Month: September 2013

“CROSS-STONES: THE ART OF ARMENIAN CROSS-STONES” EXHIBITION OPENS IN FRANCE

16:33 25.09.2013

On September 21, the “Cross-Stones: the Art of Armenian Cross-Stones”
exhibition opened in the French city of Compiegne.

The event was attended by Chairman of the Financial Committee of
the French Senate, Mayor of Compiegne and member of the Circle of
Friendship with Nagorno Karabakh Philippe Marini.

The opening ceremony followed the conference organized by the Permanent
Mission of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to France, during which the
book “Artsakh: a Garden of Arts and Traditions” was presented, and
scientist Tigran Kuyumjian introduced the art of miniature of Artsakh.

The exhibition will be open until October 10.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TOURS ARARAT AND VAYOTS DZOR PROVINCES

15:06, September 25, 2013

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited the village of Ayntap in
Ararat Provice today to inspect the construction of a new two storey
kindergarten that can accommodate 144 children.

The largest rural community in the province with a population of 8,700,
Ayntap has never had a kindergarten.

Up till now, preschoolers were forced to attend kindergarten in
Yerevan’s Noragavit district or the neighboring town of Masis.

After Ayntap, Sarsgyan visited the newly renovated cultural center
in the town of Vedi and took part in its official opening ceremonies.

The Armenian president then headed to Vayots Dzor where he visited the
RA Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography,
Yerevan State University’s Cork College, and the University of
California’s Gotsen Institute of Archaeology.

EXPERT: IMMOVABLE PROPERTY PRICES BELIEVED TO PLUMMET IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. Tatul Manaseryan, an economist and the
head of Alternative think tank, predict a sharp dive in real estate
prices in Armenia.

Speaking Wednesday at a news conference, he said that the market is
oversupplied now as construction continues in the country. “But prices
are paradoxically high,” he said. “That is why a very undesirable
situation may emerge here, and prices will plunge.”

Manaseryan said market supply should be in tune with demand, but
nothing like that is seen in Armenia.

“Shadow dealings are very commonplace in construction, and this give
grounds for concern,” the expert said.

The average price for one square meter in apartment blocks in Yerevan
reached 272,100 drams in this year’s July after rising 0.04% since
the same month a year before.

One square meter in detached houses in Yerevan cost 286,600 drams, on
average, in July 2013 against 275,600 in July 2012. ($1 – AMD 405.75).

—0— – See more at:

EXPERT: SLOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA MAY BE AMONG FACTORS DESTABILIZING REGION

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. Vladimir Lepekhin, head of the Eurasian
Economic Cooperation Institute, thinks that Armenia should reach an
impressive economic growth as soon as possible, not to lag behind
neighboring countries, particularly Azerbaijan.

Speaking Wednesday at a Moscow-Yerevan video bridge “Eurasian Project
for Armenia – Economic Advantages and Public Dialogue” he pointed out
Armenia’s slow economic growth as one of key factors destabilizing
things in the region. He said that Azerbaijan shows the highest growth
in post-soviet space.

“Armenia should reach a five-to-seven economic growth in two or three
years,” he was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as saying at the video bridge.

Lepekhin said that Russia may help Armenia in modernization of the
economy.

According to official statistical reports, Armenia’s GDP amounted to
AMD 3997.6 billion in 2012 as economic growth was recorded at 7.2%.

—0— – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED IN STRASBOURG

17:05 25.09.2013

A reception dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s independence
was held at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Armenia
at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the Council of Europe,
Ambassador Armen Papikyan offered opening remarks. He underlined that
“for the first time after gaining independence Armenia has assumed
the presidency of an organization like the Council of Europe, which
is kind of confirmation of the full-fledged statehood.”

One of the achievements of the 22-year-old independence is that Armenia
is able contribute to the joint efforts of further development and
reinforcement of the European value system and the settlement of
issues of pan-European importance.

Attending the event were high-ranking officials of the Council of
Europe, diplomats, representatives of the local-self government bodies
of Strasbourg, NGOs and the Armenian community.

From: Baghdasarian

MEETING OF ARMENIA’S THREE PRESIDENTS ALTERNATIVE TO REVOLUTION – GARNIK ISAGHULYAN

15:57 25.09.13

Chairman of the National Security party Garnik Isagulyan, who worked
with all the three presidents of Armenia, has arrived at the conclusion
that Armenia’s ruling elite has wasted the great potential and capital
it had during the first years of Armenia’s independence to ensure
its own reproduction.

According to him, the only way to salvation besides a revolution is
a meeting of the three presidents of Armenia to discuss the ways out
of the present situation.

“What do we have to do to accumulate national capital? We are faced
with most serious threats. Armenia has never seen a confrontation
between pro-western and pro-Russian forces, which is reflected in
society. It will lead to a split within society,” Isagulyan said.

He has decided to officially apply to the ex-presidents Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan, as well as to Armenia’s incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan.

