Politics in Hayastan

[Mher]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

by the way, the author is the spokesman of the Heritage party. in the protests immediately after the election in february of 2013, Armen Martirosyan, the Heritage number three, was on the streets fighting with cops yelling about how the population of the country was down to two million and two hundred thousand were leaving a year. So shouldn't the population be down to under 1.4 million now? So now nobody has left since 2013? But one million left 2008-2012? I guess they are running out of numbers to bs. I swear the way these people have been making population projections for twenty five years, the population should have reached zero 15 years ago.

[Shant03]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

by the way, the author is the spokesman of the Heritage party. in the protests immediately after the election in february of 2013, Armen Martirosyan, the Heritage number three, was on the streets fighting with cops yelling about how the population of the country was down to two million and two hundred thousand were leaving a year. So shouldn't the population be down to under 1.4 million now? So now nobody has left since 2013? But one million left 2008-2012? I guess they are running out of numbers to bs. I swear the way these people have been making population projections for twenty five years, the population should have reached zero 15 years ago.

Most of what was written in that article is what a lot of people outside of Yerevan will tell you. But to publish an article online and not fact check these with real sources such as the World Bank, the CIA's website.. etc is unacceptable. That's like visiting a town in Alabama then writing an article about how American's are attracted to their cousins lol.

[Haykakan]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Oskanian Party: Ex-FM sheds more light on emerging “Consolidation”

April 27, 2016

A new political party being set up by Vartan Oskanian, a former
foreign minister critical of Armenia’s current government, will be
called Hamakhmbum (Consolidation), it emerged today.

A statement issued by the emerging party’s initiative group says the
constituent assembly of Consolidation will be held soon.

The activists founding the new party, including lawmakers Elinar
Vardanyan and Stepan Margaryan, prominent Karabakh war veteran Manvel
Yeghiazaryan, a number of political analysts, scholars and others,
declare that they are going to become a “key political force” that
will “respond to both domestic and foreign challenges.”

“We are trying to create a new political pole, presenting to the
public an alternative, a possibility of changing the political
situation,” the initiative group said.

The leader of the nascent political party, Oskanian, served as
Armenia’s top diplomat throughout former president Robert Kocharyan’s
1998-2008 rule. When first announcing his plans to set up a political
party in March, Oskanian said that he continued to maintain a “normal
relationship” with the ex-president, but insisted that Kocharyan “has
no connection” with the new party to be formed by him.

Oskanian was elected to the National Assembly in 2012 on the slate of
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) then led by another supposed
Kocharyan loyalist, tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan.

As the “political face” of the party, Oskanian had also been regarded
as a plausible candidate for the 2013 presidential race, but his
likely bid was precluded by an investigation launched against him on
money laundering charges shortly before the nomination stage.

Oskanian was among active government critics that left the PAP when
the party reversed, under apparent government pressure, its position
on controversial constitutional amendments and Tsarukyan was “forced
out” of politics in a showdown with President Serzh Sargsyan and his
ruling Republican Party in February 2015.

Oskanian retains his parliamentary seat, as do Vardanyan and
Margaryan, who were also elected on the PAP slate.

Armenia’s next parliamentary elections are due in spring 2017.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.armenianow.com_en_news_politics_2016_04_27_armenia-2Dpolitical-2Dparty-2Dvartan-2Doskanian-2Dconsolidation_2026_&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=iJ4ZP-oy2aY2cOadc-66-gjEQO-5TvxuFHbg3wBIFoE&s=XQZ1T1Wc-u8eJMBIiglVimflkWPop9nkxLrQvEpr-Iw&e=

[Zeytun]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

State Expenditures: Armenia’s Taxpayers Are Getting Shafted by Their MPs
grisha Balasanyan

18:00, April 12, 2016
On March 1, 2016, the chief of staff of Armenia’s parliament signed a 130.240 million AMD (US$272,000) deal with Flesh Ltd. to provide gasoline for the legislature’s fleet of cars.Since there wasn’t enough cash in the coffers on the sign date, on March 31, it was decided to only purchase 112.843 million drams worth of gasoline. The remainder would be purchased when cash was available.

According to the contract, Flesh had to supply regular gasoline at 410 drams (86 cents) per liter, super at 460 per liter, and diesel at 410 per liter.
The parliament’s fleet of cars service the president of the legislature, his two deputies, presidents of the standing committees (14), their deputies, and the National Assembly staff members.
Armenia’s legislature is a much maligned body, criticized in the local press for inefficiency and overall ineffectiveness.
Legislators not only receive gasoline as a perk, but also receive rent and utility subsidies. Theoretically, legislators are expected to actually work for all these subsidies paid for by taxpayer dollars.

