Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMEN YEGANYAN ATTENDS ARMENIA-CANADA PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 16, 2011 – 15:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On November 15, Canadian parliament hosted the first
sitting of the restored Armenia-Canada parliamentary friendship group,
with Armenian Ambassador Armen Yeganyan meeting with group members.

At the meeting, the Ambassador briefed those present on priority
issues of Armenia’s foreign policy.

The parties gave high assessment to Armenia-Canada ties, with the
Ambassador thanking the MPs for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

In conclusion, the Ambassador answered the questions posed by group
chair Harold Albrecht and other members of the group, Armenian Foreign
Ministry press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

BUSINESS PLAN OF ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCY OF KOTLER IN ARMENIA TO BE READY IN THE NEXT MONTHS

/ARKA/
November 16, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 16. /ARKA/. Business-plan on the establishment of
“Center of Excellency of Philip Kotler” in Armenia will be ready in
the next months, President of Armenian Marketing Association (AMA)
Aram Navasardyan informed ARKA News Agency.

It is planned to open the center in the frame of the program “Phillip
Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11”. For participation in the given program
famous marketing specialist, Prof. Phillip Kotler arrived in Yerevan
on Sunday with five-day visit.

“We would not want now to talk about any specific dates of opening of
the Center, as well as the cost of the project. I think that first
of all it is necessary to clearly think over the mechanisms and the
concept”, said Navasardyan.

The State will assist this structure, different private investors –
local and international organizations and companies, will allocate
funds.

He said that it is also planned to establish an incubator by branches
of economy. Its function will be provision of consultations and
conduction of studies in the frames of world summits which will be
organized worldwide by Kotler’s initiative.

Navasardyan emphasized the importance of the establishment of the
Center in Armenia which will increase educational and research level
in the country. In this regard he said that the large scientific
potential and high educational level in the country became one of the
reasons by which Kotler selected Armenia for opening the only Center
of Excellency in the region.

It is envisaged that experts in the sphere of marketing from the
countries of the world will teach in the Center. Applications have
been already received from entrepreneurs of Georgia, Iran and Turkey
who expressed willingness in sending their experts for studying in the
Center of Excellency, as well as send their specialists for teaching.

It is desirable to open the Center in one of economically more
developed regions of Armenia and not in Yerevan which can trigger
the development of local infrastructure.

The program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11” initiated by
the Armenian Marketing Association is called to provide dynamic
development of Armenia and transfer from extensive management to
developed and prosperous management. It is also targeted at changing
the understanding of the role and meaning of marketing in Armenia,
introduction of new and modern rules of business conduction applying
new marketing instruments, including Kotler’s program “Marketing 3.0”.

In the frames of the program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11”,
the company “Kotler Impact” plans to establish in Armenia a “Center
of Excellency of Phillip Kotler” which will become the only center of
marketing and management on international level in the region. Local
and foreign marketing specialists from the countries of the region
and CIS countries will study and increase qualification in the center.

From: A. Papazian

KAZAKHSTAN INTERESTED IN AZERI-MANUFACTURED WEAPONRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 16, 2011 – 20:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan defined specific directions
of cooperation in defense industry sector.

A delegation headed by Kazakh Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov,
currently on official visit to Azerbaijan, has today met with
the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s leadership following a meeting
between the Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov
and Mr Dzhaksybekov in September 2011, Azerbaijani Defense Industry
Ministry reported.

The meeting stressed the Kazakh side’s interest in defense products
manufactured by Azerbaijani Defense Industry Ministry’s enterprises.

Specific lines of cooperation in defense industry were defined and
prospects discussed at the meeting, according to Trend News.

From: A. Papazian

“DO NOT ENCROACH MY RIGHTS” PAINTING FESTIVAL IN GAVAR

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 16, 2011
GAVAR

“Do not encroach my rights” painting festival in Gavar

The conclusive event of “Do not encroach my rights” painting festival
was held November 16 in Gavar School of Fine Arts. It was organized
within the framework of “Let’s unite for the good of children, let’s
save the future” program.

