Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA’S CU INTEGRATION WILL NOT HURT OUR EXPORTS TO EUROPE – ZANGEZUR COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM COMBINE

February 20, 2014 | 05:16

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s integration into the Customs Union (CU) will
not hurt the copper concentrate exports toEurope, Zangezur Copper and
Molybdenum Combine Director Maksim Hakobyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In his words, however, contracts on the sale of the ore have not yet
been signed with the CU metallurgists.

“We sign medium-term contracts for three to five years, and the current
ones are still in progress. When they are completed, then we will be
prepared to discuss new proposals,” Hakobyan stressed.

He noted that the combine exports copper concentrate to the German
Aurubis Group plus seven or eight other companies.

“So, we don’t rule out the possibility of working with the CU
countries,” Maksim Hakobyan stated.

The Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine–which is the largest in
Armenia–was the country’s largest taxpayer in 2013.

Following the talks that were held on September 3, 2013 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic
Union. In December 2013, the “road map” for Armenia’s accession to the
Customs Union was adopted. And in January of this year, the Government
of Armenia approved the action plan for the implementation of this
“road map.” Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan likewise are
members in the Customs Union.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

SERZH SARGSYAN ATTENDS OPENING OF YEREVAN MALL WHERE CARREFOUR WILL OPERATE

Thursday 20 February 2014 18:01
Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

Serzh Sargsyan attends opening of Yerevan Mall where Carrefour
will operate

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan attended the
opening ceremony of Slavmed medical center today.

The foundation works of Slavmed center started in place of the building
of Precision Equipment factory in 2012. The overall investment in
the center made around AMD5bln.

“Serzh Sargsyan also attended the opening ceremony of Yerevan Mall
multifunctional complex in the community of Shengavit in Yerevan
today. Construction of the two-storey complex started back in 2010.

The complex occupies total territory of 59 900 square meters and is
built with unique architectural solutions. Numerous world-famous
brands are represented in around 120 stores of Yerevan Mall trade
and entertainment center. Around 10000 square meters of area of the
center is allocated for famous Carrefour hypermarket which meets the
standards and quality requirements of the famous trade chain. The
opening of Carrefour is scheduled for the third quarter of 2014.

Yerevan Mall can employ around 2000 people”, the Armenian presidential
press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

OPPOSITION MP: THE TIME TO LAUNCH NO CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN AGAINST GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET COME

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Thursday, February 20, 15:50

The four opposition parliamentary forces are still working at the
document to express no confidence in the Government, however, they
have not taken a common decision yet, Armen Rustamyan, Head of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group, told journalists.

He said that the given issue will not be raised during the forthcoming
4-day session of the Parliament, because “the time has not come yet”.

He failed to answer the question whether the issue will be raised at
the following four-day session in a month.

Rustamyan pointed out that at the Feb 25 meeting ARFD is going to
raise the issue of creation of an interim parliamentary commission
to investigate the situation around Nairit Plant. He added that the
other opposition parliamentary groups fully support that initiative.

Nairit Plant was one of the six world synthetic rubber manufacturers
during the Soviet period. After the collapse of the USSR the Plant
suspended its operation. Since Armenia gained independence, the
Plant has changed its owners for several times, however, they failed
to develop the production and the Plant’s debts grew in the course
of time.

It should be noted that dozens of employees of Nairit Plant, which
has been idle since April 2010, regularly hold actions protest to
demand their salaries payable.

By some data, Rosneft has expressed an intention to build a new
rubber plant in Armenia instead of upgrading the current one. It is
not ruled out that part of the Nairit specialists will be employed
at the new plant.

On 25 December 2013, Rosneft, L.L.C. PIRELLI Tyre Russia, and Rosneft
Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Yerevan. The Memorandum
envisages creation of a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) production
joint venture in Armenia.

The fixed assets of Nairit Plant and its principal shareholder
Rhinoville Property Limited were transferred to Interbank as a result
of non-redemption of a loan. The 70 mln USD loan was provided in
2006 against security of the Plant. The latter received the loan for
5 years, i.e. till late Dec 2011, at 12,5% p.a. The current debt of
the Plant is over $130 mln.