Other than using crude language and taking up space, let’s take a look at some of the more “infamous” MPs and see what they actually contribute. Topping our list of slackers is Arakel Movsisyan (aka Shmays) and Mher Sedrakyan (aka Tokhmakh Mher).

The list of MPs taking up space continues. Let’s just list the following who, while refraining from vulgar language, are never heard from at all in the legislative chamber. They silently arrive (if and when they do show up), and press the yea or nay button as instructed. There’s Marineh Marabyan, Nahapet Gevorgyan, Spartak Melikyan, Karen Saribekyan, Artur Stepanyan, Murad Guloyan, Harutyun Charagyuzyan, Moushegh Petoyan, among others.

The amount of expenditures approved by the parliament doesn’t directly reflect the work it does

Hetq has written about the family business interests of Armenian National Assembly President Galust Sahakyan. His wife and sons control a mini-business empire in the country covering the gamut from health to public transportation.

Armenian National Assembly Vice President Hermineh Naghdalyan, who also heads Armenia’s delegation in PACE, also has a shrewd business sense. Within her close circle of friends, Naghdalyan is known as the “Mrs. Business”.
In 2012, her company SISIAN F&PA, Ltd. again won a multi-million AMD road repair contract. The 452.2 million AMD (US$1.1million) contract, signed on May 22, was to repair the Yerevan-Yeraskh-Goris-Meghri stretch of highway linking Armenia to Iran.

In July of 2013, Naghdalyan’s company won a 409.2 million AMD contract to carry out repairs on sections of the very same Goris-Meghri highway, down to the border with Iran.

In essence, Naghdalyan reaped a pretty profit every year by wining government contracts to repair the same stretch of highway. Her profit on the 2014 contract was estimated at 17.9 million AMD (US$43,300).

The press in Armenia recently had a field day lambasting the super expensive “fairytale wedding” of the daughter of Vahram Baghdasaryan, who heads the ruling Republican Party faction in parliament.

Yes, the legislators noted above have deep pockets. The question remains how did they make their millions. Is it any surprise that they have gotten rich while serving as MPs? They pull the purse strings and the laws they pass haven’t done all that much to stop people leaving Armenia or making much of a dent when it comes to resolving the country’s most pressing problems.

To be sure, there is waste and outright theft in many parliaments around the world, especially in developing countries like Armenia. But where’s the oversight? Who is checking the books?

Where’s the accountability when it comes to the expenditure of taxpayer drams? MPs in Armenia have been given carte blanche. Instead of coming up with legislation that matters and vetoing the bureaucratic fat, MPs have all the time in the world to argue amongst themselves as to who will get a seat on which international delegation and spend a few days overseas at state expense.

Since state expenditures have yet to be critically analyzed in terms of effectiveness, the public at large regards all such spending a waste of money.
Numerous sectors and issues do in fact need cash injections. It’s merely a matter of priorities and oversight.

So what if some legislators are upset that spending on their pet projects has been cut. It’s about time that average citizens see their taxes being spent on programs and projects that actually produce results in their benefit – wages, pensions, education reform, healthcare, improving conditions of military personnel…

[HyeSocialist]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

State Expenditures: Armenia’s Taxpayers Are Getting Shafted by Their MPs
grisha Balasanyan

18:00, April 12, 2016
On March 1, 2016, the chief of staff of Armenia’s parliament signed a 130.240 million AMD (US$272,000) deal with Flesh Ltd. to provide gasoline for the legislature’s fleet of cars.Since there wasn’t enough cash in the coffers on the sign date, on March 31, it was decided to only purchase 112.843 million drams worth of gasoline. The remainder would be purchased when cash was available.

According to the contract, Flesh had to supply regular gasoline at 410 drams (86 cents) per liter, super at 460 per liter, and diesel at 410 per liter.
The parliament’s fleet of cars service the president of the legislature, his two deputies, presidents of the standing committees (14), their deputies, and the National Assembly staff members.
Armenia’s legislature is a much maligned body, criticized in the local press for inefficiency and overall ineffectiveness.
Legislators not only receive gasoline as a perk, but also receive rent and utility subsidies. Theoretically, legislators are expected to actually work for all these subsidies paid for by taxpayer dollars.

Other than using crude language and taking up space, let’s take a look at some of the more “infamous” MPs and see what they actually contribute. Topping our list of slackers is Arakel Movsisyan (aka Shmays) and Mher Sedrakyan (aka Tokhmakh Mher).

The list of MPs taking up space continues. Let’s just list the following who, while refraining from vulgar language, are never heard from at all in the legislative chamber. They silently arrive (if and when they do show up), and press the yea or nay button as instructed. There’s Marineh Marabyan, Nahapet Gevorgyan, Spartak Melikyan, Karen Saribekyan, Artur Stepanyan, Murad Guloyan, Harutyun Charagyuzyan, Moushegh Petoyan, among others.

