Month: February 2015

ARMENIAN OPERA SINGER WINS FIRST PRIZE AT YOUNG OPERA SINGERS’ COMPETITION IN RUSSIA

17:18 04/02/2015 >> CULTURE

Hovhannes Nersesyan, a solo opera singer of the Armenian National
Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, won the first prize at the IX
International Rimsky-Korsakov Young Opera Singers’ Competition in
the Russian city of Tikhvin.

The competition was held on January 28-31 as part of the International
Rimsky-Korsakov Opera Festival.

The competition, founded in 1994, was dedicated by its organizers to
the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Rimsky-Korsakov’s birth
in recognition of his immense contribution to the development of St
Petersburg’s professional music school and the vast influence his
legacy has had and continues to exert on all subsequent professional
musicians and music-lovers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR OF UKRAINE TO AZERBAIJAN: “WHEN I GO SOMEWHERE TO MAKE SPEECH, THEY CALL ME AND ASK ME NOT TO CRITICIZE RUSSIA”

17:38 04/02/2015 >> IN THE WORLD

Aleksadr Mishchenko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan,
accused Azerbaijan of betrayal, while delivering his speech at the
International press-center of the international information agency
“Russia Today,” where the presentation of the political scientist Elhan
Shahinoglu’s essay “From Maydan to Maydan” was held, the Azerbaijani
news portal “Haqqin.az” reports.

“What do I do? Go out and say that they censor me in Baku, while
claiming that there is no censorship in the country? When I go
somewhere to make a speech, they immediately call me and ask me
not to criticise Russia. But what should an ambassador say, when
his country has suffered a military aggression from Russia?” the
Ambassador declared.

According to the article, in his speech Mishchenko drew the audience’s
attention to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s occupation policy. The
Ambassador also talked about the recent voting in PACE, where the
Russian delegation was deprived of his right to vote. He didn’t
conceal his disappointment with the position taken by the Azerbaijani
delegation to support Russia.

“Azerbaijan always complains of double standards. The justice is on
the Azerbaijani side, but what has Ukraine to do with that? Let’s
decide this way: on next PACE session Ukraine vote against Azerbaijan,
and then you not support us again. So what’s next? That’s a path to
nowhere.” Mishchenko said.

The ambassador noted that he had always called on joining both
country’s efforts in the international arena, the article reads.

“I agree that Ukraine has paid little attention to the problems of
Azerbaijan. I’m a diplomat and I get that. But let’s take an average
Ukrainian who heard on the news that Azerbaijan has supported Russia.

They calm me down saying that Azerbaijan will support any resolution
regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine. They tell me tales that
a space for discussions should be left; otherwise there’ll be no one
to talk to. So, let’s forget about the 7 districts around Karabakh. But
we don’t say such a thing, after all,” the ambassador said.

As the article states, the Ambassador Mishchenko meanwhile noted that
he understood the risks of the official Baku, yet he wondered what
will voting in PACE against Azerbaijan give to Azerbaijan.

“Now should I need to convince Kiev that there were reasons for that?

Should I tell them everything I was told in Baku? Help Ukraine with
one tent at least! We don’t need billions. Georgia helps, Lithuania
helps…,” said the Ambassador in despair.

From: A. Papazian

EVENTS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENARY LAUNCH IN SYRIA

17:37 04/02/2015 >> SOCIETY

On February 3, presentation of Ambassador of Armenia, Ph. Doctor
in History, Arshak Poladyan’s book in Arabic, titled “Eyewitnesses’
memoires on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire” took place
in the hall of Al-Assad National Library in Damascus. The event was
organized by Syrian Centenary Central body and sponsored by Syria’s
Culture Minister Issam Khalil, the press service of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry reported.

Minister of Culture of Syria Issam Khalil, member of the National
Progressive Front, Counselor of the President of Syria Muhsen Bilal,
Secretary-General of Socialist Union Ahmad Al-Ahmad, former Prime
Minister of Syria Muhammad Mustafa Mero, Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman
Susan, members of People’s Council of Syria, diplomats, ashirats,
leaders of Christian communities of Syria, as well as representatives
of Syrian Armenian community and media were among the guests of
the event.

During the event, numerous speeches were delivered, in which the
content of the book was touched upon, as well as the significance of
the work was stressed in raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide
in the Arab world.

The presentation was widely covered by Syrian media. The Ambassador
of Armenia gave numerous interviews on that point to Arab media.

CANCER RATE DOWN IN ARMENIA COMPARED TO DEVELOPED STATES – DOCTOR

16:17 * 04.02.15

The cancer statistics in Armenia is considerably lower today compared
to the world’s developed countries, Armenia’s chief oncologist said
today, noting that their comparative dynamics reveals 200 cases less
per 100,000 population.

