday declaring that Maliki’s Shiite-led State of Law political bloc was the largest grouping in parliament.

The National Alliance, which is also dominated by Shiites and which also claims to be the largest bloc, nominated Ibadi by 127 votes out of 173.

Supporters of Maliki – who subsequently urged the president to hand the premiership back the to incumbent or risk violating the constitution – were broadly expected to oppose Ibadi’s nomination.

Maliki’s critics claim he has alienated the country’s minority Sunni population, prompting them to support the “Islamic State” militant group, which has seized a large chunk of Northern Iraq and which is threatening to march on Baghdad.

rc/mkg (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)