“I am going to meet with them and propose a meeting. Thereafter,
I am going to meet with the ex-president of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady
Ghukasyan and with incumbent President Bako Sahakyan and propose
that they join the format. If they do not consider my proposal to be
adequate, let them undertake,” he said.

He noted that Armenia’s ruling coalition is unable to propose any
solutions through discussions.

“All the claims that the decisions made on September 3 are the
result of serious discussions are, to put it mildly, untrue. The
only mechanism is as follows: an idea from above is supposed to be
mechanically reproduced. This is political incompetence. No one within
the ruling circles is able to raise his voice against the president’s
decision. We need to form a body capable of bringing the issue forward,
and it may be the presidents’ council,” Isagulyan said.

He has addressed his request to Armenia’s president and will reiterate
it in meeting with Serzh Sargsyan – to organize a meeting of Armenia’s
first, second and incumbent presidents.

“This is the only format that enables the proposal of solutions. It
may also be a 3+2 format, that is, the Nagorno-Karabakh ex-president
and incumbent president will participate. A 3+2+2 meeting may be
organized. Also, a meeting between two presidents may be held as well.

But it is not so important. In any case, any format will foster a
combination of ideas,” Isagulyan said.

For the past three years Armenia’s ex-presidents and incumbent
president have not had any contacts, he added.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES USELESS UNLESS WE STOP DESTROYING MONUMENTS – PROTEST IN YEREVAN (VIDEO)

17:03 ~U 25.09.13

While the Matenadaran (institute of ancient manuscripts) was hosting
Wednesday afternoon a scientific conference devoted to cultural
heritage issues, a group of Armenian activists staged a rally outside
the building to attract attention to Yerevan’s Covered Market.

“Such scientific conferences are important but if theory is not
going to be put into practice, if conferences are going to be held
here, with monuments being destroyed at the other end of the street,
this conference makes absolutely no sense,” said Gevorg Safaryan,
a protester.

On behalf of the crowd, he called upon the conference participants
to express their opinion on the city authorities’ decision to
reconstruct the Covered Market (which is registered as a historical
monument). “We call upon the participants to have their contribution
to the monument’s preservation. As long as our monuments keep being
destroyed by Armenians, we do not have the moral right to demand that
our enemies preserve monument,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

CUSTOMS UNION MOVE LINKED TO ARMENIAN OLIGARCHS’ CONCERNS – OPINION

15:47 ~U 25.09.13

A deputy leader of the opposition Heritage party said Wednesday that
the Armenian authorities’ decision to join the Russian-led Customs
Union is linked with the concerns over maintaining the oligarchic
regime in the country.

“We’ll have financial losses in case of becoming a member of the
Customs Union; we’ll face higher paces of migration. In case of the
Association Agreement, we’d decide the interest rates on our own,”
Armen Martirosyan told reporters.

The politician noted that the signing of the Association Agreement
with the EU would not in any way prevent Armenia from developing and
deepening the partnership relations with Russia.

“Whatever the case may be, our neighboring [state] is heading towards
the European cooperation,” Martirosyan said adding that he doesn’t
expect the Customs Union to have a long life.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

‘I TREAT CU WITH SOME RESERVATION’ – MANASERYAN

17:14 25/09/2013 ” ECONOMY

Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union depends on the outcome in the
Ukraine as the Ukraine is a much more important political and economic
factor for both Europe and Russia, head of Alternative Research Center,
economist Tatul Manaseryan told reporters.

“I treat the Customs Union with some reservation because it is not yet
a completely established organization. Clearly, the political factor
plays a bigger role in it than the economic one. Moreover, it has no
mechanism of economic interest or predictability for any country.

Therefore, as a result of unpredictability, no one, even in the ruling
circles, has a clear idea about what the rules will be for Armenia,”
the economist said.

No matter if Armenia joins the Customs Union or signs the Association
Agreement with the European Union, it will face serious challenges,
according to Manaseryan.

“In these two cases, there are both challenges and opportunities,”
he concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARAM SAFARYAN: MONEY TRANSFERS FROM RUSSIA TO ARMENIA AMOUNTED TO USD 1,440,000 IN 2012

16:32 25/09/2013 ” ECONOMY

The statement on Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union caused
active public discussions in the country. But it does not mean that
only the current round is significant. It is also very important to
work correctly when documents are ratified, head of Integration and
Development NGO Aram Safaryan said at Yerevan-Moscow space bridge on
“Eurasian Union for Armenia: Economic Advantages and Public Dialogue.”

“The public should understand that this process is advantageous
and necessary for them. I am sure that the absolute majority of the
Armenian population are friends of Russia. Besides, 220,000 Armenians
leave for Russia as labor migrants every year. The money transfers
from Russia to Armenia amounted to USD 1,440,000 in 2012. Therefore,
serious work should be carried out to bring the idea to the public
as this idea, after all, brings peace to Armenia,” Safaryan said.

Source: Panorama.am