Month: February 2015

Number of banks to reduce in Armenia – economist

15:30 / 27.02.2015

Only 5-6 banks in Armenia reach 30 billion line and they are given
time to raise their capital, economist Vilen Khachatryan told the
reporters today, stressing that the issue is that there are banks who
must add their capital thrice.

“In conditions of current financial difficulties it will lead to the
uniting of the banks or more right to say the big ones will swallow
the ones with smaller capital and the number of banks will reduce by
5-6,” he said, adding that it will result in weakening of the
competition, reduction of the number of employees. The economist said
it is not excluded that they will not unite but just close.

Khachatryan also spoke about the financial integration organization
which calculates the amount of outflow of illegal capital. “Statistics
for Armenia is presented as of December 2014. In this report the
amount of the illegal capital flow from Armenia during 2002-2012 is
said reach 750 million USD. In 2012 the volume has grown making 1
billion 200 million USD,” he said.

The economist stressed that it is almost impossible for Armenia to
avoid capital outflow. He stressed that only countries with positive
trade balance [more export, less import] manage to avoid capital
outflow. “If we too have it we will avoid capital outflow before
reaching it we will be condemned to it,” he added.

From: A. Papazian

Gagik Tsarukyan not to leave politics – Gurgen Yeghiazaryan

16:00 / 27.02.2015

Our economy is in desperate condition and those who made it so left
for other side of the ocean and today is meeting with different
representatives of US Congress giving interviews without a bit of
shame, political figure Gurgen Yeghiazaryan told the reporters on
Friday.

He said we are the only country in the world the diplomats of which
stay in the country they served after the end of their mission.
Yeghiazaryan stressed that Armenia is to face difficult days. “I think
we must get rid of this authorities in 2015. The talks that Gagik
Tsarukyan must leave the party are being circulated. This person faces
a Constitution which is being violated if necessary and followed if
necessary. The Armenian laws are acting just for a group of people,”
he said. The political figure stressed that everything is being done
to make Serzh Sargsyan serve longer.

Asked with who he ties the change the power, Yeghiazaryan said, “I am
one of them. There is opposition which is going to conduct a rally on
March 1 in the Freedom Square. I do not believe that Gagik Tsarukyan
will leave politics as hundred thousands of people are waiting for his
word. I believe that he will speak out. The PAP has not done anything
bad. If a wrong thing has been done, it was done by the authorities
with their attacks and insults,” Yeghiazaryan said.

Gagik Tsarukyan’s associates terrorized – Ruben Hakobyan

13:00 / 27.02.2015

Speaking at a briefing today head of the Heritage faction Ruben
Hakobyan said that today the state is in serious systematic, political
crisis.

“No one has won as a result of the recent inner political events while
some representatives of the authorities walk in a way as if they are
the winners. But the crisis is everyone it has engaged all the
political spectrum. The authorities have not realized that people are
their main opposition, they do not understand that the majority of the
people coming to the rallies are gathering against the authorities and
not to consolidate over any party,” he stressed.
Speaking about the Prosperous Armenia Party, Hakobyan said, “The PAP
and its leader have been pressed. Employees of one of Tsarukyan’s
plants in Balahovit have been terrorized. In any case soon the
opposition will clarify its steps. It is not a secret that the PAP had
political weight but currently it has frozen its position. The
upcoming congress of the party will clarify the PAP’s position and
make some reshufflings in the opposition field,” he said.

Asked whether the Heritage will participate in the PAP congress,
Hakobyan said they have not received invitation yet and do not know
whether any political force will be invited or not. Hakobyan urged
everyone not to hurry and wait until that day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ceremony commemorating Nemtsov being held in Saint Petersburg

15:39, 28 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 28 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. A ceremony commemorating member of
the Russian opposition Boris Nemtsov is being held in Saint
Petersburg. As “Armenpress” reports, citing the Russian TASS agency,
the ceremony began at Troitskaya Square in Saint Petersburg. Nearly
100 people gathered at the square at 13:00, but more and more people
are visiting the square, laying flowers and lighting candles.

Member of the Russian opposition Boris Nemtsov was killed in central
Moscow on February 27. According to preliminary information, he was
shot not less than 7-8 times, and four of the bullets were fired from
the back. He died on the spot.

A representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian
Federation says the political figure was shot from a white car, the
brand of which has already been identified. The incident took place
while Nemtsov was walking with one of his acquaintances from Ukraine.

From: Baghdasarian

Gyumri commemorated victims of Sumgait Pogrom

14:27, 28 February, 2015

GYUMRI, 28 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Citizens of Gyumri respected the
memory of the victims of the Sumgait Pogrom with an event dedicated to
the 27th anniversary of the Armenian massacres. Among the participants
were representatives of Gyumri Municipality led by Deputy Mayor Ruben
Manoyan.”Even the history of the USSR when friendship between Soviet
republics was propagandized couldn’t discipline the Azerbaijanis. They
proved once again that a tribe can’t become a nation. Most of us
couldn’t even imagine that such genocide could have begun in those
years,” Ruben Manoyan mentioned.

Like every year, the event dedicated to the victims of the Sumgait
Pogrom was also held near the cross-stone sculpted by sculptor from
Gyumri Zaven Koshtoyan. All the participants laid flowers near the
cross-stone to the memory of the victims of the Sumgait Pogrom and
respected the memory of the peaceful Armenian civilians with a moment
of silence. Most of the survivors of the genocide took shelter in
Gyumri in 1988 and shared the fate of the citizens of Gyumri during
the devastating earthquake that struck Spitak in December 1988.

Armenuhi Mkhoyan

Lebanese Armenian newspapers to publish united issue on Genocide centennial

13:05, 28 February, 2015

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: Ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, three Armenian newspapers, published in Lebanon
– Azdak, Zartonk and Ararat, will make a unique symbolic action.
Armenpress reports that the editors-in-chief of the three newspapers
decided to publish a united issue “Azdak-Ararat-Zartonk” on April 24.
Yet no information about the content of the issue and other details
are known.

Thomas Melia calls Turkey to reconcile with Armenians

12:34, 28 February, 2015

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas Melia
called Turkey to reconcile with Armenia ahead of the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide. Armenpress reports, citing the Turkish Haberler
that Melia talked about it during the meeting with the journalists in
Turkey.

In response to the question on the position of the US President Barack
Obama on the Armenian Genocide, Melia stated that the US government
expects reconciliation of the Armenian and the Turkish nations. “We
hope that the Turkish society and the Turkish state will use this
centennial as a chance for a historic reconciliation”, – he said.

Talk with Ambassador: Gegham Gharibjanyan

14:33, 28.02.2015

Armenian News-NEWS.am agency together with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia continues a series of interviews titled “Talk with
Ambassador”. This week our guest is Armenia’s Ambassador to UAE
Gegham Gharibjanyan.

Your Excellency, in which domains will Armenia develop relations with UAE?

UAE recognized Armenia’s independence in 1991, and diplomatic
relations between the states were established on June 25, 1998.

In September 2000, the Armenian Embassy opened in UAE, and in 2008 the
building of Armenian embassy was constructed in Abu Dhabi thanks to
the Armenian benefactors and on the land provided by Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan.

Armenia attaches great importance to multilateral relations with the
Gulf states, in particular with the UAE. There have been numerous
mutual visits between Armenia and UAE, and around three dozens of
documents have been signed.

In recent years, there is a trend for development of relations in
trade, economic, and political, scientific and cultural fields.
Activities are underway to expand the legal field of bilateral
relations.

Active bilateral cooperation was formed within international organizations.

There is a huge potential that has not been used, which, through
mutual efforts, will open new horizons for relations between Armenia
and the Emirates. Here, of course, he Armenian Embassy in the UAE has
an important role as well as the newly opened embassy in Yerevan.
Embassy is the first link for communication between representatives of
political, economic and cultural circles.

Armenians have been settling in Arabia since the late Middle Ages.
Please, tell us about our community in the United Arab Emirates.

Back in fifteenth century Armenian merchants were actively involved in
trade between East and West through the Persian Gulf. But the bulk of
the Armenian community began to settle in the United Arab Emirates
after 1975. They were coming from Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Iraq,
Armenia, Russia, European countries, USA and Canada. Nowadays,
according to rough estimates, there are 8-10 thousand Armenians in
UAE.

In 1980 an Armenian school “Harut Hovhannisyan” opened in n Sharjah.
National life is governed by the Diocesan Assembly led by the head of
the diocese.

