Month: September 2013

“PARADJANOV” NOMMED AS UKRAINE’S OSCAR ENTRY (VIDEO)

September 13, 2013 – 13:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova’s”Paradjanov”
has been nominated as Ukraine’s submission for Best Foreign Language
Film at the Academy Awards.

The film was picked among other contenders: Kira Muratova’s “Eternal
Return” and Akhtem Seitablayev’s “Haytarma.”

As Serge Avedikian told PanARMENIAN.Net Armenia too could have
nominated the film for an Oscar award.

As he further noted, a Paris premiere of the film due early 2014 in
the focus of attention with the film to participate in several other
film festivals in Georgia, Germany, and France.

“Paradjanov” stars Avedikian as a brilliant director Sergey Paradjanov,
whose nonconformist behavior conflicts with Soviet System.

Parajanov’s eccentricities land him in jail, where his indestructible
love for beauty allows him to withstand the years of imprisonment,
isolation and oblivion.

“Parajanov,” co-produced with Ukraine, France, Georgia and Armenia,
was named the best feature film at Odessa Festival.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be
presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at
Hollywood & Highland Center.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF-D TO REMAIN PRINCIPLED FORCE AFTER MP APPOINTED AMBASSADOR

15:12 13.09.13

The appointment of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D) parliamentary group member Vahan Hovhannisyan as ambassador
to Germany will not cause any damage to the ARF-D, and it will remain
the most principled political force, Head of the ARF-D group Armen
Rustamyan told journalists on Friday.

Cooperation with authorities, especially in foreign policy, does not
mean anything. “Neither the ARF-D nor Vahan Hovannisyan will suffer,”
he said.

Armenian must be involved in the new processes, and the ARF-D could
not be indifferent to the country’s destiny.

“We have to implement a more serious and better-thought-out program
of action so as we do not commit a historic blunder. Our priority
task is to hand down an area of 42,000 square kilometers to future
generations,” Rustamyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARGENTINEAN ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN EDUARDO EURNEKIAN – UNDP NATIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

15:01 13.09.2013

Eduardo Eurnekian

For his instrumental role in supporting sustainable development in
Armenia, for his efforts in the country aimed at reducing poverty,
bridging regional disparities, creating jobs and improving the quality
of services, today the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Armenia appointed Eduardo Eurnekian, a prominent Argentinean-Armenian
businessman and one of the largest investors in Armenia, as its first
ever National Goodwill Ambassador.

“I’m very excited to get involved with UNDP’s work and contribute by
using my position to promote UNDP’s messages and raise the awareness of
the issues they are working with, such as poverty reduction, promotion
of democratic reform agenda and sustainable environmental management,”
said Eduardo Eurnekian.

During its twenty-year presence in Armenia, UNDP came to a firm
conclusion that Armenian Diaspora, with its vast networks and
expertise, can facilitate and bolster national socio-economic
development projects, thus contributing to the country’s overall
development. The partnership with Mr. Eurnekian and his Fruitfull
Armenia Foundation (FAF) has a long history and it materialized in
May 2012 when UNDP and FAF signed a cost-sharing agreement to support
agricultural and micro-business activities in Baghramyan, Arevadasht,
Artamet and Myasnikyan communities of Armavir region. This partnership
is aimed at promoting the economic revitalization of the micro-region
through creation of farmers’ associations, improvement of the economic
rural infrastructure – a key element for rural poverty alleviation,
establishment of micro food processing facilities, and return of
non-cultivated arable lands into the sowing cycle. The total cost
of the “Armenian Village Revival: A Drive for Employment and Income
Generation” project is USD 230,000 from which FAF’s share is USD
204,000.

“It is an honor and pleasure for UNDP to appoint Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian
as a National Goodwill Ambassador. We have a successful experience
of partnership with Mr. Eurnekian and the Fruitfull Armenia Foundation.

UNDP looks forward to working with Mr. Eurnekian as a National
Goodwill Ambassador and use his vast networks and further mobilize
Diaspora efforts to fight poverty and improve the wellbeing of Armenian
citizens,” said Claire Medina, UNDP Resident Representative a.i.

Eduardo Eurnekian enjoys a worldwide reputation. In August 2012,
in his capacity as Honorary Chairman of the International Raoul
Wallenberg Foundation, Eduardo Eurnekian met the UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon. The UN highly praised his relentless work to preserve and
promote educational activities of the Foundation globally. In May 2012,
he was awarded the prestigious “Business for Peace -2012” prize by a
special commission, consisting also of Nobel Prize winners, for his
business achievements, while acting in an ethically responsible way.