From: A. Papazian

NEW SEED FARMING PROJECT FOR $459,000 LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 20. /ARKA/. A new program worth $459,000 has
started in Armenia to support vegetable seed farming, assistant
to representative of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Armenia Gayane Nasoyan said Thursday.

The program aims at laying basis for viable and stable production of
certified seeds based on own resources.

The 20-month program will be implemented by FAO together with Armenia’s
ministry of agriculture and will be coordinated by Vahan Amirkhanyan
on behalf of FAO Yerevan office and deputy minister Garnik Petrosyan
on behalf of the ministry of agriculture, Nasoyan said.

Amirkhanyan said the program will aim, first of all, at expanding
capacities of the scientific center for vegetables and commercial crops
and increasing production of seeds of local varieties in particular.

Today the center meets about 5-7% of seed demand in Armenia; some
20-25% is imported and origin country of the remaining part is unknown,
Amirkhanyan said.

Under the program, local seed production capacity is expected to
increase by about 20%, he said.

The program envisages also introduction of the required equipment,
he added.

The 2005 law about seeds is expected to be revised to protect local
producers’ rights and reduce quantity of poor-quality seeds in
the market.

Deputy minister of agriculture Garnik Petrosyan said at the meeting the
program will help promote vegetable production and create a reliable
basis for increased yields.

The project is implemented as part of the 2010-2014 seed production
program envisaging imports of elite wheat varieties so that 3,000-3,500
tons of elite wheat is available for distribution among farmers
by 2014.

Armenia consumes 650-720,000 tons of cereals every year, of it
435-450,000 tons for food purposes. Deficit is made up by imports
that amounted to 380-420,000 tons per year in the last five years. -0–

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

SECOND ARMENIAN WOMAN TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN TURKEY

February 20, 2014 | 14:32

Another Armenian woman is nominated mayoral candidate in the run-up
to the forthcoming local government elections in Turkey.

Newly founded Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) nominated Lora Baytar
Capar as mayoral candidate for Samandag Municipality in Hatay Province.

In 2013, Lora Baytar married Cem Capar, who is chairman of the board
of the Armenian church in Vakif (Vakifli), which is Turkey’s sole
Armenian-populated village.

As reported earlier, HDP had nominated Armenian woman Nivart
Bakircioglu as mayoral candidate for Bakirkoy Municipality of
Metropolitan Istanbul.

From: A. Papazian

FEB 20 MARKS 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAKH LIBERATION MOVEMENT

February 20, 2014 – 16:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – February 20, 1988, marks the beginning of
the national liberation movement in Nagorno Karabakh, when the
Karabakh Council of People’s Deputies, with the votes 110 to 17,
passed a resolution requesting Azerbaijan for secession and Armenia
for annexation. The action was in full accordance with the USSR
Constitution, specifically the article on the right of secession. The
decision brought out tens of thousands of demonstrators, both in
Stepanakert and in Yerevan, yet eventually Moscow decided to reject
Karabakh’s demands for reunification with Armenia.

Every act of democratic expression of the people’s will was followed
by economic blockades, demographic expansion and violation of the
rights of Armenian population. Mass murders and pogroms in Azerbaijani
cities of Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad ensued, to be later spread across
the country. Hundreds were left dead and injured, with 450 thousand
of Armenians abandoning their homes.

On December 10, 1991 an independence referendum was held in Nagorno
Karabakh to be approved by 99.89% of voters. The NKR Supreme Council
(the parliament) that was formed on December 28, 1991 adopted a
Declaration of Independence confirming the results of the referendum
and succession of legal documents implementing the right of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh on self-determination of its political status.

The newly-formed government of Karabakh stated its work in the
circumstances of absolute blockade and the ensuing war, unleashed by
Azerbaijan. The war which lasted from the fall of 1991 to the spring
of 1994, continued with varied success on Armenian side. There were
periods when almost 60% of the NKR territory became occupied by Azeris,
with the capital city of Stepanakert and other settlements permanently
subjected to mass air raids and shelling.

