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('node', 'site_page', 0, 381, 1544, 'und', 0, '<h1 class=\"title\" id=\"page-title\" style=\"margin: 17px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 24px; line-height: 31.2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(65, 68, 72); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong>Panel Discussion on &quot;Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Armenia: Police Brutality, Political Prisoners, and (Potential) International Response&quot;</strong></h1><p>October 13, 2016, Washington, DC</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;\">Documentary</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFRLryDWuOQ&amp;feature=youtu.be\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\">&quot;2008-2016: Bloody Power&quot;</a></strong></p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;\">Presentations by</strong>:</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Avetik Ishkhanyan (Armenia Helsinki Committee; in Armenian) and Varuzhan Hoktanyan (Transparency International) (<strong><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auQgcPcH61U&amp;feature=youtu.be\">segments of the audio recording</a></strong>)</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vph5w_4vDW4\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Jane Buchanan </a></strong><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vph5w_4vDW4\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\">(Human Rights Watch)</a></p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkLfHfMDfEE&amp;feature=youtu.be\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Miriam Lanskoy</strong> (National Endowment for Democracy)</a></p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nxIgUS4VRo&amp;feature=youtu.be\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp; <strong>&nbsp;Hasmik Hakobyan</strong> (American Bar Association&#39;s Rule of Law Initiative)</a></p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong>Voice of America&#39;s <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/amerikayidzayn/videos/1294536637265189/\">video report</a> on the discussion</strong></p><hr /><p>Please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/user/pfarmenia\">PFA&#39;s YouTube Channel</a></strong>, while we remodel.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 382, 951, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><em>Coming soon</em></strong></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 382, 952, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><em>Coming soon...</em></strong></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 382, 954, 'und', 0, '<br /><p><strong><em>Coming Soon...</em></strong></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 383, 690, 'und', 0, 'PFA Watch List brings to public’s attention controversial legislative initiatives, government decisions, legal proceedings, and behavior of public officials with implications for developmental policy design and implementation in Armenia. PFA’s commentary will be limited only to how these controversial actions are likely to impact the policy design and conduct. This tool is intended to generate awareness to help formulate alternative views and shape public opinion.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 383, 691, 'und', 0, '<p><strong>PFA Watch List brings to public&rsquo;s attention controversial legislative initiatives, government decisions, legal proceedings, and behavior of public officials with implications for developmental policy design and implementation in Armenia. PFA&rsquo;s commentary will be limited only to how these controversial actions are likely to impact the policy design and conduct. This tool is intended to generate awareness to help formulate alternative views and shape public opinion.</strong></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 383, 1085, 'und', 0, '<p><strong>PFA Watch List brings to public&rsquo;s attention controversial legislative initiatives, government decisions, legal proceedings, and behavior of public officials with implications for developmental policy design and implementation in Armenia. PFA&rsquo;s commentary will be limited only to how these controversial actions are likely to impact the policy design and conduct. This tool is intended to generate awareness to help formulate alternative views and shape public opinion.</strong></p><p><img alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/uploads/pfa_uploads/RADIO_PFA/ANNA_-_VIBORY.mp3\" /></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 383, 1086, 'und', 0, '<p><strong>PFA Watch List brings to public&rsquo;s attention controversial legislative initiatives, government decisions, legal proceedings, and behavior of public officials with implications for developmental policy design and implementation in Armenia. PFA&rsquo;s commentary will be limited only to how these controversial actions are likely to impact the policy design and conduct. This tool is intended to generate awareness to help formulate alternative views and shape public opinion.</strong></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 384, 702, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41758/armenia_parliament_anti_monopoly_bill_rejected  \">ANC&rsquo;s anti-monopoly package rejected in parliament</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/14/aj-ashkhatavarc-merjum/\">Armenia&rsquo;s parliament rejects ARF-D-submitted bill&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20973/call-for-urgent-measures-for-ensuring-the-legitimacy-of-electoral-processes-in-armenia.html\">Call for Urgent Measures for Ensuring the Legitimacy of Electoral Processes in Armenia</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 384, 703, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41758/armenia_parliament_anti_monopoly_bill_rejected  \">ANC&rsquo;s anti-monopoly package rejected in parliament</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/14/aj-ashkhatavarc-merjum/\">Armenia&rsquo;s parliament rejects ARF-D-submitted bill&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20973/call-for-urgent-measures-for-ensuring-the-legitimacy-of-electoral-processes-in-armenia.html\">Call for Urgent Measures for Ensuring the Legitimacy of Electoral Processes in Armenia</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 384, 708, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41758/armenia_parliament_anti_monopoly_bill_rejected  \">ANC&rsquo;s anti-monopoly package rejected in parliament</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/14/aj-ashkhatavarc-merjum/\">Armenia&rsquo;s parliament rejects ARF-D-submitted bill&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20973/call-for-urgent-measures-for-ensuring-the-legitimacy-of-electoral-processes-in-armenia.html\">Call for Urgent Measures for Ensuring the Legitimacy of Electoral Processes in Armenia</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 384, 709, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41758/armenia_parliament_anti_monopoly_bill_rejected  \">ANC&rsquo;s anti-monopoly package rejected in parliament</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/14/aj-ashkhatavarc-merjum/\">Armenia&rsquo;s parliament rejects ARF-D-submitted bill&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20973/call-for-urgent-measures-for-ensuring-the-legitimacy-of-electoral-processes-in-armenia.html\">Call for Urgent Measures for Ensuring the Legitimacy of Electoral Processes in Armenia</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'event', 0, 385, 687, 'und', 0, '<p>Consistent with its mission to promote a better understanding of developmental challenges facing Armenia, Policy Forum Armenia invited a reknown environemntal activist Yeghia Nersesian to visit the&nbsp;United States for a series of presentations on environmental issues and a grassroots movement that is gaining a strong momentum in Armenia.</p><p>The main event of the series&mdash;held on December 16 and titled &quot;Averting Environmental Disaster: Solutions to Irresponsible Minign in Armenia&quot;&mdash;was co-organized by Policy Forum Armenia, Armenian Bar Association, ARF Shant Student Association, ARPA Institute, Armenian Tree Project, Armenian Environmental Network, Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America, Birthright Armenia, HaikProject, and Save Teghut Group.&nbsp;</p><p>Yeghia&#39;s talk, which was devoetd to the dangers of mining policy and practices currently in place in Armenia, was followed by the screening of a documentary &quot;Mining in Armenia&quot; by director Robert Davidian and a short performance by singer and songwriter Gor Mkhitarian.&nbsp;</p><p>You can read more about the event on the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://pfarmenia.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/global-coalition-of-armenian-environmental-activists-held-its-first-event-la/\">PFA Blog</a></strong>.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 704, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></p><p><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch&nbsp;</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 705, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></p><p><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch&nbsp;</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 710, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1010, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20973/call-for-urgent-measures-for-ensuring-the-legitimacy-of-electoral-processes-in-armenia.html\">Call for Urgent Measures for Ensuring the Legitimacy of Electoral Processes in Armenia</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1011, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1103, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1104, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1105, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1107, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/140854.html\"><strong>Voter left us his fake passport and escaped&ndash; Heritage</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1108, 'und', 0, '<p></p><p><a href=\"http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/02/19/289812/fraud-mars-armenia-pres-election/\"><strong>Fraud mars Armenia&rsquo;s presidential election: Ex-foreign minister</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/140854.html\"><strong>Voter left us his fake passport and escaped&ndash; Heritage</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1115, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/19/sarkisian-ahead-with-58-percent-hovannisian-declares-victory-for-the-people/\"><strong>Sarkisian ahead with 58%, Hovannisian Declares Victory for the People</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/02/19/289812/fraud-mars-armenia-pres-election/\"><strong>Fraud mars Armenia&rsquo;s presidential election: Ex-foreign minister</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/140854.html\"><strong>Voter left us his fake passport and escaped&ndash; Heritage</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1116, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/19/sarkisian-ahead-with-58-percent-hovannisian-declares-victory-for-the-people/\"><strong>Sarkisian ahead with 58%, Hovannisian Declares Victory for the People</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/02/19/289812/fraud-mars-armenia-pres-election/\"><strong>Fraud mars Armenia&rsquo;s presidential election: Ex-foreign minister</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/140854.html\"><strong>Voter left us his fake passport and escaped&ndash; Heritage</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy26453.html3\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 386, 1263, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/19/sarkisian-ahead-with-58-percent-hovannisian-declares-victory-for-the-people/\"><strong>Sarkisian ahead with 58%, Hovannisian Declares Victory for the People</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/02/19/289812/fraud-mars-armenia-pres-election/\"><strong>Fraud mars Armenia&rsquo;s presidential election: Ex-foreign minister</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/140854.html\"><strong>Voter left us his fake passport and escaped&ndash; Heritage</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/37906/parliamentary_elections_presidential_republican_prosperous_party_opposition\">Opinion: After May 6, is a presidential election redundant?</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/economy/view/26453\">Evolutionary Fight Against Corruption&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country26494.html3\">Corruption Council Has Done Nothing Serious</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/articles/21004/government-advice-to-scientists---leave-this-country.html\">Government Advice to Scientists - &#39;Leave this country&#39;</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28340\">Troika of Oligarchs Vs. Alternative Oligarch</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 706, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http:// http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20984/the-hayastan-fund-annual-telethon-a-constructive-critique.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 707, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></p><p><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></p><p><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href=\"http:// http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20984/the-hayastan-fund-annual-telethon-a-constructive-critique.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 838, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http:// http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20984/the-hayastan-fund-annual-telethon-a-constructive-critique.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 1013, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http:// http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20984/the-hayastan-fund-annual-telethon-a-constructive-critique.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 1106, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http:// http://hetq.am/eng/opinion/20984/the-hayastan-fund-annual-telethon-a-constructive-critique.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'site_page', 0, 387, 1265, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/23565/citizen-activist-to-osce-observers-stop-legitimizing-fraudulent-elections-in-armenia.html\">Citizen Activist to OSCE Observers: &quot;Stop Legitimizing Fraudulent Elections in Armenia&quot;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/70992.html\">One Sargsyan, two Sargsyan, three Sargsyan&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianlife.com/2011/03/11/armenias-national-security-threat-soviet-era-corruption-nepotism/\">Armenia&rsquo;s national security threat: Soviet-Era corruption, nepotism&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/  \">&lsquo;Save Teghut&rsquo; Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://armenianow.com/social/environment/32552/armenia_environment_protest_sevan_trchkan\">SOS for Trchkan, SOS for Sevan: Environmentalists concerned about industrial impact on Armenia&rsquo;s water resources</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/11/29/khosrovi-antar-haghtanak/\">Armenia&#39;s environmentalists gain victory</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/113969.html  \">Mothers of dead soldiers break into Armenian government building&nbsp;</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"http://hetq.am/eng/news/20984/hayastan-himnadrami-amenamya-herustamaratony-karucoxakan-qnnadatutyun.html\">The Hayastan Fund Annual Telethon: A Constructive Critique</a></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 694, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Aysor</p><p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p><strong>OSCE</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.osce.org/item/37834.html\"><strong>OSCE Office in Yerevan co-organizes high-level forum on economic crisis in Armenia</strong></a></p><p><strong>ArmTown</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20090525/32145/\"><strong>ABEL AGHANBEGYAN: ECONOMIC CRISIS TO LAST 3-3.5 MORE YEARS</strong></a></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 695, 'und', 0, '<p>Aysor</p><p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p><strong>OSCE</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.osce.org/item/37834.html\"><strong>OSCE Office in Yerevan co-organizes high-level forum on economic crisis in Armenia</strong></a></p><p><strong>ArmTown</strong></p><p><a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20090525/32145/\"><strong>ABEL AGHANBEGYAN: ECONOMIC CRISIS TO LAST 3-3.5 MORE YEARS</strong></a></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 696, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 697, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 698, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 699, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 701, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://aysor.am/en/news/2009/05/25/forum/\"><strong>&laquo;Armenia: facing global crisis&raquo; economic forum gets underway</strong></a></p><p><b><a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20090525/32145/\"><strong>ABEL AGHANBEGYAN: ECONOMIC CRISIS TO LAST 3-3.5 MORE YEARS</strong></a></b></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 719, 'und', 0, '<p>Source: <a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20090525/32145/\">ArmTown</a></p><p>On the initiative of Policy Forum Armenia, an economic forum kicked off in Yerevan today with a goal to find ways to alleviate consequences of the global financial crisis. The events brought together member of Russian Academy of Sciences Abel Aghanbegyan, former president of Russia&rsquo;s Central Bank Sergei Sleksashenko, former president of Turkey&rsquo;s Central Bank Fatih Ozatay and other prominent economists. &ldquo;We should be optimistic. We have overcome many crises. This will not be an exception,&rdquo; academician Abel Aghanbegyan said. &ldquo;Crises come and go. We have overcome many crises. This will not be an exception. It will last 3-3.5 more years. We should just be stronger and learn lessons.&rdquo; &ldquo;Each month, the governments reconsider forecasts. There is no light at the end of the tunnel but there signs that the crisis will fade gradually. Many in Russia though that the crisis will end in 2009, however, the latest projections showed 2010 will be tensed as well. The GDP will be even lower than in 2009. Only the strongest will survive,&rdquo; he said. According to him, the crisis helps reduce inflation, what is for general benefit. &ldquo;Cheap money is another advantage of the crisis,&rdquo; he said. In respect to CIS countries, the main leverage of crisis management, in Dr. Aghanbekian&#39;s opinion, is a small and medium business, which will help to reduce the unemployment rate, improve population&#39;s well-being, to grow turnover. The small business is linked to introduction of innovation technologies. &quot;Other leverage is a residential construction and usage of hypothec with cheap loans, which has a multiplicative effect, since every invested rouble brings 5 rubles,&quot; Dr. Aghanbegyan said. According to him, devaluation of national currencies occurred in many countries (reached 40 per cent in some countries) has resulted in a sharp decline in imports, up to 45 per cent in Russia, in particular. &quot;Import has left many industries and opened new niches for domestic producers,&quot; he said. In Dr Aghabegyan&#39;s opinion, import replacement is one of the leverages of crisis management, however import replacement needs to be supported by investments, in order not to surpass exports after crisis is overcome. Besides, export needs to be diversified, and instead of only raw material to export end products. Simultaneously, in Dr Aghabegyan&#39;s opinion, innovations and investments into human brains should be encouraged. &quot;We are dealing with reforms in education sphere in Russia, and a part of anti-crisis program is devoted to preparing highly qualified people,&quot; he said. &quot;It is very important to remain optimistic during the crisis. We have undergone several crises and will survive in this one&quot; concluded Abel Aghanbegyan.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 390, 720, 'und', 0, '<p>Source: <a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20090525/32145/\">ArmTown</a></p><p>On the initiative of Policy Forum Armenia, an economic forum kicked off in Yerevan today with a goal to find ways to alleviate consequences of the global financial crisis. The events brought together member of Russian Academy of Sciences Abel Aghanbegyan, former president of Russia&rsquo;s Central Bank Sergei Sleksashenko, former president of Turkey&rsquo;s Central Bank Fatih Ozatay and other prominent economists.</p><p>&ldquo;We should be optimistic. We have overcome many crises. This will not be an exception,&rdquo; academician Abel Aghanbegyan said. &ldquo;Crises come and go. We have overcome many crises. This will not be an exception. It will last 3-3.5 more years. We should just be stronger and learn lessons.