On November 15, 1998 Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I
consecrated the church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Sharjah. The
church is a part of a complex, including a school and a ballroom.

There is no print media, but there are two websites: emahay.com and
azad-hay.net. Ninety percent of the Armenians living in UAE are
representatives of state agencies and NGOs. They are involved in
construction, engineering and trade.

In 2006 UAE Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, with a special
decree, granted to the Armenian community of Abu Dhabi territory for
the construction of a church and a community center.

On December 2014 the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Abu Dhabi was
consecrated with the participation of Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia Aram I.

Arab geographer Ibn Hawqal wrote about uniqueness of Armenian fabric
and carpets back in the tenth century. What can we offer the UAE
consumers and investors today?

Even before establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and
UAE, there were trade and economic ties on the personal initiative of
the entrepreneurs from the two countries.

Armenia exported equipment, copper, aluminum, precious and
semi-precious stones, shoes, artwork, antiques, and imported
electrical equipment, construction materials, food products and
consumer goods.

One of the key programs is a $10 million credit from the Abu Dhabi
Fund for Development for the construction of Arpa-Sevan tunnel, as
well as renovation of Haghartsin Monastery that was funded by Sharjah
emir Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.

The embassy is working to hold a meeting of Armenia-UAE
intergovernmental commission.

I think that a joint business forum that was held in Armenia’s
commerce chamber last year played a significant role in deepening of
trade and economic ties.

Given that Abu Dhabi is home to the headquarters of the International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the embassy is involved in the
organization of cooperation in the field of renewable energy.

There are cooperation proposals in a number of sectors of bilateral
cooperation, particularly in the chemical, jewelery and diamond
cutting, mining industry. Promising sector is agriculture with several
programs being under discussion. In addition, the sides expressed
interest in further development of cooperation in tourism.

Three air companies – FlyDubai, Air Arabia and Etihad – are operating
direct flights to Yerevan.

Armenia has been also granted ten scholarships in MASDAR university.

Arab community, as a rule, is sympathetic to the historical memory of
Armenians. How will the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide be
marked in the UAE?

Just as in other Armenian communities, the Armenian embassy in UAE
with the active participation of the local Armenians is preparing to
mark centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The Embassy will start
distribution of information materials ahead of April 24.

In 2014, a khachkar was installed in the courtyard of the new Church
of the Holy Martyrs in Abu Dhabi, built in memory of the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey. The khachkar was donated by the family of
Ambassador Gharibjanian. Cross-stone was consecrated by the Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I.

Many events will be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, the most
important of which is the evening in memory of the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 in Abu Dhabi, in the hall of the
Armenian Embassy. The event will be followed by a concert with the
participation of Armenian musicians. Funeral liturgy will be held in
Abu Dhabi and in Sharjah.

You have been serving as a diplomat for many years. Your wishes to the
young diplomats, the diplomats who will represent Armenia in the
future.

Believe in the future of your homeland and the state.

Armenia PM and Kuwait ambassador discuss bilateral relations

16:53, 28.02.2015

YEREVAN. – The Prime Minister of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan, received
Kuwaiti Ambassador Bassam Mohammed Al Qabandi.

The ambassador conveyed to Abrahamyan the warm greetings by the
Kuwaiti PM, and added that his country’s government looks toward
strengthening and expanding ties with Armenia.

Subsequently, the interlocutors discussed matters relating to the
Armenian Premier’s forthcoming official visit to Kuwait.

The parties also underscored the further development and strengthening
of relations between the two countries, and reflected on these
relations.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

Armenia defense minister visits military units

16:27, 28.02.2015

The Minister of Defense of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, on Saturday paid
working visits to several military units.

At the units Ohanyan followed the course of military service,
inspected the social and living conditions of the servicemen, and
watched their military and physical training exercises.

In one of the subdivisions, he inspected the barracks and followed the
class on social and state preparedness. The minister also got
familiarized with the personnel readiness and the moral and
psychological climate, and asked about the soldiers’ knowledge of
their duties.

Addressing the officers and soldiers, the defense minister urged them
to always carry out their military service consciously and with a
great sense of duty, since the combat-readiness of the armed forces is
formed by the sum of the individual characteristics of each and every
soldier.

Armenia News – NEWS.am