In order to resist Azerbaijani aggression, life in the NKR completely
focused on the military effort. The NKR State Defense Committee
was formed on August 14, 1992. Separate defense detachments were
reconfigured forming the Nagorno Karabakh defense army, based on
principles of discipline and central command.

The NKR defense army succeeded in liberating the previously captured
territories from Azerbaijan and, during military engagements, occupied
a few Azeri-adjacent regions that had been used as firing lines
against the Armenians. The creation of the security zone precluded
the immediate threat facing the peaceful population of the NKR.

Through mediation of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the CIS Interparliamentary
Council Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia signed the
Bishkek Document in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 5,
1994. According to that document, parties to the conflict agreed to
a cease-fire, effective from May 12th to date.

In 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed to resolve the Karabakh
conflict, with the settlement talks launched under its auspices.

Throughout 26 years, none of the people of Karabakh ever allowed the
thought of returning under Azeri jurisdiction: none of them will agree
to stand back from something won at the cost of all the bloodshed
and losses suffered.

From: A. Papazian

ORANGE COUNTY EVENT TO SHOWCASE HAROUTIUN GALENTZ

Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

The event will feature works by Harutiun Galentz

BY ARA KASARIAN

On Sunday, March 16, 1 pm at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach,
Calif., Saro Galentz — son of Haroutiun Galentz — will be here from
Armenia to speak about the life of his father, in an event titled
“The Man, The Mind and Heart of One of Our Nations Most Accomplished
Artists.”

Saro, who followed in his fathers footsteps, an accomplished artist
himself, and now Professor of the Yerevan State Fine Arts Academy,
will discuss the life and times of growing up a Galentz. Haroutiun
Galentz, an orphan, lived through our nations tragedy of genocide
and continued to live on to become one of Armenia’s most accomplished
artists. Through his works, Haroutiun was able to express life as he
saw it, on canvas and through color as a form.

Saro will have at the event some of his father’s paintings to
showcase. Saro also will be bringing 20 pieces of his own works to
sell at this event and will donate all the proceeds to the Society for
Orphaned Armenians Relief — Orange County (SOAR-OC) which will benefit
Armenian orphans. Saro feels that since his father was an orphan,
he wanted to contribute back in some form to help other orphans,
so he choose to donate his works to help in a small way.

This is a must see event. Attendees will have the opportunity to look
into the life and times of Haroutiun as seen through his son’s eyes.

At this meet and greet, you will be able to see a few of his father’s
paintings. All other paintings are now housed at the recently
opened Galentz Museum in Yerevan, the Yerevan Modern Art Museum, the
Echmiadzin Art Gallery, the Charentsavan Art Gallery, the Vanadzor
Museum, the Kapan Modern Art Museum, as well as in various private
collections throughout the world.

Please RSVP by email to [email protected]. Seating is limited.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN UNIVERSITY RECTOR FAILED TO SUBVERT STUDENT RALLY: NEWS.AM

02.20.2014 15:35 epress.am

Attempts by State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Rector
Ara Avetisyan to subvert the Feb. 20 demonstration against the new
mandatory pension system organized by the “Dem Em” (“I am against”)
initiative on university property failed, and the demonstration took
place, reports local news provider News.am (AM).

The night before, the rectorate, the trade union organization,
and student council issued a joint statement calling on the Dem Em
initiative to refrain from the idea of organizing mass meetings and
rallies on SEUA property and not to disturb the learning process.

Today, before the demonstration began, Rector Ara Avetisyan approached
youth standing in groups on the yard, asking them about their class,
who is the lecturer, and urging them to go to the classrooms.

When members of the Dem Em initiative came onto university property,
the rector approached them, urging them not to hold the rally, as it’s
“a careless attitude toward the students.”