&rdquo; &ldquo;Each month, the governments reconsider forecasts. There is no light at the end of the tunnel but there signs that the crisis will fade gradually. Many in Russia though that the crisis will end in 2009, however, the latest projections showed 2010 will be tensed as well. The GDP will be even lower than in 2009. Only the strongest will survive,&rdquo; he said. According to him, the crisis helps reduce inflation, what is for general benefit. &ldquo;Cheap money is another advantage of the crisis,&rdquo; he said. In respect to CIS countries, the main leverage of crisis management, in Dr. Aghanbekian&#39;s opinion, is a small and medium business, which will help to reduce the unemployment rate, improve population&#39;s well-being, to grow turnover.</p><p>The small business is linked to introduction of innovation technologies. &quot;Other leverage is a residential construction and usage of hypothec with cheap loans, which has a multiplicative effect, since every invested rouble brings 5 rubles,&quot; Dr. Aghanbegyan said. According to him, devaluation of national currencies occurred in many countries (reached 40 per cent in some countries) has resulted in a sharp decline in imports, up to 45 per cent in Russia, in particular. &quot;Import has left many industries and opened new niches for domestic producers,&quot; he said. In Dr Aghabegyan&#39;s opinion, import replacement is one of the leverages of crisis management, however import replacement needs to be supported by investments, in order not to surpass exports after crisis is overcome. Besides, export needs to be diversified, and instead of only raw material to export end products. Simultaneously, in Dr Aghabegyan&#39;s opinion, innovations and investments into human brains should be encouraged. &quot;We are dealing with reforms in education sphere in Russia, and a part of anti-crisis program is devoted to preparing highly qualified people,&quot; he said. &quot;It is very important to remain optimistic during the crisis. We have undergone several crises and will survive in this one&quot; concluded Abel Aghanbegyan.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 392, 721, 'und', 0, '<p>Source: <a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/anw/20090515/3731/\">ArmTown</a></p><p>Policy Forum Armenia has announced a &ldquo;high level&rdquo; economic forum to be held May 25 in Yerevan that will bring together present and past prime ministers for a panel discussion, as well as representatives of international financial organizations. The day-long event &ndash; &ldquo;Armenia: Weathering the Global Storm&rdquo; &ndash; will focus on key issues facing Armenia&rsquo;s challenge to overcome the world financial crisis. &ldquo;International financial organizations and most economists predict a deep and lengthy recession for a wide range of developed and developing countries. As many of these states, Armenia will face the consequences of adverse global trends, and in some ways is likely to be even more affected owing to a dramatic economic slowdown in some of its main trading partner countries,&rdquo; says the PF-A announcement. Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia. Visit www.pf-armenia.org for more details of the organization and the forum.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 392, 722, 'und', 0, '<p>Source: <a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/anw/20090515/3731/\">ArmTown</a></p><p>Policy Forum Armenia has announced a &ldquo;high level&rdquo; economic forum to be held May 25 in Yerevan that will bring together present and past prime ministers for a panel discussion, as well as representatives of international financial organizations. The day-long event &ndash; &ldquo;Armenia: Weathering the Global Storm&rdquo; &ndash; will focus on key issues facing Armenia&rsquo;s challenge to overcome the world financial crisis. &ldquo;International financial organizations and most economists predict a deep and lengthy recession for a wide range of developed and developing countries. As many of these states, Armenia will face the consequences of adverse global trends, and in some ways is likely to be even more affected owing to a dramatic economic slowdown in some of its main trading partner countries,&rdquo; says the PF-A announcement. Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html');
INSERT INTO `field_revision_body` (`entity_type`, `bundle`, `deleted`, `entity_id`, `revision_id`, `language`, `delta`, `body_value`, `body_summary`, `body_format`) VALUES
('node', 'news', 0, 392, 820, 'und', 0, '<p>Source: <a href=\"http://www.armtown.com/news/en/anw/20090515/3731/\">ArmTown</a></p><p>Policy Forum Armenia has announced a &ldquo;high level&rdquo; economic forum to be held May 25 in Yerevan that will bring together present and past prime ministers for a panel discussion, as well as representatives of international financial organizations. The day-long event &ndash; &ldquo;Armenia: Weathering the Global Storm&rdquo; &ndash; will focus on key issues facing Armenia&rsquo;s challenge to overcome the world financial crisis. &ldquo;International financial organizations and most economists predict a deep and lengthy recession for a wide range of developed and developing countries. As many of these states, Armenia will face the consequences of adverse global trends, and in some ways is likely to be even more affected owing to a dramatic economic slowdown in some of its main trading partner countries,&rdquo; says the PF-A announcement. Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 393, 723, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Source:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/05/breaking_the_grip_of_the_oligarchs\">Foreign Policy</a></p><div>By Liana Aghajanian</div><div>November 5, 2012</div><p>On a summer evening in late June, three military doctors ventured into a lavish restaurant on the outskirts of Yerevan, Armenia&#39;s capital, to have dinner. With its marbled beige floors and crystal chandeliers, the restaurant, known as Harsnakar, is a favorite for weddings, anniversaries, and friendly get-togethers.</p><p>The public outrage was unprecedented. It isn&#39;t uncommon for the employees of business tycoons to engage in violence. But this was the first time that someone like Avetyan -- a married father of two whose job involved caring for Armenia&#39;s highly respected armed forces -- had inadvertently felt their wrath, and paid for it with his life. But things didn&#39;t go according to plan for 35-year-old Major Vahe Avetyan, one of the army doctors accompanying his colleagues on a night out. The man allegedly got into an argument over inappropriate dress code with security staff from the restaurant, which is owned by Ruben Hayrapetyan (pictured above), a business tycoon and then-member of parliament. Avetyan was brutally beaten and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/06/23/hospital/\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">hospitalized</a>&nbsp;with severe head injuries. Soon, grim photos of the doctor emerged on social networks. Bandaged and unconscious, he lay on a bed in the same hospital where he had worked, in critical condition.&nbsp;Twelve days later, he died.&nbsp;</p><p>The death of Avetyan at the hands of bodyguards employed by Hayrapetyan has become a catalyzing event. Shocked Armenians mobilized in large numbers throughout the summer. The frustrations with a culture of bodyguards whose brutish behavior had become notoriously violent over the years spilled onto the streets and social networks. Legislation to regulate the private use of bodyguards has been&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/news/33270/armenian_national_assembly_bodyguards\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">introduced</a>&nbsp;in parliament: The draft law stipulates that private security personnel will be required to don uniforms, to apply for weapons permits, and to register their weapons with law enforcement.</p><p>The ongoing trial of those involved in Avetyan&#39;s murder has opened a window onto the excesses of a tiny ruling class that until now has felt largely untouched by the law. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenians -- like many other inhabitants of the old USSR -- have watched as the lion&#39;s share of the country&#39;s wealth has fallen under the control of a privileged elite. The leading Armenian oligarchs, a group numbering around 40, dominate industries ranging from banking to mining, and that economic edge has translated into privileged political status as well. Just as in Russia and Ukraine, tycoons here have parlayed their wealth into public office -- to an extent that it&#39;s often hard to tell where business ends and politics begins.&nbsp;</p><p>Though political apathy is widespread in Armenia, the Avetyan case has fueled resentment and anger towards the men who have accumulated vast wealth and influence while much of the country&#39;s population remains in dire poverty. But now, thanks to the criminal case surrounding the death of the army doctor, something seems to be changing. After months of public pressure, Hayrapetyan finally<a href=\"http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2012/09/28/hayrapetyan-abrahamyan/\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">submitted</a>&nbsp;his resignation from the legislature in early September, ending his foray into politics. Six of his bodyguards have been arrested in connection with the murder.</p><p>After two postponements, the trial formally got underway last month. The defendants, who initially faced lesser charges, have been formally accused on three counts of assault that could result in lengthier prison sentences than the five to ten years of imprisonment they previously faced. Hayrapetyan, known by the nickname &quot;Nemets Rubo,&quot; has repeatedly denied responsibility for the actions of his employees. Calls for Hayrapetyan to face trial in the case have&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24689702.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">gone nowhere</a>.</p><p>Armenia&#39;s search for stability and democracy since the collapse of the Soviet Union has been difficult. The country achieved its independence just three years after a 1988&nbsp;<a href=\"http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1988_12_07.php\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">earthquake</a>&nbsp;that left upwards of 25,000 dead. No sooner had Armenians embarked upon statehood than they found themselves locked in a debilitating war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. That war resulted in the closing of the country&#39;s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey, cutting Armenia off from normal trade. These straitened circumstances brought hardship to most Armenians, but to those sufficiently ruthless and well-connected to take advantage, the war economy meant a path toward instant riches. It was then that many of today&#39;s tycoons began to build their fortunes.</p><p>The culture of oligarch immunity is certainly nothing new. The Avetyan murder has struck a sensitive chord owing to its chilling resemblance to the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/4455/\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">2001 incident</a>&nbsp;in which a bodyguard of then-President Robert Kocharyan attacked and killed a man in a bathroom for making a disrespectful remark to the leader. But even then, most Armenians -- whether too apathetic, too scared, or too willing to emigrate -- refrained from mounting an open challenge to the tycoon establishment.</p><p>Now, in dramatic contrast, broad swathes of society have shown the will to stand up and resist. In the months following Avetyan&#39;s murder, the anti-oligarch protests began to attract attendance from regular citizens who are rarely seen at demonstrations. A candlelight vigil honoring the late doctor saw over 600 people surround the restaurant, which has come to symbolize the broad web of impunity shared by Armenia&#39;s tycoons. Police cordoned off the restaurant and clashed with protestors, breaking up&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVXBW-S8tfw\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">demonstrations</a>&nbsp;by force. &quot;I only had one bruise, but some people were beaten,&quot; said Tsovinar Nazaryan, an activist and journalist who attended the rally.</p><p>But the demonstrators kept coming back. They marched to the Prosecutor&#39;s General Office after Avetyan&#39;s funeral, chanting &quot;Nemets is a murderer&quot; and &quot;I am Vahe Avetyan.&quot; Then a montage of video clips from two press conferences Hayrapetyan gave last year surfaced on&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnkg82tYZBg\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">YouTube</a>&nbsp;(with English subtitles), showing the tycoon threatening reporters, claiming responsibility for beatings, and confessing to tampering with ballots in an election. &quot;I wouldn&#39;t advise people to try to punish me,&quot; he says at one point in the video. &quot;Whoever tried it, something terrible happened to them.&quot;</p><p>Anti-oligarch activism spread outside the country&#39;s borders, where the far-flung Armenian diaspora held protests in front of consulates.&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.change.org/petitions/nemets-rubo-prosecution\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">Online petitions</a>&nbsp;were organized.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/File:Nemets_rubo_9800_sm.jpg\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">Street art</a>&nbsp;around the capital demanded that Hayrapetyan be tried in court.</p><p>&quot;Many people are sick and tired of their power,&quot; said activist Nazaryan. &quot;You can see how violent they are, in their business, in their everyday actions. They&#39;re violent to our journalists. They&#39;re really dangerous. They don&#39;t care. They know they won&#39;t be punished, and this is the problem.&quot;</p><p>This latest series of events represents the first small challenges to the seemingly impregnable edifice of oligarch power that has dominated this country since the collapse of the USSR. Functioning like early twentieth-century robber barons, Armenia&#39;s tycoons prefer to be called &quot;businessmen&quot; (though most Armenians tend to refer to them with cartoonish nicknames). The oligarchs drive fleets of flashy vehicles; their Hummers and Rolls Royce&#39;s are fitted with custom license plate numbers to simultaneously identify their families and close associates and deter harassment from traffic police.</p><p>Their ostentatious mansions multiply, and their business assets grow as they hold the Armenian economy hostage by eliminating competitive markets for everything from mineral water and asphalt to soft drinks. The economic elite flex their power in the political sphere despite a constitutional ban on members of parliament being involved in owning or running businesses. The political parties that have dominated recent&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17973353\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">elections</a>&nbsp;in the country are closely associated with leading oligarchs who enjoy parliamentary immunity and remain virtually untouchable. According to a recent&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/europe/south-caucasus/armenia/217-armenia-an-opportunity-for-statesmanship.aspx\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">report</a>&nbsp;by the International Crisis Group, for example, the ruling Republican Party had two dozen wealthy businessmen elected to the ranks of parliament in 2007. The same report notes that oligarchs routinely use their charitable foundations to sponsor concerts or hand out free potatoes in order to secure voter support, though the businessmen deny using charity for the purposes of political leverage.</p><p>Take Samvel &quot;Lfik Samo&quot; Aleksanyan, a millionaire with strong ties to the government. A 2003 U.S. State Department cable&nbsp;<a href=\"http://wikileaks.org/cable/2003/12/03YEREVAN2975.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">referred</a>&nbsp;to him as a &quot;semi-criminal&quot; oligarch who &quot;maintains an army of bodyguards&quot; and controls the import of sugar, wheat, and butter into the country.</p><p>Dubbed &quot;the Sugar Baron&quot; in local media, Aleksanyan&#39;s domination of the industry and ownership in a chain of supermarkets has created the conditions for a series of sugar crises in which prices unpredictably skyrocket. Aleksanyan recently bought and partially destroyed the famed, almost century-old bazaar-style indoor market and national treasure, &quot;<a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/09/10/yerevans-pak-shuka-an-iconic-markets-uncertain-future/\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">Pak Shuka</a>,&quot; amid widespread speculation that he intends to turn it into part of his supermarket empire.</p><p>Other oligarchs play prominent roles in the lucrative mining industry. Armenia is rich in molybdenum and gold, and that has led to considerable competition among the oligarchs to grab their shares of the resulting profits. National Assembly Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan and member of parliament Tigran Arzakantsyan are both shareholders in one leading mining company. One of the most prominent tycoons linked with mining is former Minister of Environmental Protection Vardan Ayvazyan, who was in charge of regulating large parts of the industry during his stint in government. In September, a U.S. court&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24711408.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">ordered</a>&nbsp;Ayvazyan to pay $37.5 million in damages to a U.S. mining company that accuses him of corruption relating to his own business interest in the sector. (Ayvazyan has&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24723350.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">denied</a>&nbsp;all the allegations and rejects the American court&#39;s jurisdiction over him.)</p><p>Oligarchs are also accused of tampering with elections. Armenian elections have long been plagued by&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/05/07/armenia-votes-amid-reports-of-widespread-irregularities/\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">irregularities</a>, reportedly ranging from intimidation to ballot stuffing.<strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/profile/garo-yegnukian\">Garo Yegnukian</a></strong>, an executive board member at&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com\">Policy Forum Armenia</a></strong>, a U.S.-based think tank, says that oligarchs play an outsized role in elections: &quot;They&#39;re the ones who distribute election bribes, who intimidate, who break people&#39;s knees, if they have to.&quot;</p><p>A U.S. embassy cable leaked in 2009&nbsp;<a href=\"http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/11/09YEREVAN798.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">described</a>&nbsp;business elites as &quot;deeply intertwined with political power and vice versa,&quot; each having an incentive to preserve the status quo out of the fear that a regime change could mean an economic redistribution at the &quot;expense of today&#39;s oligarchs.</p><p>Reports have&nbsp;<a href=\"http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/10/06YEREVAN1457.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">linked</a>&nbsp;oligarchs to assaults and murders. But their activities have other pernicious effects as well.</p><p>The International Crisis Group report&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/europe/south-caucasus/armenia/217-armenia-an-opportunity-for-statesmanship.aspx\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">pinpointed&nbsp;</a>oligarch benefits from tax and customs advantages as a reason why the government collects only about 19.3 percent of GDP in taxes, compared to a 40 percent average in the European Union. A 2007 International Monetary Fund&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2007/wp07106.pdf\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">study&nbsp;</a>reflected this, arguing that despite double digit growth since the beginning of the millennium, Armenia&#39;s tax to GDP ratio remains very low.</p><p>Prime Minister Tigran Sarsgyan who has previously criticized several ministries within the government for corruption, recently announced that he will head an anti-corruption council, and extended a rare invitation to opposition parties to participate.</p><p>&quot;We are not satisfied with the state of the fight against corruption,&quot; Sargsyan&nbsp;<a href=\"http://news.am/eng/news/126883.html\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">said</a>, according to local press reports. But graft in Armenia doesn&#39;t seem to have seen any significant decline. Over the last five years, Armenia has&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/20110504_south_caucasus_must_do_more_to_fight_corruption\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">sharply fallen</a>&nbsp;on Transparency International&#39;s Corruption Index for Armenia by 30 places, from a ranking of 99 in 2007 to 129 in 2011.