“Though we can summarize the 2014 records only in March, they can
be said to have remained almost the same. The registered [patients’
statistics] in Armenia reveals 240 cases per a 100,000 residents. It
is a good record if we compare it with those in developed countries.

Their statistics is 450 [cases per 100,000 population],” Head of the
National Center of Oncology Hayrapet Galstyan told reporters.

According to him the disease statistics is almost the same among
males and females.

Asked whether the existing records are real given the high incidence of
cancer, Galstyan said theoir data procession and submission procedures
involve only the registered patients.

“And the registration is on a quite high level today, as that covers
not only the patients admitted to hospital but also those who died
at home. Additionally, we receive data from district polyclinics
and regions, as well as based upon the death certificates issued by
registry offices,” said the oncologist.

He said the most widespread form of the disease among the male
population is lung cancer (65.1 per 100,00 population), with
females more frequently developing breast cancer (67.7 cases/100,000
population).

Galstyan said their institution’s life expectancy statistics is much
higher compared to that of other medical centers.

As for the general life expectancy in Armenia, the doctor said he
sees that the country considerably falls behind developed states
(i.e. – cancer patients die more frequently in Armenia).

Galstyan explained the trend by the lower degree of patients’ care
of health issues. “We have very many cases detected at late stages –
third or fourth – among patients with primary diagnosis. They account
for 43% of the patients, as opposed to the 23% [in different other
countries],” Galstyan said, adding that the statistics very often
varies from country to country.

ZARUHI POSTANJYAN RAISES THE ISSUE OF MOUNT ARARAT (VIDEO)

17:33 | February 4,2015 | Politics

Armenian lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjyan today reminded her colleagues in
parliament that the UNESCO had offered to recognize Mount Ararat as
a cultural heritage site of Armenia.

Her speech at the National Assembly is available below.

From: A. Papazian

PRIVATE MONEY REMITTANCES TO ARMENIA FALL BY 7. 5 PERCENT IN 2014 TO $1.7 BILLION- CENTRAL BANK

YEREVAN, February 4. / ARKA /. About $1.728.5 billion were sent
to Armenia in 2014 as private money transfers for non-commercial
purposes through the banks, the Central Bank reported saying the amount
represented a 7.5% or $141.1 million drop from the previous year.

According to a statement on the regulator’s official webpage, about
$339.5 million were remitted from Armenia to other countries, up
from $324.2 million remitted in 2013. The rise was 4.7 percent. The
net inflow of remittances thus amounted to about $1.388.9 billion,
down from $1.545.6 billion in 2013.

In December 2014 some $127.3 million were sent to Armenia as private
money transfers, by 9.1 percent more form the previous month, however,
it was 24.5 percent less than in 2013 December.

As usual, the bulk of money transfers – about 82.9 percent or
approximately $1.434.2 billion – came from Russia. When compared to
2013 their amount was 10.7 percent down. In the meantime the amount
of money remittances to Russia grew by 12.6 percent to $203.2 million.

Economists explain the decline in private remittances by continuing
economic stagnation in Russia that experiences also the negative
effects of Western sanctions imposed over the crisis in Ukraine. The
continuing devaluation of the Russian ruble is cited as another major
reason for the decline in the amount of private remittances to Armenia
as the ruble today can buy fewer dollars and Euros.

Money transfers from Russia to Armenia in 2014 November decreased
by 35.4% from November 2013 to approximately $95.1 million, while
the amount of remittances from Armenia to Russia increased by 13.5%
to $17.5 million.

The downward trend in remittances from Russia was observed for the
sixth consecutive months. Remittances along with foreign investments
are among major factors of Armenia’s economic growth. According to the
Central Bank, transfers to Armenia in 2013 totaled $1.869.7 billion
or about 17.3% of GDP.

The decline in remittances made international financial institutions
revise downward their forecasts of Armenia’s economic growth for 2014.

For example, IMF lowered its earlier forecast to 2.6 percent from
4.3 percent, Moody’s lowered it to 2.1 percent from 3.2 percent,
the Asian Development Bank cut it to 3.8 percent from 4.6 percent,
the EBRD dropped it to 3 percent and the World Bank to 2.6 percent
from its earlier forecast of 5 percent.

Their forecasts for 2015 are neither optimistic. The World Bank, for
example, expects Armenia’s economic expansion to be 3.3 percent(the
Armenian government projection is 4.1 percent). The most recent EBRD
projection for Armenia suggests a zero growth for 2015, compared to 3.5
percent growth projection in its September report. The new projection
is based on depreciation of the ruble and worsened economic situation
in Russia.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded in January Armenia’s issuer
and government bond rating to Ba3 from Ba2, and changed the outlook
to negative from stable because of Armenia’s increased external
vulnerability due to declining remittances from Russia, an uncertain
outlook for foreign direct investment (FDI), an elevated susceptibility
to exchange rate volatility.