The amount of expenditures approved by the parliament doesn’t directly reflect the work it does

Hetq has written about the family business interests of Armenian National Assembly President Galust Sahakyan. His wife and sons control a mini-business empire in the country covering the gamut from health to public transportation.

Armenian National Assembly Vice President Hermineh Naghdalyan, who also heads Armenia’s delegation in PACE, also has a shrewd business sense. Within her close circle of friends, Naghdalyan is known as the “Mrs. Business”.
In 2012, her company SISIAN F&PA, Ltd. again won a multi-million AMD road repair contract. The 452.2 million AMD (US$1.1million) contract, signed on May 22, was to repair the Yerevan-Yeraskh-Goris-Meghri stretch of highway linking Armenia to Iran.

In July of 2013, Naghdalyan’s company won a 409.2 million AMD contract to carry out repairs on sections of the very same Goris-Meghri highway, down to the border with Iran.

In essence, Naghdalyan reaped a pretty profit every year by wining government contracts to repair the same stretch of highway. Her profit on the 2014 contract was estimated at 17.9 million AMD (US$43,300).

The press in Armenia recently had a field day lambasting the super expensive “fairytale wedding” of the daughter of Vahram Baghdasaryan, who heads the ruling Republican Party faction in parliament.

Yes, the legislators noted above have deep pockets. The question remains how did they make their millions. Is it any surprise that they have gotten rich while serving as MPs? They pull the purse strings and the laws they pass haven’t done all that much to stop people leaving Armenia or making much of a dent when it comes to resolving the country’s most pressing problems.

To be sure, there is waste and outright theft in many parliaments around the world, especially in developing countries like Armenia. But where’s the oversight? Who is checking the books?

Where’s the accountability when it comes to the expenditure of taxpayer drams? MPs in Armenia have been given carte blanche. Instead of coming up with legislation that matters and vetoing the bureaucratic fat, MPs have all the time in the world to argue amongst themselves as to who will get a seat on which international delegation and spend a few days overseas at state expense.

Since state expenditures have yet to be critically analyzed in terms of effectiveness, the public at large regards all such spending a waste of money.
Numerous sectors and issues do in fact need cash injections. It’s merely a matter of priorities and oversight.

So what if some legislators are upset that spending on their pet projects has been cut. It’s about time that average citizens see their taxes being spent on programs and projects that actually produce results in their benefit – wages, pensions, education reform, healthcare, improving conditions of military personnel…

Where did you find this article? It's about xxxxing time we clean house of so called leaders. These people are parasites. Hospitals, universities, stronger military are what we need. Not subsidizing someone's lavish lifestyle.

With proper governance Armenia could still be home to many Armenians, it could channel diaspora money to fruitful projects. Instead these parasites are in power. Major house cleaning is probably coming.

[Zeytun]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Where did you find this article? It's about xxxxing time we clean house of so called leaders. These people are parasites. Hospitals, universities, stronger military are what we need. Not subsidizing someone's lavish lifestyle.

With proper governance Armenia could still be home to many Armenians, it could channel diaspora money to fruitful projects. Instead these parasites are in power. Major house cleaning is probably coming.

From hetq.am, I totally forgot to share the link: http://hetq.am/eng/news/67249/state-...their-mps.html
Yeah, hopefully the four day warwill have an effect on the political field. On another note, during the last municipal election in Hradzan, the current mayor won ( republican party) with 50.4% of votes, runner up Sasun Mikayelyan ( Civil contract ) received 40.1% of the votes ( Good indicator that people are starting to wake up), hopefully things are changing but slowly.

http://realelections.am/

[Zeytun]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Bowing to Pressure, Government Scraps Controversial Irrigation Project in Garni
17:25, May 21, 2016

http://hetq.am/eng/news/68105/bowing-to-pressure-government-scraps-controversial-irrigation-project-in-garni.html

Seemingly bowing to local fierce opposition, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan today announced that the controversial Kaghtsrashen Gravity Irrigation Project would be scrapped.

Abrahamyan made the announcement in Garni, where residents opposed to the World Bank financed project that planned to divert water from the Azat River to a number of communities in Ararat Province, had blocked the main road to Yerevan on several occasions, including today.

Recently, Garni residents threatened to shut the potable water supply to Ararat Province if the project wasn’t shelved.

The prime minister arrived in Garni accompanied by the environmental and agricultural ministers and the head of the country’s water resources committee.

At first, Abrahamyan feigned that he wasn’t aware of the issue, to which local residents shot back that the project had been discussed and debated for the past two years, during which time they had always voiced their opposition.

Perhaps caught in a lie, Abrahamyan then was seen whispering to the officials who accompanied him.