</p><p>Analysts&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/index.php?id=46&amp;tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=398&amp;tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=8\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; \" target=\"_blank\">predict</a>&nbsp;that the path to economic success in Armenia means eliminating monopolies and minimizing the interference of oligarchs in policymaking; poverty and a high emigration rate (some 70,000 people leave the country every year) compound the problem. As the fallout from the death of an innocent army doctor continues, the Armenian government faces critical choices when it comes to its future and how it chooses to act, if at all, toward those enjoying immunity from the law. But it&#39;s clear that, even in the best of cases, reducing the power of the country&#39;s tycoons will be a long and arduous process.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 394, 724, 'und', 0, '<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-02-19-group-of-experts-warns-of-financial-crisis-in-armenia-\"><strong>The Armenian Reporter</strong></a></div><div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">February 19, 2012</div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><span class=\"location\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; \">WASHINGTON</span>&nbsp;- Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) announces the publication of a Special Report on &quot;Armenia: Averting an Economic Catastrophe.&quot;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />The Report is the loudest warning to date issued to people of Armenia, the Diaspora, and other stakeholders about the economic disaster in the making in the country. Its objective is to provide an assessment of policies that have driven Armenia to where it is now and point out the signs of more trouble to come.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The report warns that unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, within the next 3 years, Armenia will be forced to undergo a large and painful devaluation of its currency, the dram, and/or an external sovereign debt restructuring or default.<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />The Report states that: &quot;The country&#39;s political leadership needs to fully internalize these problems and related risks and address them expeditiously. So far it appears that the lessons of 2009 have largely been wasted and no significant change in policy direction was pursued, which may have better prepared Armenia for what is likely to come next. Instead, the elements of the same crony capitalist practices-where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain-have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security. This is not only immoral but in many ways also illegal and needs to change. Armenia&#39;s window of opportunity to build a viable economy and address its severe social and demographic problems is closing rapidly.&quot;</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The Report offers a detailed set of recommendations to help overcome the severe short- and medium-term problems faced by the economy. Important among them is the formation of a legitimate authority to oversee the new policy course on behalf of the people of Armenia. The report states that the situation requires a true government of national unity that would lay out a workable agenda and reach out to all constructive forces in Armenia and the Diaspora to help accomplish that. These efforts would require adequate professional skills but also the support of a truly national and clean political leadership to be successful.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">This report is a joint product of a team of PFA members and outside experts. The views expressed in the report do not necessarily represent those of every PFA member. Neither the authors nor the reviewers of this report have received any compensation for their contributions.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; \">.</span></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 394, 725, 'und', 0, '<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-02-19-group-of-experts-warns-of-financial-crisis-in-armenia-\"><strong>The Armenian Reporter</strong></a></div><div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">February 19, 2012</div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><span class=\"location\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; \">WASHINGTON</span>&nbsp;- Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) announces the publication of a Special Report on &quot;Armenia: Averting an Economic Catastrophe.&quot;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />The Report is the loudest warning to date issued to people of Armenia, the Diaspora, and other stakeholders about the economic disaster in the making in the country. Its objective is to provide an assessment of policies that have driven Armenia to where it is now and point out the signs of more trouble to come.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The report warns that unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, within the next 3 years, Armenia will be forced to undergo a large and painful devaluation of its currency, the dram, and/or an external sovereign debt restructuring or default.<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />The Report states that: &quot;The country&#39;s political leadership needs to fully internalize these problems and related risks and address them expeditiously. So far it appears that the lessons of 2009 have largely been wasted and no significant change in policy direction was pursued, which may have better prepared Armenia for what is likely to come next. Instead, the elements of the same crony capitalist practices-where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain-have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security. This is not only immoral but in many ways also illegal and needs to change. Armenia&#39;s window of opportunity to build a viable economy and address its severe social and demographic problems is closing rapidly.&quot;</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The Report offers a detailed set of recommendations to help overcome the severe short- and medium-term problems faced by the economy. Important among them is the formation of a legitimate authority to oversee the new policy course on behalf of the people of Armenia. The report states that the situation requires a true government of national unity that would lay out a workable agenda and reach out to all constructive forces in Armenia and the Diaspora to help accomplish that. These efforts would require adequate professional skills but also the support of a truly national and clean political leadership to be successful.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">This report is a joint product of a team of PFA members and outside experts. The views expressed in the report do not necessarily represent those of every PFA member. Neither the authors nor the reviewers of this report have received any compensation for their contributions.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; \">.</span></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 395, 727, 'und', 0, 'Gregory Aftandilian is a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for National Policy in Washington, D.C. He is specialist on Middle East affairs and U.S. foreign policy, having spent over 21 years in government service, most recently on Capitol Hill. Mr. Aftandilian was foreign policy advisor to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (2007-08), professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and foreign policy adviser to Senator Paul Sarbanes (2000-04), and foreign policy fellow to Senator Edward Kennedy (1999). Prior to these positions, Mr. Aftandilian worked for 13 years as a Middle East analyst at the U.S. Department of State where he was a recipient of the Department\'s Superior Honor Award for his analyses on Egypt. His other government experiences include analytic work on Middle East affairs for the U.S. Department of Defense and the Library of Congress. Mr. Aftandilian was a research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2006-07) and an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York (1991-92). Mr. Aftandilian worked as a consultant on Egyptian affairs for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (2005-2006) and was a counter-terrorism consultant for an academic project at Boston University. Mr. Aftandilian holds a B.A. in History from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago, and an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics. \r\n \r\n \r\n ', '', 'filtered_html');
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('node', 'news', 0, 396, 728, 'und', 0, '<div><a href=\"http://massispost.com/archives/5663\"><strong>Masis Post</strong></a></div><div>February 15, 2012</div><p>WASHINGTON, DC &mdash; Armenia will have trouble servicing its increased external debt in the next few years unless its government changes the existing &ldquo;crony capitalist&rdquo; system and embarks on genuine democratic reforms, Washington-based&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(205, 23, 19); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia</a>&nbsp;(PFA) said on Monday.<br />&ldquo;Unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, we estimate the likelihood of a large devaluation of the dram and/or debt default within the next 3 years to be very high,&rdquo; (PFA) claimed in a special report.<br />PFA also accused the authorities in Yerevan of failing to learn lessons from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis that hit the Armenian economy hard. &ldquo;The elements of the same crony capitalist practices &mdash; where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain &mdash; have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security,&rdquo; it charged.<br />A dramatic fall in construction was the main reason why the Armenian economy contracted by over 14 percent in 2009 after a decade of rapid growth. The Armenian government and Central Bank scrambled to cushion the impact of the recession with large-scale emergency loans from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as Russia. The anti-crisis borrowing enabled the government to avoid major spending cuts.<br />But it has also caused Armenia&rsquo;s external debt to more than double to $3.8 billion since late 2008. The overall public debt was projected to reach $4.3 billion at the end of last year. The figure is equivalent to 41.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product.<br />PFA, which comprises more than 50 Armenian-born and Diaspora Armenian professionals mostly working in the United States, said that the deteriorating external environment may well plunge the Armenian economy into renewed recession that would reflect negatively on the country&rsquo;s balance of payments.<br />&ldquo;According to our simulations, a moderate decline in GDP in 2012 may drive debt-to-GDP ratio above 50 percent,&rdquo; reads the PFA report. &ldquo;Given the fact that almost 90 percent of Armenia&rsquo;s debt is in foreign currency, the outlook will be much worse if the dram is abruptly devalued.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;In the case of 30 percent devaluation, Armenia&rsquo;s debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 60 percent. A combined shock &mdash; with GDP decline and devaluation taken together &mdash; will drive the debt-to-GDP ratio well over 70 percent,&rdquo; it claims, accusing the authorities of keeping the dram&rsquo;s value artificially high with hard currency injections into the local banking sector.<br />PFA said the authorities should radically improve tax administration, create a level playing field for all businesses, strengthen the rule of law and crack down on widespread government corruption in earnest. The Diaspora organization also stressed the importance of Armenia&rsquo;s democratization and the proper conduct of the May parliamentary elections in particular.<br />&ldquo;Allowing people to exercise their free will and creating a sense of moral justice would enhance the public buy-in and &mdash; all other things being equal &mdash; would make policy measures more effective,&rdquo; says the PFA report. &ldquo;On the contrary, yet another fraudulent election will undoubtedly lead to more political tension, social upheavals, and more challenges to be tackled down the road.&rdquo;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 396, 729, 'und', 0, '<div><a href=\"http://massispost.com/archives/5663\"><strong>Masis Post</strong></a></div><div>February 15, 2012</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>WASHINGTON, DC &mdash; Armenia will have trouble servicing its increased external debt in the next few years unless its government changes the existing &ldquo;crony capitalist&rdquo; system and embarks on genuine democratic reforms, Washington-based&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(205, 23, 19); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia</a>&nbsp;(PFA) said on Monday.<br />&ldquo;Unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, we estimate the likelihood of a large devaluation of the dram and/or debt default within the next 3 years to be very high,&rdquo; (PFA) claimed in a special report.<br />PFA also accused the authorities in Yerevan of failing to learn lessons from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis that hit the Armenian economy hard. &ldquo;The elements of the same crony capitalist practices &mdash; where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain &mdash; have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security,&rdquo; it charged.<br />A dramatic fall in construction was the main reason why the Armenian economy contracted by over 14 percent in 2009 after a decade of rapid growth. The Armenian government and Central Bank scrambled to cushion the impact of the recession with large-scale emergency loans from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as Russia. The anti-crisis borrowing enabled the government to avoid major spending cuts.<br />But it has also caused Armenia&rsquo;s external debt to more than double to $3.8 billion since late 2008. The overall public debt was projected to reach $4.3 billion at the end of last year. The figure is equivalent to 41.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product.<br />PFA, which comprises more than 50 Armenian-born and Diaspora Armenian professionals mostly working in the United States, said that the deteriorating external environment may well plunge the Armenian economy into renewed recession that would reflect negatively on the country&rsquo;s balance of payments.<br />&ldquo;According to our simulations, a moderate decline in GDP in 2012 may drive debt-to-GDP ratio above 50 percent,&rdquo; reads the PFA report. &ldquo;Given the fact that almost 90 percent of Armenia&rsquo;s debt is in foreign currency, the outlook will be much worse if the dram is abruptly devalued.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;In the case of 30 percent devaluation, Armenia&rsquo;s debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 60 percent. A combined shock &mdash; with GDP decline and devaluation taken together &mdash; will drive the debt-to-GDP ratio well over 70 percent,&rdquo; it claims, accusing the authorities of keeping the dram&rsquo;s value artificially high with hard currency injections into the local banking sector.<br />PFA said the authorities should radically improve tax administration, create a level playing field for all businesses, strengthen the rule of law and crack down on widespread government corruption in earnest. The Diaspora organization also stressed the importance of Armenia&rsquo;s democratization and the proper conduct of the May parliamentary elections in particular.<br />&ldquo;Allowing people to exercise their free will and creating a sense of moral justice would enhance the public buy-in and &mdash; all other things being equal &mdash; would make policy measures more effective,&rdquo; says the PFA report. &ldquo;On the contrary, yet another fraudulent election will undoubtedly lead to more political tension, social upheavals, and more challenges to be tackled down the road.&rdquo;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 396, 730, 'und', 0, '<h3><a href=\"http://massispost.com/archives/5663\"><strong>Masis Post</strong></a></h3><h5>February 15, 2012</h5><p>&nbsp;</p><p>WASHINGTON, DC &mdash; Armenia will have trouble servicing its increased external debt in the next few years unless its government changes the existing &ldquo;crony capitalist&rdquo; system and embarks on genuine democratic reforms, Washington-based&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(205, 23, 19); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia</a>&nbsp;(PFA) said on Monday.<br />&ldquo;Unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, we estimate the likelihood of a large devaluation of the dram and/or debt default within the next 3 years to be very high,&rdquo; (PFA) claimed in a special report.<br />PFA also accused the authorities in Yerevan of failing to learn lessons from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis that hit the Armenian economy hard. &ldquo;The elements of the same crony capitalist practices &mdash; where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain &mdash; have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security,&rdquo; it charged.<br />A dramatic fall in construction was the main reason why the Armenian economy contracted by over 14 percent in 2009 after a decade of rapid growth. The Armenian government and Central Bank scrambled to cushion the impact of the recession with large-scale emergency loans from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as Russia. The anti-crisis borrowing enabled the government to avoid major spending cuts.<br />But it has also caused Armenia&rsquo;s external debt to more than double to $3.8 billion since late 2008. The overall public debt was projected to reach $4.3 billion at the end of last year. The figure is equivalent to 41.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product.<br />PFA, which comprises more than 50 Armenian-born and Diaspora Armenian professionals mostly working in the United States, said that the deteriorating external environment may well plunge the Armenian economy into renewed recession that would reflect negatively on the country&rsquo;s balance of payments.<br />&ldquo;According to our simulations, a moderate decline in GDP in 2012 may drive debt-to-GDP ratio above 50 percent,&rdquo; reads the PFA report. &ldquo;Given the fact that almost 90 percent of Armenia&rsquo;s debt is in foreign currency, the outlook will be much worse if the dram is abruptly devalued.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;In the case of 30 percent devaluation, Armenia&rsquo;s debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 60 percent. A combined shock &mdash; with GDP decline and devaluation taken together &mdash; will drive the debt-to-GDP ratio well over 70 percent,&rdquo; it claims, accusing the authorities of keeping the dram&rsquo;s value artificially high with hard currency injections into the local banking sector.<br />PFA said the authorities should radically improve tax administration, create a level playing field for all businesses, strengthen the rule of law and crack down on widespread government corruption in earnest. The Diaspora organization also stressed the importance of Armenia&rsquo;s democratization and the proper conduct of the May parliamentary elections in particular.<br />&ldquo;Allowing people to exercise their free will and creating a sense of moral justice would enhance the public buy-in and &mdash; all other things being equal &mdash; would make policy measures more effective,&rdquo; says the PFA report. &ldquo;On the contrary, yet another fraudulent election will undoubtedly lead to more political tension, social upheavals, and more challenges to be tackled down the road.&rdquo;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 397, 731, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><h4 style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><strong><a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">The Armenian Reporter</a></strong></h4><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">February 26, 2010</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><span class=\"location\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; \">WASHINGTON</span>&nbsp;- Armenia-Diaspora relations have never been more strained in the 20 years since independence. To provide an opportunity for academics, policy practitioners, and the public to discuss perspectives on, and approaches to, the present-day challenges facing the Armenian nation Policy Forum Armenia will hold its 2nd Annual Forum in Washington, DC on February 28-March 2, 2010.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">For its 1st high-level Forum on the global economic crisis, held in Yerevan on May 25, 2009, PFA brought together an unprecedented line-up of academics and policymakers from Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and UAE, including Armenia&#39;s five former Prime Ministers, to discuss the implications of the crisis for Armenia and help devise policy prescriptions to mitigate them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">As in the 1st Forum, the 2nd (Armenia-Diaspora) Forum will gather a large number of intellectuals-academic and public policy practitioners-to discuss challenges and help devise new modes of engagement between Armenia and its Diaspora.