On January 30 Fitch Ratings agency downgraded Armenia’s long-term
foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) from ‘BB-‘ to
‘B+’, with outlook kept stable. The issue ratings on Armenia’s senior
unsecured foreign and local currency bonds were also downgraded to
‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘. The Country Ceiling was revised to ‘BB-‘ from ‘BB’
and the Short-term foreign currency IDR affirmed at ‘B.’-0-

CARS DAMAGED DURING BERDZOR INCIDENT TO BE DISPLAYED THURSDAY

17:07 | February 4,2015 | Politics

Member of the Founding Parliament movement who were involved in
the weekend incident near Berdzor will give an outdoor conference
on February 5. During the meeting, they will also display the cars
damaged during the incident.

On January 31, members of the Founding Parliament, a radical opposition
initiative seeking a regime change in Armenia, tried to enter Karabakh
in order to carry out a protest demonstration there.

Near Berdzor, they were stopped by local police who forcefully
blocked access to the territory of Karabakh. Some of the participants,
including Zhirayr Sefilyan, a former commander of the Shushi special
detachment, political analyst Igor Muradyan and other freedom fighters
were beaten. The police also damaged the cars in which the group
was travelling.

From: Baghdasarian

CARREFEUR INCLINED TO WORK WITH DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS – AMBASSADOR

15:05 * 04.02.15

France’s ambassador to Armenia said Wednesday that he expects the
supermarket chain Carrefeur to finally launch its business in Armenia
in 2015.

Jean-Francoise Chartier said that the French brand is more inclined
to work with domestic manufacturers in countries where it operates
its own chain.

“After setting up its business in this or that country, Carrefeur is
more inclined to work with domestic manufacturers. And this approach
will naturally have its impact on the supply and demand,” he said, when
asked to comment on certain export restrictions which Armenia may face
due to higher customs tariffs imposed by the Eurasian Economic Union.

The ambassador said the company is planning to introduce specific
agricultural produce into the Armenian market. “They are ready-made,
not just semi-processed products, such as a certain assortment of
wines and melted cheese, which are beyond the domain of competition
as they have their own consumers,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian

EURO 50M TRADE TURNOVER TOO MODEST FOR ARMENIA AND FRANCE – JEAN-FRANCOIS CHARPANTIER

14:04 * 04.02.15

France and Armenia need to deepen their economic relations and,
although this is the priority aspect of the bilateral relations,
EURO 50m trade is a most modest figure, French Ambassador to Armenia
Jean-Francois Charpantier told reporters on Wednesday.

He points out the need for employing instruments at the disposal
of Armenia and France, specifically the French-Armenian Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie
Franco-Armenienne), as well as the Armenian-French Business Club
operating in Armenia. A number of France-based economic entities are
among the club members.

As to a possible impact of Armenia’s EEU membership on the Carrefour
S.A. network, Mr Charpantier said that he has not seen any calculations
that prove that Armenia-EU relations are being affected.

The Foundation for Armenia’s Development is a major structure
contributing to Armenian-French economic ties, and he recently had
a meeting with the newly appointed director.

In the last three months, Mr Charpantier he had held meetings with
Armenian MPs, NGOs, which enabled him to specify his aims as French
ambassador to Armenia.

Armenia is going to host a week of French business this spring. One of
the areas to be discussed is land cultivation, which will certainly
be of interest to Armenia, where wine-making is one of the major
agricultural trades.

Education is the second component.

To help Armenia solve the irrigation problem, France will construct
a reservoir and bring its investments in Armenia up to EURO 1m before
the end of this year.

This year is to see at least three significant events: first,
French President Francois Hollande’s presence at the events marking
the Armenian Genocide centennial; second, an EU Eastern Partnership
Summit in Riga, Latvia. An attempt to specify further steps to develop
Armenia-EU relations will be made there.

The third event is a summit of the International Organization of La
Francophonie. As a full member of the organization, Armenia will host
the summit this October.

BERDZOR INCIDENT DISCREDITED BAKO SAHAKYAN – GURGEN YEGHIAZARYAN

16:30 / 04.02.2015

Speaking to reporters today political figure Gurgen Yeghiazaryan said
though he does not share the approaches of Zhirayr Sefilyan but the
beating of Pre-parliament members in Karabakh is immoral.

“They beat a person in front of children and his wife, a person who
left his warm place in Beirut when 23 and taking a weapon reached
Karabakh,” he said.

According to Yeghiazaryan, just few people among the authorities
were not discredited and Bako Sahakyan was one of them. “Now he was
discredited too. They see that there are children and women in cars
but they still hit. It means they have carried out operation against
women and children. You can hate a person but you should never raise
your hand on his family,” he said.

Yeghiazaryan said that even if the Pre-parliament headed to Artsakh
by 400 cars, nothing would have happened there as Bako Sahakyan is
an elected president who enjoys people’s love.