Mr. Eurnekian was decorated by “Saint Gregory Illuminator Order” medal,
received from the Government of Armenia (2001), “Man of the Year”
distinction, received from the Armenian General Benevolent Union in
New York (2010), and “Knights of Holy Etchmiadzin” order, received
from the Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness Garegin II (2011).

ORACLE TO ESTABLISH AN EXCELLENCE CENTER IN ARMENIA

15:20 13.09.2013

Hasmik Dilanyan
Public Radio of Armenia

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Armenian
Government and the American Oracle Corporation. The document was signed
by the head of Staff of RA Government, Minister Vache Gabrielyan and
Alain Blanc, Senior Vice President of the Oracle Corporation.

Under the MoU Oracle will provide assistance to Armenia within the
framework of its educational programs. It also envisages assessment
and expansion of application of Oracle Solutions in the state bodies
of Armenia, establishment of excellence centers in Armenia, etc.

Oracle’s Senior Vice President Blanc expressed confidence that the
American company’s entry to the market will be successful, which will,
in turn, stimulate various innovation programs.

“The development of IT sector id among the priorities of the Armenian
Government,” Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan said. “We register a 15-20%
growth in the field and we are confident that the bilateral cooperation
will give new impetus to the further development of the UT sphere
our country,” he added.

Agreement on cooperation between the Armenian side and Oracle was
reached still on December 7, 2012 during a meeting between Prime
Minister Sargsyan and heads of the American corporation in Frankfurt,
Germany.

The Oracle Company was founded in 1977 in the United States. The
company has more than 390,000 customers and its software products
are presented in more than 145 countries.

ARMENIAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY OF ROMANIA NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PRIZE

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

14:35, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Economy and Commerce
of Romania Varujan Vosganian has been nominated for the Nobel Prize
in Literature. As reports “Armenpress” citing Mondo News website,
the Romanian-Armenian politician announced this modestly saying that
he is not aware of his victory.

The Armenian Minister made a note in his official website and expressed
his gratitude to all those people, who believe in his victory and
noted that Writers’ Unions of three countries nominated him for the
Prize. Among other things he emphasized: “This is an unprecedented
phenomenon for the Romanian political elite, when a Romanian statesmen
is being nominated for the Nobel Prize.”

Born in Craiova to a family of Armenian ethnicity, Vosganian studied
at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza High School in FocÅ~_ani. He then studied
Commerce at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (graduated 1982)
and Mathematics at the University of Bucharest (graduated 1991),
gaining a Ph.D. in economics in 1998.

In 1990, he became president of the Armenians’ Union of Romania
and he was twice (1990-1992 and 1992-1996) elected a member of the
Chamber of Deputies, and twice a Senator (1996-2000 and 2004-2008),
on the lists of the National Liberal Party.

Between 1996 and 2003, he was the leader of Uniunea Forţelor de
Dreapta, a small right wing liberal party, which was eventually merged
into the National Liberal Party.

Vosganian has written several books, especially on economics and
politics, but also fiction and poetry. He is a member of the Romanian
Writers’ Union, and since 2005, he has served as its vice president.

Vosganian is also a leading member of the Romanian Humorists’
Association.

In October 2006, he was nominated to be a member of the European
Commission after Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007.

In December 2006, he was named Minister of Economy and commerce.

a-nominated-for-nobel-prize.html

EU AND ARMENIA WILL DEVELOP NEW DIRECTIONS TO EXPAND TIES: STEFAN FULE

14:30, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The EU is ready to strengthen
relations with Armenia, but new directions must be developed for it.

The EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European
neighbourhood policy Å tefan Fule stated this at the course of the
press conference held within the 3rd informal meeting of the foreign
ministers of the Eastern Partnership states. As reports “Armenpress”
Å tefan Fule underscored: “I don’t think that we’ll manage to develop
new directions before the Vilnius Summit, notwithstanding we are
hopeful that we’ll find some wayouts at the course of the summit.”

Among other things he noted that Armenia will not be able to pre-sign
the agreement, for which the sides have been negotiating for many
years. In addition the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement
and European neighbourhood policy Å tefan Fule highlighted that the
Association Agreement is one package, which involves the agreement
on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and they cannot
be separated.