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 1 of the Forum (February 28) will be held at the Cosmos Club, Washington&#39;s premier venue for social and policy events, and will feature the presentation of PFA&#39;s Report on &quot;Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years Since Independence.&quot;</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 2 of the Forum will be held at Georgetown University. This part of the Forum is open to the public, and we invite you to join us in Washington for a full day of deliberations on this important issue. We are very pleased to inform you that Mr. Raffi Hovannisian, Armenia&#39;s First Foreign Minister, will deliver the keynote luncheon address on Day 2 (March 1).</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The program for Day 3 (March 2) is limited to only young professionals and will include thematic meetings with various international agencies and public and private organizations in order to continue the discussion on Armenia-Diaspora relations and offer young professionals opportunities to network in Washington.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">A detailed agenda follows. For comments or questions related to the 2nd Forum and to RSVP for Days 2 and 3, please email forum@pf-armenia.org. To register media presence, please email exrelations@pf-armenia.org.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">See the full article and the agenda <a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">here</a>.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 397, 732, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">The Armenian Reporter</a></strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">February 26, 2010</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><span class=\"location\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; \">WASHINGTON</span>&nbsp;- Armenia-Diaspora relations have never been more strained in the 20 years since independence. To provide an opportunity for academics, policy practitioners, and the public to discuss perspectives on, and approaches to, the present-day challenges facing the Armenian nation Policy Forum Armenia will hold its 2nd Annual Forum in Washington, DC on February 28-March 2, 2010.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">For its 1st high-level Forum on the global economic crisis, held in Yerevan on May 25, 2009, PFA brought together an unprecedented line-up of academics and policymakers from Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and UAE, including Armenia&#39;s five former Prime Ministers, to discuss the implications of the crisis for Armenia and help devise policy prescriptions to mitigate them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">As in the 1st Forum, the 2nd (Armenia-Diaspora) Forum will gather a large number of intellectuals-academic and public policy practitioners-to discuss challenges and help devise new modes of engagement between Armenia and its Diaspora.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 1 of the Forum (February 28) will be held at the Cosmos Club, Washington&#39;s premier venue for social and policy events, and will feature the presentation of PFA&#39;s Report on &quot;Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years Since Independence.&quot;</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 2 of the Forum will be held at Georgetown University. This part of the Forum is open to the public, and we invite you to join us in Washington for a full day of deliberations on this important issue. We are very pleased to inform you that Mr. Raffi Hovannisian, Armenia&#39;s First Foreign Minister, will deliver the keynote luncheon address on Day 2 (March 1).</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The program for Day 3 (March 2) is limited to only young professionals and will include thematic meetings with various international agencies and public and private organizations in order to continue the discussion on Armenia-Diaspora relations and offer young professionals opportunities to network in Washington.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">A detailed agenda follows. For comments or questions related to the 2nd Forum and to RSVP for Days 2 and 3, please email forum@pf-armenia.org. To register media presence, please email exrelations@pf-armenia.org.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">See the full article and the agenda <a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">here</a>.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 397, 733, 'und', 0, '<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">The Armenian Reporter</a></strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">February 26, 2010</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \"><span class=\"location\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; \">WASHINGTON</span>&nbsp;- Armenia-Diaspora relations have never been more strained in the 20 years since independence. To provide an opportunity for academics, policy practitioners, and the public to discuss perspectives on, and approaches to, the present-day challenges facing the Armenian nation Policy Forum Armenia will hold its 2nd Annual Forum in Washington, DC on February 28-March 2, 2010.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">For its 1st high-level Forum on the global economic crisis, held in Yerevan on May 25, 2009, PFA brought together an unprecedented line-up of academics and policymakers from Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and UAE, including Armenia&#39;s five former Prime Ministers, to discuss the implications of the crisis for Armenia and help devise policy prescriptions to mitigate them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">As in the 1st Forum, the 2nd (Armenia-Diaspora) Forum will gather a large number of intellectuals-academic and public policy practitioners-to discuss challenges and help devise new modes of engagement between Armenia and its Diaspora.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 1 of the Forum (February 28) will be held at the Cosmos Club, Washington&#39;s premier venue for social and policy events, and will feature the presentation of PFA&#39;s Report on &quot;Armenia-Diaspora Relations: 20 Years Since Independence.&quot;</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">Day 2 of the Forum will be held at Georgetown University. This part of the Forum is open to the public, and we invite you to join us in Washington for a full day of deliberations on this important issue. We are very pleased to inform you that Mr. Raffi Hovannisian, Armenia&#39;s First Foreign Minister, will deliver the keynote luncheon address on Day 2 (March 1).</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">The program for Day 3 (March 2) is limited to only young professionals and will include thematic meetings with various international agencies and public and private organizations in order to continue the discussion on Armenia-Diaspora relations and offer young professionals opportunities to network in Washington.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">A detailed agenda follows. For comments or questions related to the 2nd Forum and to RSVP for Days 2 and 3, please email forum@pf-armenia.org. To register media presence, please email exrelations@pf-armenia.org.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.7em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; \">See the full article and the agenda <a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-02-26-washington-forum-focuses-on-armenia-diaspora-relations\">here</a>.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 398, 734, 'und', 0, '<h4><strong><a href=\"http://www.armenianow.com/economy/35737/wb_armenia_2012_economic_growth\">ArmeniaNow</a></strong></h4><h4><strong></strong></h4><p>February 17, 2012</p><p>Head of World Bank (WB) Yerevan office Jean-Michel Happi stated on Friday, that according to their predictions in 2012 the economic growth of Armenia will be 4.2 percent. This is progress as compared to last year&rsquo;s three percent growth; nevertheless, experts forecast serious challenges of Armenia&rsquo;s &ldquo;economic collapse and default&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p><p>Last year, Happi predicted almost a 5- percent economic growth for Armenia in 2012, however now he notes that &ldquo;In 2012, the world economy will slow down, which cannot but have its negative influence upon the economies of developing countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />Early this week Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) announced the publication of a Special Report on &ldquo;Armenia: Averting an Economic Catastrophe&rdquo; which is about Armenia&rsquo;s economic problems. The report presents all the economic-political challenges that Armenia faces now.&nbsp;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />&ldquo;Unless drastic changes in the economic policy direction and political-economy landscape are carried out, within the next three years, Armenia will be forced to undergo a large and painful devaluation of its currency, the dram, and/or an external sovereign debt restructuring or default,&rdquo; the report reads.<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />PFA experts warn that since the collapse in 2009 the rapid rise in state debt of Armenia makes 40 percent of Armenia&rsquo;s gross domestic product (GDP), which &ldquo;has approached the limit of debt default for developing countries&rdquo;. Meanwhile, &ldquo;the policy of factual fixed exchange rate adopted by the Central Bank resulted in loss of three-quarters of the external reserves.&rdquo;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />The report says that the extremely poor state of the economy is connected with &ldquo;inner political will landscape and not with lack in resources or unfavorable geographical problems.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" /><br style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; \" />&ldquo;The elements of the same crony capitalist practices&mdash;where a select few have used their disproportionate access to power and influence over economic decision-making for their personal gain&mdash;have been reinforced, at the expense of growth, public health, education, and national security. This is not only immoral but in many ways also illegal and needs to change. Armenia&rsquo;s window of opportunity to build a viable economy and address its severe social and demographic problems is closing rapidly,&rdquo; the authors of the report warn.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 735, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><h2 style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; \"><strong><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/106970/teghoot/\">Asbarez&nbsp;</a></strong></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">December 7, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html');
INSERT INTO `field_revision_body` (`entity_type`, `bundle`, `deleted`, `entity_id`, `revision_id`, `language`, `delta`, `body_value`, `body_summary`, `body_format`) VALUES
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 736, 'und', 0, '<h2><strong><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/106970/teghoot/\">Asbarez&nbsp;</a></strong></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">December 7, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 737, 'und', 0, '<h2><strong><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/106970/teghoot/\">Asbarez&nbsp;</a></strong></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">BY GAREN YEGPARIAN</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">December 7, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 821, 'und', 0, '<h2><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/101734/teghood/\"><strong>Asbarez&nbsp;</strong></a><strong></strong></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">BY GAREN YEGPARIAN</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">March 12, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html');
INSERT INTO `field_revision_body` (`entity_type`, `bundle`, `deleted`, `entity_id`, `revision_id`, `language`, `delta`, `body_value`, `body_summary`, `body_format`) VALUES
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 822, 'und', 0, '<h2><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/101734/teghood/\"><strong>Asbarez&nbsp;</strong></a></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">BY GAREN YEGPARIAN</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">March 12, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 399, 823, 'und', 0, '<h2><a href=\"http://asbarez.com/101734/teghood/\"><strong>Asbarez&nbsp;</strong></a></h2><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">BY GAREN YEGPARIAN</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">March 12, 2012</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">I have intentionally used Western Armenian pronunciation and an otherwise differing spelling of a very threatened forest&rsquo;s name. I have to address a minor point that&rsquo;s a major irritant to me. It&rsquo;s one thing to use Eastern Armenian pronunciation to transliterate Armenian words to English. It is, after all, the official, linguistic, convention to do so. No problem there. What&rsquo;s ridiculous is the rendition, in this case as Teghut instead of Teghoot, leading to a pronunciation similar to the first part of the word &ldquo;utter,&rdquo; and looking like a Turkish mutilation of one of our place-names!</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">On to the substantive stuff&mdash; Teghoot, a forest in the north-eastern part (Lori Provice) of the Republic of Armenia (RoA), was last in the news half a decade ago. But it seems the money ran short in the land-rapists&rsquo; pockets until recently, and the problem went dormant. The issue is mining of copper and molybdenum in what is now an old growth forest with all its attendant biodiversity and natural service provision (clean water, food, recreation, etc.). And, to my best understanding, it would be a strip mining operation.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) addresses the Teghoot issue in a recent publication on environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. Between that, some blog postings on Armenian Environmental Network&rsquo;s website, and the panel discussion organized by the ARF Shant Student Association last Sunday (for full disclosure&mdash; I was a speaker at that event), I&rsquo;m left with a heightened sense of disgust and inclination to fight this abomination-in-the-making.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The consequences of this mining operation would be devastating to the agrarian economy of the area&mdash; the villages of Shnogh &amp; Teghoot, and the ecology&mdash; destruction of the forest, mining wastes and tailings stored untreated and unsafely, pollution and other damage of the rivers in the area. Of course, there is an up-side. There would be a roughly two-decade period of employment for the locals, but&hellip; then what? The ruin of their environment would leave future generations bereft of any viable local economy, leading to more rural-urban (Yerevan) migration) and subsequent expatriation. Is that what we want as a nation?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Yet, the locals&rsquo; desire for jobs is very legitimate, understandable, and reasonable. We must support the area through eco-tourism, and fast. All those traveling to Armenia this summer should make it a point to go there, spend some money, and be sure to make known to the locals that it&rsquo;s the local beauty which attracted you. In the longer term, more structured trips with hikes, animal watching, perhaps water-sporting, even hunting, etc. must be organized. Meanwhile, massive public pressure must be brought upon the government of the RoA, both internally and internationally. PFA cites dozens of laws and international agreements being violated by this mining project as currently being implemented, so there&rsquo;s a good basis for heat to be applied.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">But that&rsquo;s not enough. The greed that leads to this kind of destructive behavior must be checked. The anticipated income over the life of this project is well above $20 billion. Yet the benefits to the country are a paltry $600+ million. Meanwhile, the hastily and inadequately prepared Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would lead to locals being compensated in pennies for their lost trees, property, and livelihood. The full glare of public scrutiny and sunshine on these outrageous inconsistencies is another avenue of slowing down this process to a manageable pace. If there&rsquo;s mining to be done, let it be done in a safe, environmentally sound, human-health-neutral, and non-destructive way.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">There&rsquo;s also shadiness to this whole proposition. The outfit that will do the mining is Armenian Copper Program. It is a subsidiary of Vallex which, in turn, is owned 19% by Valeri Mejlumyan, and the rest&hellip; Who knows? It is registered in Lichtenstein (think about what you know of how money is &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; in Switzerland), therefore ownership is masked. Rumors, impossible to confirm or refute because of the secrecy enabled by Lichtenstein, attribute some interest in this firm to President Sarkissian&rsquo;s family. Meanwhile, the EIA was prepared by Lernametalurgiai Institute cjsc (LMI), which evidently has a de facto monopoly on preparation of these documents for all mining projects in the RoA. It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Vallex Group and ACP. Can you say &ldquo;conflict-of-interest&rdquo;?</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">You get the idea. It&rsquo;s sickening how a project that could be a boon for all concerned&mdash; local population, RoA&rsquo;s economy, and its investors&mdash; can be perverted into a monster.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Applying public pressure, insisting on full application of the appropriate procedures (relevant laws seem to be in place in RoA), and exposing the greed and shadiness of the companies proposing to implement this project, buy time to develop viable, sustainable options and alternatives while educating all concerned about them.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Watch for action alerts emanating from the homeland and the Diaspora. Start contacting RoA&rsquo;s diplomatic establishments (embassies, consulates) in your area expressing your concerns. Let&rsquo;s build a movement to save this forest, provide for the locals, and build up and entrench the rule of law in the RoA. After all, a despoiled, desolate country is useless as a homeland. We can stop this ruinous process!</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 400, 738, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><div class=\"node\" style=\"margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 0.1em; font-size: 12px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \"><div class=\"content\" style=\"margin-top: -0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 0em; padding-left: 0.4em; white-space: normal; \"><div class=\"contentBook\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968\"><strong>Center for the Development of Civil Society, CDCS Armenia</strong></a><br />Dr. Svetlana Aslanyan</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><em>Despite recent economic growth, Armenia continues to confront economic, social and environmental challenges. The Government launched a Sustainable Development programme, but at the same time made substantial investments in mining and other extractive industries. The Teghut copper-molybdenum mining project in particular poses a threat both to the environment and to sustainable development. The Government has also failed to address pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, and other environmental issues, making the effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, as well as increased transparency and public participation in policy-making essential.</em></p><table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/armenia2012_eng.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/diamantes/2011/en/arm.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Armenia&rsquo;s &nbsp;&ldquo;Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) for 2009-2012,&quot;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>adopted in 2008, includes a series of measures designed to reduce poverty through: a) stimulation of economic growth and improvement of the business environment; b) increased employment and promotion of medium and small business; c) greater public access to infrastructure services; d) enhanced social assistance programs for the poor; e) expanded access to and consumption of culture; f) more extensive social assistance programs for youth; g) a reduction in corruption within State Government, the health and education systems, the judiciary system and&nbsp; local government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Implementation of the SDP was set back by the impact of the 2008-09 global economic crisis.