Though organizers planned to start at 12:30, in order not to disrupt
classes, the rector warned that there’s currently a class at the
nearby college and expressed hope organizers would be conscientious
and complete their demonstration at 12:45 pm so that students can
return to their classes.

“You are the future of this country, you yourselves should create
such a country in which tomorrow you and your children can live in
dignity,” said Dem Em initiative member Tigran Grigoryan.

Students and lecturers gathered in the university yard supported the
speeches with applause and shouting, “I am against!”

Organizers ended the rally at 12:45 pm sharp and the students returned
to their studies.

Click here to read this article in full (in Armenian).

From: A. Papazian

JOURNEE DE COMMEMORATION A L’OCCASION DU 70EME ANNIVERSAIRE DE L’EXECUTION DU GROUPE MANOUCHIAN

COMMUNIQUE DE LA JAF MARSEILLE

La Jeunesse Armenienne de France organise une journee de commemoration
a l’occasion du 70ème anniversaire de l’execution du groupe Manouchian,
le samedi 22 fevrier 2014.

Pour ce triste anniversaire, la JAF organise le samedi 22 fevrier
une journee exceptionnelle a l’occasion du 70ème anniversaire de
l’execution du groupe Manouchian. Une journee et deux temps forts pour
honorer la memoire de Manouchian et de ses 21 compagnons, morts pour la
France, executes par les nazis, le 21 fevrier 1944 au Mont Valerien. La
seule femme du groupe, Olga Bancic, sera decapitee le 10 mai 1944.

Le premier rendez-vous est donne au Square Missak Manouchian (Bd
Charles Livon 7ème) a 11 heures pour la ceremonie officielle avec la
participation des 50 enfants de la chorale des e !nfants de la JAF
et des Scouts apostoliques. Un hommage a tous ces resistants Juifs,
Hongrois, Polonais, Roumains, Espagnols, Italiens et Armeniens ;
ainsi qu’a leur chef de bande Missak Manouchian, inspirateur du
mouvement JAF.

Ces immigres etaient determines a combattre les nazis pour liberer
la France, patrie des Droits de l’Homme.

[email protected] l Site : Cette journee est
placee dans le cadre de la 7ème edition d’Amnesie Internationale,
manifestation pour la memoire et contre l’oubli de tous les genocides,
organisee par la JAF depuis 2001.

* Journee organisee avec le soutien de l’Association Nationale des
Anciens Combattants et amis de la Resistance (ANACR), l’Association
des Anciens Combattants et Resistants Francais d’Origine Armenienne,
le Comite de Coordination des Associations des Anciens Combattants,
l’Union Culturelle Francaise des Armeniens de France (UCFAF) et les
Scouts apostoliques de Marseille

Le second est fixe au Centre-Culturel de la JAF – Av de Toulon,
Marseille 6ème :

* 18h30 : Vernissage de l’exposition > Exposition des
Anciens Combattants presenter pour la première fois dans la region

* 19h : Declamations de Richard Martin (Directeur du Theâtre du
Toursky) et de Didier Faure (comedien)

* 20h : Avant-propos par Robert Mencherini (Professeur d’universite
en histoire contemporaine)

* 20h30 : Diffusion du film

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Representatives of European Non-Governmental Organizations meet with His
Holiness Aram I

Antelias – On Friday 14 February 2014, representatives of Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGO) from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom met with His Holiness Aram I. These NGO’s are engaged in
humanitarian work in Syria and are particularly concerned with the presence
of Christians in the region. Prior to travelling to the region, they met
with the governments of member countries of the European Union.

Having been informed of the contribution of His Holiness Aram I to the
Geneva 2 meeting held at the World Council of Churches (WCC), they were
interested in hearing his views on the crisis. His Holiness explained the
purpose of the WCC statement and added that the only way to peace in Syria
is through dialogue between the government, the opposition and
representatives of local communities, with the support of the United Nations
and the Arab League. In his conclusion, the Catholicos insisted that any
solution to the Syrian crisis must recognize the rights and obligations of
Christians because they are native to the country and the region.
##

From: A. Papazian