Accoridng to Armenpress’ correspondent in Gegharkunik, Director
of Gavar School of Fine Arts Gayane Sanosyan said that the pupils
of Gavar children’s house, Gavar senior school and Gavar School N 4
participated in the festival. The majority of the participants attend
Gavar School of Fine Arts.

Armine Ghukasyan, coordinator of “Let’s Unite for the good of children,
let’s save future” program in Gegharkunik province, stated that
40 painters of school age participated in the festival exhibiting
3 paintings.

Wrapping up the event, all the participant artists presented to the
guests the content of their paintings and the issues they tried to
reveal through them.

From: A. Papazian

KALIGIAN TO SPEAK AT LOWELL ARF ANNIVERSARY

Armenian Weekly
Wed, Nov 16 2011

LOWELL, Mass.-On Sat., Dec. 10, Dr. Dikran M. Kaligian, author,
visiting professor, and political activist, will address the
subject “Armenia’s Evolution Toward Independence” during the 116th
anniversary of the Lowell “Aharonian” Gomideh, which will take
place at 6 p.m. at the Lowell ARS Community Center, 142 Liberty St.
Dr. Dikran M. Kaligian As the first organized Gomideh in the United
States, its ungers take tremendous pride in their past accomplishments,
both from a political standpoint as well as remaining a cultural and
fraternal benchmark throughout the Armenian American community of
Merrimack Valley.

In addition to serving as the ARF Central Committee’s liaison to the
Lowell Gomideh, Kaligian has made a number of speaking engagements
there, most notably as chair of the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) Eastern United States.

He remains a leading activist in fighting defamation by mainstream
media outlets regarding denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Kaligian received his doctorate in history from Boston College in
2003. He is the author of Armenian Organization and Ideology under
Ottoman Rule: 1908-1914, published by Transaction Publishers.

He has been a visiting professor of Armenian Genocide studies at Clark
University and has also taught at Westfield State, Wheaton College, and
Regis College. He has also served as managing editor of the Armenian
Review. His articles have been published in many leading publications.

Dinner will precede the program. Tickets are $20 (adults) and $10
(students) and are available at the door.

For more information, call Tom Vartabedian at (978) 373-1654.

From: A. Papazian

FORMER PM SAYS ARMENIA’S 2012 BUDGET ENCOURAGES EMIGRATION, BLAMES TIGRAN SARGSYAN

epress.am
11.17.2011

Armenia’s 2012 state budget will encourage emigration more;
essentially, it will be an emigration budget, said Armenain National
Congress representative Hrant Bagratyan, who was prime minister of
Armenia from 1993-96, while speaking to reporters in Yerevan today.

Bagratyan noted that there won’t be room for redistribution for
the benefit of the people in the 2012 budget, since taxes on major
taxpayers will amount to 2-2.5 billion drams, while, as a result of
inflation, the added value of goods people will have to pay will be
50 billion drams.

“With all due responsibility I declare and invite the attention of
both [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican Party of
Armenian [HHK]: listen, the density of major taxpayers and the rich
into the account of use of national income will continue to increase.

That is, 2012 is going to be a fruitful year for the rich, while
poverty will continue,” he said.

Speaking as well about economic growth, Bagratyan said, when there’s an
up to 3% annual decrease in population, which also leads to a reduction
in consumption, it’s not possible to speak of any real possible growth.

“Again I’m making use of the occasion and I am issuing a warning: I
know [Armenian Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsyan well – until he doesn’t
destroy, he won’t go; he’s not one to build anything. I am advising
HHK to draw conclusions. Perhaps he’s pulled the wool over the eyes
of that party. You can’t go to elections without promising people at
least something insignificant, at least promising that things won’t
get worse. On the contrary, they say it’s going to get worse. This
already contains some elements of cynicism. That is, the government
says I’m not even going to try to do anything,” said the former PM.

From: A. Papazian

POVERTY ON THE RISE, SO TOO THE RICH: DEBATE

epress.am
11.17.2011

If the government can’t disclose the shadow (economy), then it clearly
doesn’t want to, so it should simply step down, said Heritage Party
MP Larisa Alaverdyan, speaking to reporters in the Armenian capital
today. The more poverty increases in Armenia, she said, the more the
number of rich people among the ruling elite increases.