&nbsp; Reduced investment in construction hurt small and medium-sized businesses, and the proportion of the population living below the poverty line jumped from 27% to 47%. While per capita GDP had soared from USD 3,576 to USD 11,916 from 2004 to 2008<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;the impact of the economic crisis was negative (see chart), particularly for sustainable development. Although economic growth resumed in 2009 and 2010,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;in most cases this has helped realize only short-term economic objectives. Policies set up for the environmental and social spheres have been neglected,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;and the Government has decided to pursue sustainable development only in selected areas.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Environmental issues</strong></p><table align=\"left\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/arm1.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">One of the country&rsquo;s most pressing environmental concerns is limited access to clean water.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;In many cases, aging and corroded infrastructure allows sewage to seep into freshwater pipes. Yerevan, the capital, still lacks a fully functional wastewater treatment plant. In the northern part of the country, rivers such as the Debed have alarming concentrations of lead, while in places such as the Ararat Valley, most water pollution comes from pesticides containing pollutants such as arsenic and cadmium.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Experts predict that the most likely climate change scenario will cause severe drinking water shortages in the coming decades.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Air pollution is also increasing at an alarming rate. Yerevan, for example, is located in a geological depression in which stagnant air exacerbates heavy pollution, 90% of which is caused by vehicles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;The other 10% is highly toxic, containing smoke filled with the residue of plastics burned at industrial and mining facilities near the city. The atmosphere in other cities is also heavily polluted. Alaverdi, for example, has had 11.4 times the permitted level of sulfur dioxide in recent years.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Between 2001 and 2005, recorded cases of respiratory disease jumped 45%; experts believe the real incidence of diseases such as asthma is actually far higher.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn10\" name=\"_ftnref10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Air pollution is exacerbated by the common practice of burning waste in the open. Unauthorized burning releases dioxins, furans and other toxic chemicals that can cause a wide range of health problems, including skin disorders, liver problems, immune system impairment and certain types of cancers.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Deforestation, which has escalated to an unprecedented level, is another concern. Only 7% of the territory remains forested, down from 35% two centuries ago, and much of this is degraded. The leading causes include use of wood for fuel, due to a lack of alternatives, and the Government&rsquo;s decision to allow mining in ecologically sensitive areas, which shows the lack of official recognition of the importance of natural forests.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a><strong>Corruption and the environment</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia are closely linked to corruption, especially in forestry and mining. For example, environmental restrictions are not enforced in most mining operations; in the period from 2001 to 2007, the then-Minister of Nature Protection issued several mining licenses to relatives.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">It is widely believed that cases of corruption related to businesses sponsored by high level Government officials are abundant.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn13\" name=\"_ftnref13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;Certainly Government actions have not been able to stop the destruction and degradation of the forests due to illegal logging. Also, many forest areas have been improperly reclassified and allocated to private individuals. In 2007, for example, the Government changed the status of the central part of the Khosrov Reserve to allow private construction and agricultural activities; it made this decision without consulting experts in the field.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>The Teghut mountains: a case study in unsustainable exploitation</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The Government is pursuing an extraction-led development model, as evidenced by its willingness to allow massive investment in mining. The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), for example, has been granted a 24-year license to extract copper and molybdenum ore from the Teghut Mountains. ACP is developing an open-pit mine with a surface area of 240 ha, all of which is forested land.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>The village of Teghut, located in the Lori Region in the northeast has 3,600 residents, many of whom rely on subsistence agriculture. The surrounding forest is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals; species found there include 260 insects, 86 birds, 55 mammals and 10 reptiles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has already built numerous forest access roads for exploratory drilling sites, indiscriminately ravaging several areas. Ultimately, according to ACP, the project will require 670 ha, of which 510 ha are currently forested.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has declared that it will compensate for the damage by planting trees in Yerevan, but this plan is inadequate and unrealistic. New trees cannot replace established forest habitats; mature trees may not survive a move.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The mining operations will produce waste rock and tailings, which may contain silver, gold, rhenium, lead, arsenic, copper, molybdenum, zinc and sulfurous chemicals. In the inefficient extraction process that will be used, valuable metals such as renium will be lost; much worse, it will leave tailings that will pollute both local water and the air. If leakage occurs, toxic chemicals could get into the nearby Kharatanots River, already polluted by the copper tailing dump in the village of Aghtala, and where numerous downstream communities get their drinking water.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The deleterious environmental impact of the mine will hardly be offset by economic benefits. The project&rsquo;s economists estimate that it contains ore worth more than 20 billion USD, of which the country will receive only 1.2-1.7% in taxes and fees and suffer severe, long term environmental problems costing USD 6.5 million. So far, there is no independent economic analysis of the potential environmental damage.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>As currently planned, construction of the ore processing plant and exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine will breach 77 laws, as well as a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biodiversity, the UN Convention on Combating Desertification and the European Landscape Convention. However, the Government has designated the Teghut mining operation a high priority for its contribution to &ldquo;economic development,&rdquo; reflecting its short-term perspective, as well as its corrupt practices. It also reveals its lack of expertise, respect for the law, care for the environment and interest in pursuing a long-term sustainable development model.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Conclusions</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The rapid growth of some sectors of the economy, along with the lack of appropriate government management, have created serious environmental problems and challenges. To promote sustainability, the country must make environmental protection a priority.<br />Armenia has ratified many international conventions on issues such as biodiversity, climate change and desertification. These commitments, as well as the voice of civil society, have been largely ignored. Improving environmental governance will require effective implementation and enforcement of existing environmental laws, as well as greater transparency and public participation in policy-making. This, in turn, will require a concerted effort to increase popular awareness of environmental issues.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">&nbsp;</p><div><div id=\"ftn1\"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>&nbsp;Full text available from:&nbsp;<em>&lt;</em>www.nature-ic.am/res/pdfs/documents/strategic/SDP_01_eng_20081030.pdf&gt;</div><div id=\"ftn2\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;Index Mundi,&nbsp;<em>Armenia</em><em>&nbsp;GDP real growth rate (%)</em>, (2010), &lt;www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=am&amp;v=66&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn3\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn4\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;Edita Vardgesyan,&nbsp;<em>The exploitation of the Teghut Copper-Molybdenum Mining (Republic of Armenia) and the Concept of Sustainable Development</em>, (2009),<em>&lt;</em>www.cerdi.org/uploads/sfCmsContent/html/323/Vardgesyan.pdf&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn5\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), &lt;www.pf-armenia.org/fileadmin/pfa_uploads/PFA_Environmental_Report.pdf&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn6\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn7\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn8\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;This Month in Armenia,&nbsp;<em>Car emissions causing more respiratory problems in Yerevan</em>, (July 2009), &lt;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/thismonth.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/july-09-car-emissions-causing-more-respiratory-problems\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">thismonth.wordpress.com</a>..</p></div><div id=\"ftn9\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn10\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Marianna Grigoryan, &ldquo;Armenia: Environmental Change Spurs Respiratory Diseases,&rdquo; (19 October&nbsp; 2006), &lt;www.eurasianet.org/departments/environment/articles/eav102006.shtml&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn11\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref11\" name=\"_ftn11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn12\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref12\" name=\"_ftn12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a>&nbsp;Ibid</p></div><div id=\"ftn13\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref13\" name=\"_ftn13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Armenia&gt; and &lt;www.armeniatree.org/environews/enews_hakobyan070707.htm&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn14\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref14\" name=\"_ftn14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn15\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref15\" name=\"_ftn15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn16\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref16\" name=\"_ftn16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;www.foe.org/pdf/Teghut_Fact_Sheet.pdf&gt; and &lt; news.mongabay.com/2008/0129-hance_armenia.html&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn17\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref17\" name=\"_ftn17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div></div></div></div><div id=\"ARfooter\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: 14px; padding-right: 0em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 22px; margin-top: 0.5em; 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('node', 'news', 0, 400, 739, 'und', 0, '<div class=\"node\" style=\"margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 0.1em; font-size: 12px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \"><div class=\"content\" style=\"margin-top: -0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 0em; padding-left: 0.4em; white-space: normal; \"><div class=\"contentBook\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968\"><br /><strong>Center for the Development of Civil Society, CDCS Armenia</strong></a><br />Dr. Svetlana Aslanyan</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><em>Despite recent economic growth, Armenia continues to confront economic, social and environmental challenges. The Government launched a Sustainable Development programme, but at the same time made substantial investments in mining and other extractive industries. The Teghut copper-molybdenum mining project in particular poses a threat both to the environment and to sustainable development. The Government has also failed to address pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, and other environmental issues, making the effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, as well as increased transparency and public participation in policy-making essential.</em></p><table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/armenia2012_eng.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/diamantes/2011/en/arm.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Armenia&rsquo;s &nbsp;&ldquo;Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) for 2009-2012,&quot;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>adopted in 2008, includes a series of measures designed to reduce poverty through: a) stimulation of economic growth and improvement of the business environment; b) increased employment and promotion of medium and small business; c) greater public access to infrastructure services; d) enhanced social assistance programs for the poor; e) expanded access to and consumption of culture; f) more extensive social assistance programs for youth; g) a reduction in corruption within State Government, the health and education systems, the judiciary system and&nbsp; local government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Implementation of the SDP was set back by the impact of the 2008-09 global economic crisis.&nbsp; Reduced investment in construction hurt small and medium-sized businesses, and the proportion of the population living below the poverty line jumped from 27% to 47%. While per capita GDP had soared from USD 3,576 to USD 11,916 from 2004 to 2008<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;the impact of the economic crisis was negative (see chart), particularly for sustainable development. Although economic growth resumed in 2009 and 2010,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;in most cases this has helped realize only short-term economic objectives. Policies set up for the environmental and social spheres have been neglected,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;and the Government has decided to pursue sustainable development only in selected areas.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Environmental issues</strong></p><table align=\"left\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/arm1.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">One of the country&rsquo;s most pressing environmental concerns is limited access to clean water.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;In many cases, aging and corroded infrastructure allows sewage to seep into freshwater pipes. Yerevan, the capital, still lacks a fully functional wastewater treatment plant. In the northern part of the country, rivers such as the Debed have alarming concentrations of lead, while in places such as the Ararat Valley, most water pollution comes from pesticides containing pollutants such as arsenic and cadmium.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Experts predict that the most likely climate change scenario will cause severe drinking water shortages in the coming decades.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Air pollution is also increasing at an alarming rate. Yerevan, for example, is located in a geological depression in which stagnant air exacerbates heavy pollution, 90% of which is caused by vehicles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;The other 10% is highly toxic, containing smoke filled with the residue of plastics burned at industrial and mining facilities near the city. The atmosphere in other cities is also heavily polluted. Alaverdi, for example, has had 11.4 times the permitted level of sulfur dioxide in recent years.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Between 2001 and 2005, recorded cases of respiratory disease jumped 45%; experts believe the real incidence of diseases such as asthma is actually far higher.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn10\" name=\"_ftnref10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Air pollution is exacerbated by the common practice of burning waste in the open. Unauthorized burning releases dioxins, furans and other toxic chemicals that can cause a wide range of health problems, including skin disorders, liver problems, immune system impairment and certain types of cancers.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Deforestation, which has escalated to an unprecedented level, is another concern. Only 7% of the territory remains forested, down from 35% two centuries ago, and much of this is degraded. The leading causes include use of wood for fuel, due to a lack of alternatives, and the Government&rsquo;s decision to allow mining in ecologically sensitive areas, which shows the lack of official recognition of the importance of natural forests.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a><strong>Corruption and the environment</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia are closely linked to corruption, especially in forestry and mining. For example, environmental restrictions are not enforced in most mining operations; in the period from 2001 to 2007, the then-Minister of Nature Protection issued several mining licenses to relatives.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">It is widely believed that cases of corruption related to businesses sponsored by high level Government officials are abundant.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn13\" name=\"_ftnref13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;Certainly Government actions have not been able to stop the destruction and degradation of the forests due to illegal logging. Also, many forest areas have been improperly reclassified and allocated to private individuals. In 2007, for example, the Government changed the status of the central part of the Khosrov Reserve to allow private construction and agricultural activities; it made this decision without consulting experts in the field.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>The Teghut mountains: a case study in unsustainable exploitation</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The Government is pursuing an extraction-led development model, as evidenced by its willingness to allow massive investment in mining. The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), for example, has been granted a 24-year license to extract copper and molybdenum ore from the Teghut Mountains. ACP is developing an open-pit mine with a surface area of 240 ha, all of which is forested land.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>The village of Teghut, located in the Lori Region in the northeast has 3,600 residents, many of whom rely on subsistence agriculture. The surrounding forest is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals; species found there include 260 insects, 86 birds, 55 mammals and 10 reptiles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has already built numerous forest access roads for exploratory drilling sites, indiscriminately ravaging several areas. Ultimately, according to ACP, the project will require 670 ha, of which 510 ha are currently forested.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has declared that it will compensate for the damage by planting trees in Yerevan, but this plan is inadequate and unrealistic. New trees cannot replace established forest habitats; mature trees may not survive a move.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The mining operations will produce waste rock and tailings, which may contain silver, gold, rhenium, lead, arsenic, copper, molybdenum, zinc and sulfurous chemicals. In the inefficient extraction process that will be used, valuable metals such as renium will be lost; much worse, it will leave tailings that will pollute both local water and the air. If leakage occurs, toxic chemicals could get into the nearby Kharatanots River, already polluted by the copper tailing dump in the village of Aghtala, and where numerous downstream communities get their drinking water.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The deleterious environmental impact of the mine will hardly be offset by economic benefits. The project&rsquo;s economists estimate that it contains ore worth more than 20 billion USD, of which the country will receive only 1.2-1.7% in taxes and fees and suffer severe, long term environmental problems costing USD 6.5 million. So far, there is no independent economic analysis of the potential environmental damage.