He then turned to the cameras and declared that the Kaghtsrashen Project would be shelved and construction equipment removed from the Azat River gorge.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Սթափվե'ք

17 Հուլիսի 2016, 23:26



Ամենավատն այն է, որ մեկը չկա, որ կանգնի եւ գոռա` սթափվե'ք, սա մեր եւ ձեր երկիրն է, ամենավատը, ով ինչ ուզում է ասի, սա է, սրա բացակայությունը…

Հետո կպարզենք, թե ով էր մեղավոր ու քանի որ բոլորն են մեղավոր, կպարզենք, թե ով էր ամենաշատը մեղավոր: Նա՞, ով հարձակվում է ոստիկանական գնդի վրա եւ գրավում այն, պատանդ վերցնելով ոստիկանների, նրանց վրա կրակ բաց անելով եւ նրանցից մեկին սպանելով, մի քանիսին էլ վիրավորելով, թե՞ նա, ով ստեղծում է այնպիսի իրավիճակ, այնպիսի պայմաններ, որ ինչ-որ մեկը, անկախ նրանից, թե ով է՝ կարողանա նման բան անել: Լավ, այդ ո՞նց կարողացան, այսինքն զինված խումբը, մի քանի հոգով այդ ինչպե՞ս կարողացավ մտնել, գրավել, սպանել, պատանդ պահել, այդ որտեղի՞ց նրանց զենք, բա չէին առգրավե՞լ… Սրանք հարցեր են, կարեւոր հարցեր են, բայց այս պահին ամենակարեւորը դա չէ: Այս պահին ամենակարեւորն անգամ Սերժ Սարգսյանի հրաժարականը չէ, եթե այն լինի, կամ եթե չլինի, ոչ էլ Սեֆիլյանին Էրեբունի բերելն է, այս պահին ամենակարեւորը սթափությունն է` մեր եւ ձեր երկրում:

Ուրեմն թարգեք այս տերմինաբանությունը` ահաբեկչությո՞ւն, թե՞ ապստամբություն, տո շատ չեմ իմանում ինչ, թարգեք, ամոթ է: Երեկ մենք էինք թուրքին նայում ուրախանում, էսօր` թուրքն է նայում մեզ ու ուրախանում, բա ո՞նց կլիներ, բա հո չէ՞ր լինի այնպես, որ ուրախացողը միայն մենք լինեինք, թուրքն էլ չէ՞ պետք է ուրախանա, նրան էլ չէ՞ պետք է ուրախացնենք, դարավոր ուրախացրել ենք, մոտներս բնավորություն է դարձել` թուրքին ուրախացնելը. առանց դրա մի տարի չենք կարողանում…

Թարգեք մեղավոր որոնելը, դեռ դրա ժամանակը չէ, քանի որ բոլորս էլ մեկը մյուսի հայրենասիրությունից բան չհասկացող ենք: Թարգեք ստատուս գրելը, մեկը մյուսի դեմ, «ինադու», ի պաշտպանություն, սա ուրիշ բան է, սա վատ բան է, սրա շարունակությունը, եթե լինի, ավելի վատ է լինելու, դրա համար էլ` սթափվե'ք: Քանի սթափվելն ամենակարեւորն է, որովհետեւ վաղը դա կարող է ամենակարեւորը չլինել, վաղը կարող է ամենակարեւորը լինել` ողջ մնալը: Քանի այդպես չէ, քանի վաղը դեռ չի եկել, լույսը դեռ չի բացվել, սթափվե'ք, որ պատանդ եք առել եւ թերեւս չգիտեք, թե հետո ինչ եք անելու…

Եթե չիմանաք, հետո կասենք, հետո, երբ կգա խոսելու, փնտրելու եւ գտնելու ժամանակը, հիմա ուրիշ ժամանակ է…

Հիմա հանուն պետության եւ ժողովրդի գործելու ժամանակն է, երկու կողմերի համար էլ, եթե անգամ այդ բանը երկու կողմերն էլ անելու են կյանքում առաջին անգամ:

Հովիկ Աֆյան

http://www.yerkir.am/news/view/110523.html

[Artashes]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Having some trouble.
On one of the threads posted in last few days, I got this impression ... Russia has cut off our gas supply and we are operating on a 30 day supply from our national reserve.
Can't read Armenian script so have trouble following.
Is this correct or not ?
Thanks for any clarification.

[londontsi]

Re: Politics in Hayastan

Having some trouble.
On one of the threads posted in last few days, I got this impression ... Russia has cut off our gas supply and we are operating on a 30 day supply from our national reserve.
Can't read Armenian script so have trouble following.
Is this correct or not ?
Thanks for any clarification.

Yes you are right.

I would like to add as an opinion with a question, whether the reason is technical ( maintenance as was announced ) or
additional pressure to succumb to the demands of Russia
to hand back territories as part of the "progressive" aim of capitulation of Karabagh.

.