Also present at today’s press conference was Republican Party of
Armenia (HHK) MP Rafik Petrosyan, who said the current state of the
budget was realistic.

“The government has assumed an obligation of 101 billion drams
[$262.7 million USD], and during its execution we will see that in
2012 we will be able to pass this indicator, recording a 4.2% growth
in the budget. The opposition’s view that the budget is small and
doesn’t satisfy the requirements of the population doesn’t increase
the population’s standard of living. Of course, it’s very easy to
talk, to criticize, which helps it work better, supports the budget
increase,” said Petrosyan.

According to the opposition MP, however, the government today doesn’t
allow the opposition to have control when it comes to the budget.

“When you listen to members of government you can assume that they
represent a club of geniuses; they clearly show their genius ideas,
but this government that expresses genius ideas still hasn’t carried
out any of the programs it promised,” said Alaverdyan.

In response to a question on not fulfilling pre-election promises,
the HHK MP urged people not to forget the 2008 economic crisis,
as a result of which Armenia suffered the most, he said.

Alaverdyan retorted: “The government anticipated that in 2012,
the poverty indicator in Armenia was to go down, but the fact is
that instead of the previous 11.2% indicator decreasing, in recent
years it’s reached 34%; meanwhile, the government asserts that
there’s been a 4.2% economic growth. Armenia’s governing system is
in a deep ethical, economic and financial crisis. For 20 years, the
authorities have laid the groundwork and continue the ideas of the
‘oligarchapoly’. Economic growth is characterized not by numbers but
by the quality of the growth.”

According to the Heritage Party MP, countries that have aimed to
strengthen the country began with the border villages.

“As long as our remote villages have a limited number of problems,
as long as the villager fighting with her gun and sickle is deprived
of god’s gift of water, and not having the possibility of using gas,
burns manure to keep warm, [a practice] that in recent years has also
gained momentum in the capital, there cannot be any talk of economic
growth,” she said.

From: A. Papazian

MINISTER CAUGHT PLAYING GAMES ON HIS IPAD SMILES BEFORE EVADING REPORTERS

epress.am
11.17.2011

RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsissyan, who was
caught on video playing on his iPad during a parliamentary meeting
on Wednesday, rushed to his car immediately after today’s government
meeting.

The reporters pursuing him were seeking comments during the incident,
to which, hiding a smile, the minister said, “We’ll talk later;
I’m late now – you’re making me late.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY MAKES PENSIONERS POORER – EX-PREMIER

Tert.am
17.11.11

Armenia-s ex-premier Hrant Bagratyan is sure that pensions will show
a 5% decrease instead of the planned 10% increase next year.

“Pensions will be raised by 10%, but prices will show a 15% rise, will
they not? That is the Republican Party of Armenia tells the pensioners
they are going to live five percent worse,” Bagratyan told journalists.

“Two days ago, instead of analyzing the economic situation and honestly
saying what problems the budget is supposed to solve, the prime
minister made a speech and we once again heard about ‘targets’ and
‘risk insurance’. By the way, the minister of finance and the Central
Bank use terms that are typical of loan officer at a commercial bank,”
Bagratyan said.

From: A. Papazian

RICHARD HOVHANNISYAN TO DELIVER LECTURE AT STATE UNIVERSITY

Tert.am
17.11.11

Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History at the University of
California, Richard Hovhannisyan is going to deliver a lecture at
the Yerevan State University on Friday.

The discussion, devoted to Wudrow Wilson’s Arbitrary Verdict,
will start at 2:30 pm at the YSU Diaspora Studies chair. Students,
post-graduate researchers and specialists have been invited to
the event.

The lecture is a part of a government-elaborated plan of actions aimed
at eternalizing the memory of the late 19th and early 20th century US
president, Wudrow Wilson. The project is coordinated is the Ministry
of Diaspora.

From: A. Papazian