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>As currently planned, construction of the ore processing plant and exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine will breach 77 laws, as well as a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biodiversity, the UN Convention on Combating Desertification and the European Landscape Convention. However, the Government has designated the Teghut mining operation a high priority for its contribution to &ldquo;economic development,&rdquo; reflecting its short-term perspective, as well as its corrupt practices. It also reveals its lack of expertise, respect for the law, care for the environment and interest in pursuing a long-term sustainable development model.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Conclusions</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The rapid growth of some sectors of the economy, along with the lack of appropriate government management, have created serious environmental problems and challenges. To promote sustainability, the country must make environmental protection a priority.<br />Armenia has ratified many international conventions on issues such as biodiversity, climate change and desertification. These commitments, as well as the voice of civil society, have been largely ignored. Improving environmental governance will require effective implementation and enforcement of existing environmental laws, as well as greater transparency and public participation in policy-making. This, in turn, will require a concerted effort to increase popular awareness of environmental issues.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">&nbsp;</p><div><div id=\"ftn1\"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>&nbsp;Full text available from:&nbsp;<em>&lt;</em>www.nature-ic.am/res/pdfs/documents/strategic/SDP_01_eng_20081030.pdf&gt;</div><div id=\"ftn2\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;Index Mundi,&nbsp;<em>Armenia</em><em>&nbsp;GDP real growth rate (%)</em>, (2010), &lt;www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=am&amp;v=66&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn3\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn4\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;Edita Vardgesyan,&nbsp;<em>The exploitation of the Teghut Copper-Molybdenum Mining (Republic of Armenia) and the Concept of Sustainable Development</em>, (2009),<em>&lt;</em>www.cerdi.org/uploads/sfCmsContent/html/323/Vardgesyan.pdf&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn5\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), &lt;www.pf-armenia.org/fileadmin/pfa_uploads/PFA_Environmental_Report.pdf&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn6\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn7\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn8\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;This Month in Armenia,&nbsp;<em>Car emissions causing more respiratory problems in Yerevan</em>, (July 2009), &lt;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/thismonth.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/july-09-car-emissions-causing-more-respiratory-problems\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">thismonth.wordpress.com</a>..</p></div><div id=\"ftn9\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn10\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Marianna Grigoryan, &ldquo;Armenia: Environmental Change Spurs Respiratory Diseases,&rdquo; (19 October&nbsp; 2006), &lt;www.eurasianet.org/departments/environment/articles/eav102006.shtml&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn11\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref11\" name=\"_ftn11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn12\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref12\" name=\"_ftn12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a>&nbsp;Ibid</p></div><div id=\"ftn13\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref13\" name=\"_ftn13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Armenia&gt; and &lt;www.armeniatree.org/environews/enews_hakobyan070707.htm&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn14\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref14\" name=\"_ftn14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn15\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref15\" name=\"_ftn15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn16\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref16\" name=\"_ftn16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;www.foe.org/pdf/Teghut_Fact_Sheet.pdf&gt; and &lt; news.mongabay.com/2008/0129-hance_armenia.html&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn17\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref17\" name=\"_ftn17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div></div></div></div><div id=\"ARfooter\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: 14px; padding-right: 0em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 22px; margin-top: 0.5em; 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('node', 'news', 0, 400, 740, 'und', 0, '<div class=\"node\" style=\"margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 0.1em; font-size: 12px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \"><div class=\"content\" style=\"margin-top: -0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 0em; padding-left: 0.4em; white-space: normal; \"><div class=\"contentBook\"><h3 style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968\"><strong>SOCIAL WATCH</strong></a></h3><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.cdcs.am/about.htm\"><strong>Center for the Development of Civil Society, CDCS Armenia</strong></a><strong></strong><br />Dr. Svetlana Aslanyan</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><em>Despite recent economic growth, Armenia continues to confront economic, social and environmental challenges. The Government launched a Sustainable Development programme, but at the same time made substantial investments in mining and other extractive industries. The Teghut copper-molybdenum mining project in particular poses a threat both to the environment and to sustainable development. The Government has also failed to address pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, and other environmental issues, making the effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, as well as increased transparency and public participation in policy-making essential.</em></p><table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/armenia2012_eng.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/diamantes/2011/en/arm.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Armenia&rsquo;s &nbsp;&ldquo;Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) for 2009-2012,&quot;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>adopted in 2008, includes a series of measures designed to reduce poverty through: a) stimulation of economic growth and improvement of the business environment; b) increased employment and promotion of medium and small business; c) greater public access to infrastructure services; d) enhanced social assistance programs for the poor; e) expanded access to and consumption of culture; f) more extensive social assistance programs for youth; g) a reduction in corruption within State Government, the health and education systems, the judiciary system and&nbsp; local government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Implementation of the SDP was set back by the impact of the 2008-09 global economic crisis.&nbsp; Reduced investment in construction hurt small and medium-sized businesses, and the proportion of the population living below the poverty line jumped from 27% to 47%. While per capita GDP had soared from USD 3,576 to USD 11,916 from 2004 to 2008<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;the impact of the economic crisis was negative (see chart), particularly for sustainable development. Although economic growth resumed in 2009 and 2010,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;in most cases this has helped realize only short-term economic objectives. Policies set up for the environmental and social spheres have been neglected,<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;and the Government has decided to pursue sustainable development only in selected areas.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Environmental issues</strong></p><table align=\"left\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"5\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em; \"><tbody style=\"border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-color: initial; \"><tr><td><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/arm1.gif\" style=\"border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-right: 0.1em; padding-right: 0.2em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; \" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">One of the country&rsquo;s most pressing environmental concerns is limited access to clean water.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;In many cases, aging and corroded infrastructure allows sewage to seep into freshwater pipes. Yerevan, the capital, still lacks a fully functional wastewater treatment plant. In the northern part of the country, rivers such as the Debed have alarming concentrations of lead, while in places such as the Ararat Valley, most water pollution comes from pesticides containing pollutants such as arsenic and cadmium.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Experts predict that the most likely climate change scenario will cause severe drinking water shortages in the coming decades.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Air pollution is also increasing at an alarming rate. Yerevan, for example, is located in a geological depression in which stagnant air exacerbates heavy pollution, 90% of which is caused by vehicles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;The other 10% is highly toxic, containing smoke filled with the residue of plastics burned at industrial and mining facilities near the city. The atmosphere in other cities is also heavily polluted. Alaverdi, for example, has had 11.4 times the permitted level of sulfur dioxide in recent years.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Between 2001 and 2005, recorded cases of respiratory disease jumped 45%; experts believe the real incidence of diseases such as asthma is actually far higher.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn10\" name=\"_ftnref10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Air pollution is exacerbated by the common practice of burning waste in the open. Unauthorized burning releases dioxins, furans and other toxic chemicals that can cause a wide range of health problems, including skin disorders, liver problems, immune system impairment and certain types of cancers.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>Deforestation, which has escalated to an unprecedented level, is another concern. Only 7% of the territory remains forested, down from 35% two centuries ago, and much of this is degraded. The leading causes include use of wood for fuel, due to a lack of alternatives, and the Government&rsquo;s decision to allow mining in ecologically sensitive areas, which shows the lack of official recognition of the importance of natural forests.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a><strong>Corruption and the environment</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia are closely linked to corruption, especially in forestry and mining. For example, environmental restrictions are not enforced in most mining operations; in the period from 2001 to 2007, the then-Minister of Nature Protection issued several mining licenses to relatives.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">It is widely believed that cases of corruption related to businesses sponsored by high level Government officials are abundant.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn13\" name=\"_ftnref13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;Certainly Government actions have not been able to stop the destruction and degradation of the forests due to illegal logging. Also, many forest areas have been improperly reclassified and allocated to private individuals. In 2007, for example, the Government changed the status of the central part of the Khosrov Reserve to allow private construction and agricultural activities; it made this decision without consulting experts in the field.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>The Teghut mountains: a case study in unsustainable exploitation</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The Government is pursuing an extraction-led development model, as evidenced by its willingness to allow massive investment in mining. The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), for example, has been granted a 24-year license to extract copper and molybdenum ore from the Teghut Mountains. ACP is developing an open-pit mine with a surface area of 240 ha, all of which is forested land.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn14\" name=\"_ftnref14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>The village of Teghut, located in the Lori Region in the northeast has 3,600 residents, many of whom rely on subsistence agriculture. The surrounding forest is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals; species found there include 260 insects, 86 birds, 55 mammals and 10 reptiles.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn15\" name=\"_ftnref15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has already built numerous forest access roads for exploratory drilling sites, indiscriminately ravaging several areas. Ultimately, according to ACP, the project will require 670 ha, of which 510 ha are currently forested.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn16\" name=\"_ftnref16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>ACP has declared that it will compensate for the damage by planting trees in Yerevan, but this plan is inadequate and unrealistic. New trees cannot replace established forest habitats; mature trees may not survive a move.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The mining operations will produce waste rock and tailings, which may contain silver, gold, rhenium, lead, arsenic, copper, molybdenum, zinc and sulfurous chemicals. In the inefficient extraction process that will be used, valuable metals such as renium will be lost; much worse, it will leave tailings that will pollute both local water and the air. If leakage occurs, toxic chemicals could get into the nearby Kharatanots River, already polluted by the copper tailing dump in the village of Aghtala, and where numerous downstream communities get their drinking water.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The deleterious environmental impact of the mine will hardly be offset by economic benefits. The project&rsquo;s economists estimate that it contains ore worth more than 20 billion USD, of which the country will receive only 1.2-1.7% in taxes and fees and suffer severe, long term environmental problems costing USD 6.5 million. So far, there is no independent economic analysis of the potential environmental damage.<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftn17\" name=\"_ftnref17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \"></a>As currently planned, construction of the ore processing plant and exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine will breach 77 laws, as well as a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biodiversity, the UN Convention on Combating Desertification and the European Landscape Convention. However, the Government has designated the Teghut mining operation a high priority for its contribution to &ldquo;economic development,&rdquo; reflecting its short-term perspective, as well as its corrupt practices. It also reveals its lack of expertise, respect for the law, care for the environment and interest in pursuing a long-term sustainable development model.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><strong>Conclusions</strong></p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">The rapid growth of some sectors of the economy, along with the lack of appropriate government management, have created serious environmental problems and challenges. To promote sustainability, the country must make environmental protection a priority.<br />Armenia has ratified many international conventions on issues such as biodiversity, climate change and desertification. These commitments, as well as the voice of civil society, have been largely ignored. Improving environmental governance will require effective implementation and enforcement of existing environmental laws, as well as greater transparency and public participation in policy-making. This, in turn, will require a concerted effort to increase popular awareness of environmental issues.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \">&nbsp;</p><div><div id=\"ftn1\"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[1]</a>&nbsp;Full text available from:&nbsp;<em>&lt;</em>www.nature-ic.am/res/pdfs/documents/strategic/SDP_01_eng_20081030.pdf&gt;</div><div id=\"ftn2\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[2]</a>&nbsp;Index Mundi,&nbsp;<em>Armenia</em><em>&nbsp;GDP real growth rate (%)</em>, (2010), &lt;www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=am&amp;v=66&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn3\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[3]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn4\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[4]</a>&nbsp;Edita Vardgesyan,&nbsp;<em>The exploitation of the Teghut Copper-Molybdenum Mining (Republic of Armenia) and the Concept of Sustainable Development</em>, (2009),<em>&lt;</em>www.cerdi.org/uploads/sfCmsContent/html/323/Vardgesyan.pdf&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn5\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[5]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), &lt;www.pf-armenia.org/fileadmin/pfa_uploads/PFA_Environmental_Report.pdf&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn6\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[6]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn7\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[7]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn8\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[8]</a>&nbsp;This Month in Armenia,&nbsp;<em>Car emissions causing more respiratory problems in Yerevan</em>, (July 2009), &lt;<a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/thismonth.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/july-09-car-emissions-causing-more-respiratory-problems\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">thismonth.wordpress.com</a>..</p></div><div id=\"ftn9\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[9]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn10\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[10]</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Marianna Grigoryan, &ldquo;Armenia: Environmental Change Spurs Respiratory Diseases,&rdquo; (19 October&nbsp; 2006), &lt;www.eurasianet.org/departments/environment/articles/eav102006.shtml&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn11\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref11\" name=\"_ftn11\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[11]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn12\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref12\" name=\"_ftn12\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[12]</a>&nbsp;Ibid</p></div><div id=\"ftn13\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref13\" name=\"_ftn13\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[13]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Armenia&gt; and &lt;www.armeniatree.org/environews/enews_hakobyan070707.htm&gt;.</p></div><div id=\"ftn14\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref14\" name=\"_ftn14\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[14]</a>&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia,&nbsp;<em>The state of Armenia&rsquo;s environment</em>, (2010), op cit.</p></div><div id=\"ftn15\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref15\" name=\"_ftn15\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[15]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div><div id=\"ftn16\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref16\" name=\"_ftn16\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[16]</a>&nbsp;See: &lt;www.foe.org/pdf/Teghut_Fact_Sheet.pdf&gt; and &lt; news.mongabay.com/2008/0129-hance_armenia.html&gt;</p></div><div id=\"ftn17\"><p style=\"margin-top: 0.7em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; \"><a href=\"http://www.socialwatch.org/node/13968#_ftnref17\" name=\"_ftn17\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(120, 100, 72); \">[17]</a>&nbsp;Ibid.