In the result of the negotiations on September 3, 2013 in Moscow
the Presidents Sargsyan and Putin confirmed the aim of the Republic
of Armenia and the Russian Federation in the direction of further
development of economic integration processes in the Eurasian
territory. In that context the President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan announced about the Armenia’s decision to join the
Customs Union and the necessity of implementation corresponding steps
for that aim and in future about participating in formation of the
Eurasian economic union. The President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin expressed his support to the abovementioned decision
of Armenia and informed about the readiness of the Russian side to
support the process.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ARMENIA’S FM HOSTS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE

12:24, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan received the Deputy
Secretary General for the External Action Service (EAS) Helga Schmidt.

The Press, Information, and Public Relations Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress”
that at the course of the meeting the interlocutors touched upon
the entire way passed from the launch of the Eastern Partnership
and stressed that during this period the Eastern partnership became
an efficient format of cooperation and an instrument of fostering
reforms in the member states.

Among other things the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan emphasized that Armenia is intended to
continue cooperation with the EU in all possible directions. In turn,
Helga Schmidt conveyed the greetings of the EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and expressed
her gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for the
reception. In addition she noted that the EU also wants to continue
the cooperation with Armenia.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

BAHGDASARYAN EXPLAINS EU OFFICIAL WHY DECISION OF JOINING CU WAS TAKEN

15:25 13/09/2013 ” Politics

While taking the decision of joining the Customs Union the national
interest of Armenia has been considered. National Security Council
Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan has told to EU Deputy Secretary General
for Political Affairs Helga Schmid.

According to the press service of the National Security Council
Arthur Baghdasaryan has attached importance to the continuation of
the dialogue with the EU and has noted that Armenia highly praises the
implementation and still ongoing reforms in Armenia by support of EU,
and from now on expects continuing cooperation in all key spheres.

From: A. Papazian

MEPS URGE RUSSIA TO RESPECT EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES’ RIGHT TO CHOOSE TIES WITH EU

13:44 13.09.2013
European Parliament, Russia

Russia must respect the right of the EU’s eastern neighbours to choose
whether to enter into association agreements with the EU, say MEPs
in a resolution passed on Thursday. For example, Russia must refrain
from exerting pressure, such as its recent trade sanctions against
Ukraine and Moldova and threats to Armenia, to dissuade them from
signing or initialling deals with the EU at this November’s Eastern
Partnership summit in Vilnius, adds the text.

MEPs deplore the unacceptable pressure that Russia has been putting
on EU Eastern Partnership countries as the Vilnius Eastern Partnership
Summit approaches. They call on it to respect the independent states’
sovereignty and not to intervene in their internal affairs, as required
by international law. Eastern Partnership countries have a right to
“build relations with partners of their choice”, they add.

The resolution firmly rejects the idea that the EU’s and Russia’s
relations with Eastern Partnership countries can be treated as a
“zero-sum game”. Instead of using the region’s frozen conflicts in
its geopolitical and economic interests, Russia should cooperate
and contribute constructively to the region’s economic and political
stability, adds the text.

MEPs also encourage the Eastern partnership countries to pursue
preparations for the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit and “not
succumb to pressure” from Russia. They reaffirm their strongest support
for initialling or signing the agreements at the Vilnius Summit with
those Eastern Partnership countries “which are ready and willing to
do so”.

The EU must take responsibility for defending the Eastern Partnership
countries that have been exposed to Russia’s “open, alarming and
escalating” pressures, say MEPs. They ask the European Commission and
the Council to come forward with “concrete and effective measures”
to support the partner countries in their European aspirations and
choices.

From: A. Papazian

AMERICAN EXPERT: NO EU COUNTERMEASURES SHOULD BE EXPECTED TOWARD ARMENIA

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. No countermeasures should be expected
in response to Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union, Professor
of Elliott School of International Affairs Cory Welt said, as quoted
by Novosti-Armenia.

After the negotiations of Armenian and Russian presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin on September 3, a statement was made
about Armenia’s intention to join the Russia-initiated customs union.

Before, Armenia was expected to sign an association agreement with
the EU. EU officials claim the two formats are incompatible.

Welt said he does not think Europe is specifically concerned over
the fact Armenia, finally, prefers to remain in the framework of the
Customs Union.

“Many may think it’s an incorrect choice, but this choice should be
made by Armenia”, Welt said in his online interview to Novosti-Armenia.

In responding the question how effective could be Yerevan’s accession
t the free trade zone with the EU and whether Armenia could find a
niche for its products in European markets, the expert said: “It is
a good question, which I can’t answer. Better or worse, but AA/DCFTA
is a deal concluded on basis of an offer”.

Welt also said he doesn’t know why Europe insists on the same format
for all countries.

Whether terms of the agreement are useful to applicant country or not
should be determined by economy experts and should be decided by the
country itself, Welt said.-0–

13:47 13.09.2013