</p></div></div></div></div><div id=\"ARfooter\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: 14px; padding-right: 0em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 22px; margin-top: 0.5em; 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('node', 'news', 0, 401, 741, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><h2 style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; \"><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/\">The Armenian Weekly</a></h2><div>February 21, 2012</div><div>&nbsp;</div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Young Armenians concerned with environmental threats in Armenia created the Save Teghut civic initiative in Nov. 2007. Many participated in successful actions to save Kacharan, in the Syunik region, from harmful mining and Trchkan waterfall from destruction. These activists are not affiliated with any organization or political party and they insist on covering their expenses either through their own means or donations from the general public. While they started with about 20 activists, today Save Teghut has over 6,000 followers on Facebook, and many more supporters in the regions of Armenia without internet access. Groups who support the Save Teghut movement have so far been established in Moscow, Germany, and Los Angeles.</p><div class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" id=\"attachment_18003\" style=\"margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245); display: inline; float: left; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; max-width: 460px !important; width: 360px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 122, 201); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><img alt=\"1x1.trans Save Teghut Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia\" class=\"wp-image-18003 \" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" height=\"210\" src=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; height: auto; max-width: 460px; display: inline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \" title=\"save-teghut\" width=\"360\" /></a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. (Photo by Photolure)</p></div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. It aims to raise awareness among Armenians of the environmental dangers looming over our country, as well as the irresponsible, illegal, and secret activities of mining companies in collaboration with the oligarchic system in Armenia. The group works to protect the ecosystem and promote public health by ensuring that Armenia&rsquo;s water, air, and land are clean. In the Teghut forest, specifically, the civic initiative demands the end of the mining project.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Unfortunately, environmental restrictions are not enforced in Armenia for most of the major mining operations, which results in damages to the ecosystem of the surrounding areas. Often corruption originates at the stage of issuing licenses and acquiring permits. Corruption in the forest sector is widely believed to be associated with businesses sponsored by high-level government officials. The government&rsquo;s actions have been insufficient to stop the destruction of Armenia&rsquo;s forests as a result of illegal logging. In addition, the government has recently reclassified many forest areas without due justification, and has allocated them to local communities or private individuals.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), whose majority shareholder is the Vallex F.M. corporation, has been awarded a 25-year exploitation license by the Armenian government to extract the copper and molybdenum ore buried in the Teghut mountains. ACP is in the process of developing an open pit mine. The amount of forested land the company plans to clear cut is around 1,500 hectares (approximately 650 football fields). Several rivers will be polluted or dry up. It takes around 200 years for a forest to recover. Armenia has lost 7-12 percent of its forests since 1998.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Furthermore, villagers relate that they received miserable remuneration. One villager stated that he applied to the mining company for a job and was offered a salary of 60,000 AMD ($155) per month for very hard work, and had to decline the job offer. He complained that parcels of lands were announced as eminent domain and were bought by the mining company for 38 AMD ($0.9 cents) per 1 square meter. No effort has been made by the government to develop agriculture or to invest in the area.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Since November 2007, environmentalists have tried to halt the further development of copper and molybdenum processing near the village of Teghut in the Lori province, which, they say, will irrevocably damage the ecology and surrounding villages. Twenty-five years from now, when the Vallex Corporation finishes mining in the region, the arable and surrounding land will no longer be fertile or usable.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The health risks of mining are quite apparent, especially in Armenia where no regulations, safety standards, and monitoring are implemented. Irresponsible mining in Armenia has created devastating health problems for the population, including unnaturally high rates of birth defects, developmental defects, and chromosomal disorders accompanied by increased respiratory diseases, allergies, and other health problems.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia&mdash;including those related to water resources, mining, forests, and protected areas&mdash;are closely associated with corruption. The exploitation of natural resources takes place without due justification of decisions and with restricted public access to information. Furthermore, decisions can typically be traced to special interest groups and are made without due attention to the declared long-term sustainable development goals of the government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Zhoghovurd Daily, for example, reported that a 148-hectare forest was allocated to Arab Sheikh Mohammed Musallam by Armenian Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, but in return for what, it asked.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The construction of the ore processing plant, as another example, and the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine in Teghut will ostensibly result in a breach of 77 Armenian laws and a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, such as the UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. In 2009, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ACCC/C/2009/43) condemned the decisions of the government of Armenia regarding its exploitation of the mine in Teghut and adjacent territory since it does not comply with the Aarhus Convention.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The 44 members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe have strongly condemned Armenia&rsquo;s continuing violations of international obligations and demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation be considered invalid. On Jan. 25, 2012, the members also signed a declaration condemning the flagrant human rights violations associated with the exploitation, and demanded a stop to mining in Teghut forest.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Armenia&rsquo;s laws do not allow the exploitation of areas populated by endangered species, nor do they allow damage to archeological sites. Teghut forest houses 19 animal and plant species that are part of Armenia&rsquo;s Red Book of Endangered Species, and an archeological team from Armenia&rsquo;s Academy of Sciences uncovered many artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age and many other Christian-era monuments. If mining continues, these will be completely lost.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists, energized by the results from Trchkan and Kacharan, have undertaken the defense of the Teghut forest. On Jan. 15, around 250 people visited the area in a hiking action initiative to familiarize people with the issue. Media coverage was significant, and the Teghut issue was featured in articles, TV interviews, and YouTube clips. The country has finally taken notice of the damage created by the ACP/Vallex group and the environmental dangers awaiting us. Irreversible environmental damage, unfortunately, has already resulted from the lack of strict mining regulations, coupled with barbaric exploitation and corruption, as government and interested parties have proved they are only concerned with making a profit.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists were able to energize the Armenian youth in Moscow and many have extended their support. The Save Teghut movement is proud of this achievement and is in the process of involving diasporan youth into the civic movement in Armenia. The &ldquo;Shant&rdquo; AYF Western U.S. region has already been active in supporting the movement, raising awareness among diasporans, and extending various skills to support the group. Save Teghut activists have contacted German environmental activists and groups and are working in unison to raise awareness in international organizations about the ecological and environmental disasters in Armenia.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The young activists ask that Armenians in the diaspora create support groups and pressure the Armenian government to obey the laws and environmental conventions it has signed, and to condemn its harmful mining policy. Soon, Save Teghut will launch its website and an online petition. Donations to the group are helpful to organize future initiatives and disseminate information. The group is also appealing to businesses in the diaspora to look into investment options in the Teghut region, so that they can help protect the eco-system of the forest and the fundamental rights of the local population to live in a healthy and safe environment.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 401, 742, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/\">The Armenian Weekly</a></p><div>February 21, 2012</div><div>&nbsp;</div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Young Armenians concerned with environmental threats in Armenia created the Save Teghut civic initiative in Nov. 2007. Many participated in successful actions to save Kacharan, in the Syunik region, from harmful mining and Trchkan waterfall from destruction. These activists are not affiliated with any organization or political party and they insist on covering their expenses either through their own means or donations from the general public. While they started with about 20 activists, today Save Teghut has over 6,000 followers on Facebook, and many more supporters in the regions of Armenia without internet access. Groups who support the Save Teghut movement have so far been established in Moscow, Germany, and Los Angeles.</p><div class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" id=\"attachment_18003\" style=\"margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245); display: inline; float: left; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; max-width: 460px !important; width: 360px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 122, 201); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><img alt=\"1x1.trans Save Teghut Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia\" class=\"wp-image-18003 \" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" height=\"210\" src=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; height: auto; max-width: 460px; display: inline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \" title=\"save-teghut\" width=\"360\" /></a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. (Photo by Photolure)</p></div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. It aims to raise awareness among Armenians of the environmental dangers looming over our country, as well as the irresponsible, illegal, and secret activities of mining companies in collaboration with the oligarchic system in Armenia. The group works to protect the ecosystem and promote public health by ensuring that Armenia&rsquo;s water, air, and land are clean. In the Teghut forest, specifically, the civic initiative demands the end of the mining project.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Unfortunately, environmental restrictions are not enforced in Armenia for most of the major mining operations, which results in damages to the ecosystem of the surrounding areas. Often corruption originates at the stage of issuing licenses and acquiring permits. Corruption in the forest sector is widely believed to be associated with businesses sponsored by high-level government officials. The government&rsquo;s actions have been insufficient to stop the destruction of Armenia&rsquo;s forests as a result of illegal logging. In addition, the government has recently reclassified many forest areas without due justification, and has allocated them to local communities or private individuals.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), whose majority shareholder is the Vallex F.M. corporation, has been awarded a 25-year exploitation license by the Armenian government to extract the copper and molybdenum ore buried in the Teghut mountains. ACP is in the process of developing an open pit mine. The amount of forested land the company plans to clear cut is around 1,500 hectares (approximately 650 football fields). Several rivers will be polluted or dry up. It takes around 200 years for a forest to recover. Armenia has lost 7-12 percent of its forests since 1998.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Furthermore, villagers relate that they received miserable remuneration. One villager stated that he applied to the mining company for a job and was offered a salary of 60,000 AMD ($155) per month for very hard work, and had to decline the job offer. He complained that parcels of lands were announced as eminent domain and were bought by the mining company for 38 AMD ($0.9 cents) per 1 square meter. No effort has been made by the government to develop agriculture or to invest in the area.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Since November 2007, environmentalists have tried to halt the further development of copper and molybdenum processing near the village of Teghut in the Lori province, which, they say, will irrevocably damage the ecology and surrounding villages. Twenty-five years from now, when the Vallex Corporation finishes mining in the region, the arable and surrounding land will no longer be fertile or usable.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The health risks of mining are quite apparent, especially in Armenia where no regulations, safety standards, and monitoring are implemented. Irresponsible mining in Armenia has created devastating health problems for the population, including unnaturally high rates of birth defects, developmental defects, and chromosomal disorders accompanied by increased respiratory diseases, allergies, and other health problems.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia&mdash;including those related to water resources, mining, forests, and protected areas&mdash;are closely associated with corruption. The exploitation of natural resources takes place without due justification of decisions and with restricted public access to information. Furthermore, decisions can typically be traced to special interest groups and are made without due attention to the declared long-term sustainable development goals of the government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Zhoghovurd Daily, for example, reported that a 148-hectare forest was allocated to Arab Sheikh Mohammed Musallam by Armenian Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, but in return for what, it asked.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The construction of the ore processing plant, as another example, and the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine in Teghut will ostensibly result in a breach of 77 Armenian laws and a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, such as the UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. In 2009, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ACCC/C/2009/43) condemned the decisions of the government of Armenia regarding its exploitation of the mine in Teghut and adjacent territory since it does not comply with the Aarhus Convention.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The 44 members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe have strongly condemned Armenia&rsquo;s continuing violations of international obligations and demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation be considered invalid. On Jan. 25, 2012, the members also signed a declaration condemning the flagrant human rights violations associated with the exploitation, and demanded a stop to mining in Teghut forest.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Armenia&rsquo;s laws do not allow the exploitation of areas populated by endangered species, nor do they allow damage to archeological sites. Teghut forest houses 19 animal and plant species that are part of Armenia&rsquo;s Red Book of Endangered Species, and an archeological team from Armenia&rsquo;s Academy of Sciences uncovered many artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age and many other Christian-era monuments. If mining continues, these will be completely lost.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists, energized by the results from Trchkan and Kacharan, have undertaken the defense of the Teghut forest. On Jan. 15, around 250 people visited the area in a hiking action initiative to familiarize people with the issue. Media coverage was significant, and the Teghut issue was featured in articles, TV interviews, and YouTube clips. The country has finally taken notice of the damage created by the ACP/Vallex group and the environmental dangers awaiting us. Irreversible environmental damage, unfortunately, has already resulted from the lack of strict mining regulations, coupled with barbaric exploitation and corruption, as government and interested parties have proved they are only concerned with making a profit.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists were able to energize the Armenian youth in Moscow and many have extended their support. The Save Teghut movement is proud of this achievement and is in the process of involving diasporan youth into the civic movement in Armenia. The &ldquo;Shant&rdquo; AYF Western U.S. region has already been active in supporting the movement, raising awareness among diasporans, and extending various skills to support the group. Save Teghut activists have contacted German environmental activists and groups and are working in unison to raise awareness in international organizations about the ecological and environmental disasters in Armenia.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The young activists ask that Armenians in the diaspora create support groups and pressure the Armenian government to obey the laws and environmental conventions it has signed, and to condemn its harmful mining policy. Soon, Save Teghut will launch its website and an online petition. Donations to the group are helpful to organize future initiatives and disseminate information. The group is also appealing to businesses in the diaspora to look into investment options in the Teghut region, so that they can help protect the eco-system of the forest and the fundamental rights of the local population to live in a healthy and safe environment.</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'news', 0, 401, 743, 'und', 0, '<p><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/02/21/save-teghut-redefines-environmental-activism-in-armenia/\">The Armenian Weekly</a></p><div>February 21, 2012</div><div>&nbsp;</div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Young Armenians concerned with environmental threats in Armenia created the Save Teghut civic initiative in Nov. 2007. Many participated in successful actions to save Kacharan, in the Syunik region, from harmful mining and Trchkan waterfall from destruction. These activists are not affiliated with any organization or political party and they insist on covering their expenses either through their own means or donations from the general public. While they started with about 20 activists, today Save Teghut has over 6,000 followers on Facebook, and many more supporters in the regions of Armenia without internet access. Groups who support the Save Teghut movement have so far been established in Moscow, Germany, and Los Angeles.</p><div class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" id=\"attachment_18003\" style=\"margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245); display: inline; float: left; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; max-width: 460px !important; width: 360px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><a href=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 122, 201); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \"><img alt=\"1x1.trans Save Teghut Redefines Environmental Activism in Armenia\" class=\"wp-image-18003 \" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" height=\"210\" src=\"http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/save-teghut.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; height: auto; max-width: 460px; display: inline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \" title=\"save-teghut\" width=\"360\" /></a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. (Photo by Photolure)</p></div><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in Armenia. It aims to raise awareness among Armenians of the environmental dangers looming over our country, as well as the irresponsible, illegal, and secret activities of mining companies in collaboration with the oligarchic system in Armenia. The group works to protect the ecosystem and promote public health by ensuring that Armenia&rsquo;s water, air, and land are clean. In the Teghut forest, specifically, the civic initiative demands the end of the mining project.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Unfortunately, environmental restrictions are not enforced in Armenia for most of the major mining operations, which results in damages to the ecosystem of the surrounding areas. Often corruption originates at the stage of issuing licenses and acquiring permits. Corruption in the forest sector is widely believed to be associated with businesses sponsored by high-level government officials. The government&rsquo;s actions have been insufficient to stop the destruction of Armenia&rsquo;s forests as a result of illegal logging. In addition, the government has recently reclassified many forest areas without due justification, and has allocated them to local communities or private individuals.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), whose majority shareholder is the Vallex F.M. corporation, has been awarded a 25-year exploitation license by the Armenian government to extract the copper and molybdenum ore buried in the Teghut mountains. ACP is in the process of developing an open pit mine. The amount of forested land the company plans to clear cut is around 1,500 hectares (approximately 650 football fields). Several rivers will be polluted or dry up. It takes around 200 years for a forest to recover. Armenia has lost 7-12 percent of its forests since 1998.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Furthermore, villagers relate that they received miserable remuneration. One villager stated that he applied to the mining company for a job and was offered a salary of 60,000 AMD ($155) per month for very hard work, and had to decline the job offer. He complained that parcels of lands were announced as eminent domain and were bought by the mining company for 38 AMD ($0.9 cents) per 1 square meter. No effort has been made by the government to develop agriculture or to invest in the area.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Since November 2007, environmentalists have tried to halt the further development of copper and molybdenum processing near the village of Teghut in the Lori province, which, they say, will irrevocably damage the ecology and surrounding villages. Twenty-five years from now, when the Vallex Corporation finishes mining in the region, the arable and surrounding land will no longer be fertile or usable.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The health risks of mining are quite apparent, especially in Armenia where no regulations, safety standards, and monitoring are implemented. Irresponsible mining in Armenia has created devastating health problems for the population, including unnaturally high rates of birth defects, developmental defects, and chromosomal disorders accompanied by increased respiratory diseases, allergies, and other health problems.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Many environmental problems in Armenia&mdash;including those related to water resources, mining, forests, and protected areas&mdash;are closely associated with corruption. The exploitation of natural resources takes place without due justification of decisions and with restricted public access to information. Furthermore, decisions can typically be traced to special interest groups and are made without due attention to the declared long-term sustainable development goals of the government.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The Zhoghovurd Daily, for example, reported that a 148-hectare forest was allocated to Arab Sheikh Mohammed Musallam by Armenian Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, but in return for what, it asked.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The construction of the ore processing plant, as another example, and the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine in Teghut will ostensibly result in a breach of 77 Armenian laws and a range of international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of Armenia, such as the UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. In 2009, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ACCC/C/2009/43) condemned the decisions of the government of Armenia regarding its exploitation of the mine in Teghut and adjacent territory since it does not comply with the Aarhus Convention.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The 44 members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe have strongly condemned Armenia&rsquo;s continuing violations of international obligations and demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation be considered invalid. On Jan. 25, 2012, the members also signed a declaration condemning the flagrant human rights violations associated with the exploitation, and demanded a stop to mining in Teghut forest.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Armenia&rsquo;s laws do not allow the exploitation of areas populated by endangered species, nor do they allow damage to archeological sites. Teghut forest houses 19 animal and plant species that are part of Armenia&rsquo;s Red Book of Endangered Species, and an archeological team from Armenia&rsquo;s Academy of Sciences uncovered many artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age and many other Christian-era monuments. If mining continues, these will be completely lost.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists, energized by the results from Trchkan and Kacharan, have undertaken the defense of the Teghut forest. On Jan. 15, around 250 people visited the area in a hiking action initiative to familiarize people with the issue. Media coverage was significant, and the Teghut issue was featured in articles, TV interviews, and YouTube clips. The country has finally taken notice of the damage created by the ACP/Vallex group and the environmental dangers awaiting us. Irreversible environmental damage, unfortunately, has already resulted from the lack of strict mining regulations, coupled with barbaric exploitation and corruption, as government and interested parties have proved they are only concerned with making a profit.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">Activists were able to energize the Armenian youth in Moscow and many have extended their support. The Save Teghut movement is proud of this achievement and is in the process of involving diasporan youth into the civic movement in Armenia. The &ldquo;Shant&rdquo; AYF Western U.S. region has already been active in supporting the movement, raising awareness among diasporans, and extending various skills to support the group. Save Teghut activists have contacted German environmental activists and groups and are working in unison to raise awareness in international organizations about the ecological and environmental disasters in Armenia.</p><p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; \">The young activists ask that Armenians in the diaspora create support groups and pressure the Armenian government to obey the laws and environmental conventions it has signed, and to condemn its harmful mining policy. Soon, Save Teghut will launch its website and an online petition. Donations to the group are helpful to organize future initiatives and disseminate information. The group is also appealing to businesses in the diaspora to look into investment options in the Teghut region, so that they can help protect the eco-system of the forest and the fundamental rights of the local population to live in a healthy and safe environment.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
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('node', 'site_page', 0, 407, 749, 'und', 0, '<p>Hayk Sargsyan, Johns Hopkins University Arnenia&#39;s Investment Climate and Diaspora&#39;s participation in development policies /Users/rafihovsepian/Desktop/Sarksyan_PFA.pdf</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 457, 800, 'und', 0, 'Vladimir Airapetian is a research associate at the National Aeronautics and Space (NASA) and is a faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Airapetian is an active member of the International Astronomical Union. Since 2008, Vladimir Airapetian has been a research associate professor in the Department of Computational and Data Sciences at George Mason University.\r\n ', '', 'filtered_html'),
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('node', 'profile', 0, 475, 818, 'und', 0, 'Stephan Astourian is Executive Director of the Armenian Studies Program and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at the University of California-Berkeley. Prior to and after earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Astourian has taught at California State University, Long Beach, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and UCLA. He has been at UC Berkeley since the fall of 1998. Dr. Astourian has published a number of articles about the Armenian Genocide, Armenian Ottoman and Azerbaijani history and politics, and current issues relating to Armenians in the homeland and the Diaspora. He was the past editor of \"JUSUR: The UCLA Journal of Middle Eastern Studies\". He is a member of the Academic Board of the Zoryan Institute, of the Advisory Committee of the Caucasus and Central Asia Program (Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, U.C. Berkeley), and of the Center for Contemporary Armenian Studies (Paris, France).', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 476, 819, 'und', 0, 'AnnaLee Saxenian is professor and dean of UC Berkeley\'s School of Information and has a joint faculty appointment with the Department of City and Regional Planning. Professor Saxenian has made a career of studying regional economics and the conditions under which people, ideas, and geographies combine and connect into hubs of economic activity. She is a member of Board of Advisors at the National Science Foundation, and Directorate for Social, and Behavioral & Economic Sciences since 2009. She served as a consultant at the Center on Transnational Corporations of United Nations in New York. Professor Saxenian holds a Ph.D. in political science from MIT, a master\'s in regional planning from UC Berkeley, and a B.A. in economics from Williams College. ', '', 'filtered_html'),
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('node', 'document', 0, 485, 870, 'und', 0, '<p>PFA&rsquo;s Special Report on &ldquo;Armenian&#39;s 2012 Parliamentary Election,&rdquo; provides an overview of political-economic and legislative developments in the period preceding the 2012 election and summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome. It conducts a range of statistical tests to provide evidence of election fraud and to point out the main beneficiary of these corrupt practices. The findings suggest that the election fraud in Armenia during the 2012 Parliamentary Election was not gone but instead transformed into less obvious and observable forms, while remaining largely outcome-neutral, a phenomenon that is becoming common in the region as well as other countries with authoritarian leaderships. Finally, the Report offers recommendations to the opposition, civil society, foreign observers, and the Diaspora.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/sites/default/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012.12%20ARM.pdf\"><strong>Armenian version of the Report</strong></a><strong></strong></p>', 'PFA’s Special Report on “Armenian\'s 2012 Parliamentary Election,” provides an overview of political-economic and legislative developments in the period preceding the 2012 election and summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders to the election outcome.', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 873, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 874, 'und', 0, '<p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 875, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 876, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 877, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 878, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 900, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<strong><a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a></strong>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 901, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<strong><a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">Armenia&#39;s 2012 Parliamentary Election</a></strong>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting)&nbsp;is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 902, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<strong><a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">Armenia&#39;s 2012 Parliamentary Election</a></strong>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting). Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances. It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 903, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report,&nbsp;&ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo;&nbsp;provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting). Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances. It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 904, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report,&nbsp;&ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/document/armenias-2012-parliamentary-election\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo;&nbsp;provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting). Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances. It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 905, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report,&nbsp;&ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012-1.12.pdf\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo;&nbsp;provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting). Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances. It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 906, 'und', 0, '<div>For Immediate Release</div><div>December 12, 2012</div><div>Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div>Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan&mdash;Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)&mdash;a U.S.-based international think tank and advocacy organization&mdash;true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report,&nbsp;&ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012-1.12.pdf\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo;&nbsp;provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders&mdash;the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups&mdash;to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting). Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances. It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan,pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&ldquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally-accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p style=\"text-align: center; \"># # #</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 908, 'und', 0, '<p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\"><div style=\"text-align: left; \">For Immediate Release</div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">December 12, 2012</div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p align=\"center\"><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan &mdash; Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) &mdash; a U.S. based international think tank and advocacy organization &mdash; true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012-1.12.pdf\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders &mdash; the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups &mdash; to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said, &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting),&nbsp;which is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan, pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&rdquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p><p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong>is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 909, 'und', 0, '<div style=\"text-align: left; \">For Immediate Release</div><div style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\"><div style=\"text-align: left; \">December 12, 2012</div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p align=\"center\"><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan &mdash; Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) &mdash; a U.S. based international think tank and advocacy organization &mdash; true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012-1.12.pdf\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders &mdash; the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups &mdash; to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said, &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting),&nbsp;which is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan, pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&rdquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p><p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong>is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 486, 910, 'und', 0, '<div style=\"text-align: left; \">For Immediate Release</div><div style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\"><div style=\"text-align: left; \">December 12, 2012</div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Contact: <a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a></div><div style=\"text-align: left; \">Web: <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p align=\"center\"><strong>AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA PUT A NEW FACE ON ELECTION FRAUD</strong></p><p>Washington/Los Angeles/Yerevan &mdash; Earlier this year, under mounting pressure by the international community and civil society, the government of the Republic of Armenia took measures to reduce fraud and manipulation going into the 2012 parliamentary election. Yet, according to a special report released today by Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) &mdash; a U.S. based international think tank and advocacy organization &mdash; true election reform in Armenia has, once again, been hijacked, only this time by even more inventive and well-concealed methods of falsification.</p><p>The report, &ldquo;<a href=\"http://pfa-dr.ectostarpark.com/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA%20-%20Report%2012-1.12.pdf\">The Armenian Parliamentary Election of 2012</a>,&rdquo; provides an in-depth analysis of the political-economic and legislative developments leading up to the 2012 election. It also summarizes the reactions of key stakeholders &mdash; the opposition parties, foreign observers, and local civil society groups &mdash; to the election outcome.</p><p>What particularly sets the report apart from other analyses, however, is the range of statistical tests, conducted by professional analysts, which support stakeholder reactions. These tests not only yielded ample evidence of persistent and strategic election fraud but also pinpointed the beneficiary of such corrupt practices, namely the ruling party.</p><p>Commenting on the report&rsquo;s findings Adam Hug, the Policy Director at London-based Foreign Policy Centre, said, &ldquo;This important and detailed report shows that Armenia still has a long-way to go to before its elections can be called free and fair. In particular, the results of the statistical analysis&nbsp;would seem to indicate that the election authorities successfully managed to adapt to the changes in laws and outside pressures (via&nbsp;illegal use of identities of Armenian citizens who have emigrated and violations in vote counting),&nbsp;which is&nbsp;deeply concerning. Armenia will have to improve its election processes if future results are to command the confidence of the international community and most importantly the Armenian public.&rdquo;</p><p>PFA Senior Fellow, Armine Ishkanian of the London School of Economics, went on to say that &ldquo;The growing sophistication of fraud techniques and mechanisms, which are artfully concealed, make it difficult for outside observers to cite and document specific instances.&nbsp; It is electoral fraud 2.0. The authors of this report have had to bring to bear all the tools of research and analysis available to shed light on these techniques and provide stakeholders with statistical back-up that election fraud is alive and well in Armenia. The question is, what are the prospects for the forthcoming presidential elections early next year?&ldquo;</p><p>PFA Executive Board member and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Edgar Martirosyan, pointed out that achieving free and fair elections is not an end in itself. &ldquo;Better elections are likely to result in better governance and stronger social cohesion,&rdquo; he asserted. &ldquo;And it is an internationally accepted conclusion that good governance is the primary driver of economic development and progress in developing countries like Armenia.&rdquo;</p><p align=\"center\"># # #</p><p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong>is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This special Election Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available at <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/reports\">www.pf-armenia.org/reports</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>', '', 'full_html');
