Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS’ FOREIGN DEBT EXCEEDS $1BLN

June 26, 2013 | 02:41

YEREVAN. – The foreign debt of Armenia’s commercial banks and credit
institutions is close to $1.03 billion, as of the end of March 2013,
the Central Bank bulletin informs.

To note, the foreign debt of the banks has reduced by about $150
million, as compared to December 2012.

Armenia’s banks and credit institutions received loans totaling
$541.3 million from abroad, and they repaid $545.2 million from the
previously acquired loans.

Russia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany are the primary
creditor countries of Armenia. In addition, international organizations
have provided approximately 35.7 percent of the loans to Armenia.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

BORUSSIA DORTMUND TO OFFER ~@25M FOR MKHITARYAN – BILD

June 26, 2013

Borussia Dortmund of Germany still wants to acquire Armenian national
football team and Ukraine’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder
Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The runners up of the past Bundesliga season are ready to pay ~@25
million to transfer the 24-year-old Armenian international, Bild
reports. The parties have already started negotiations.

Borussia Dortmund Manager Jurgen Klopp seeks to transfer Mkhitaryan.

The club believes the Armenian national squad player can replace
attacking midfielder Mario Gotze, who transferred to Bayern Munich
of Germany.

To note, England’s Liverpool FC likewise are seriously interested in
the services of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

NEWS.am Sport

From: A. Papazian

FOOTBALL : DES FANS ARMENIENS AGRESSES APRES UN MATCH AMICAL EN GEORGIE

Un groupe de fans armeniens qui s’etait rendu a Tbilissi, en Georgie,
pour assister a un match de football impliquant leur equipe a ete
agresse par la population locale.

Selon les medias, environ 130 personnes ont attaque quelques dizaines
de supporters armeniens, y compris les jeunes femmes, quelques minutes
après le coup de sifflet final du match entre le Dynamo Tbilissi et
le Shirak de Gyumri qui s’est terminee par un match nul 1-1.

Regnum.ru rapporte que la police georgienne est intervenue pour
arreter les violences.

Les medias georgiens n’ont pas signale l’incident qui n’a pas encore
suscite de reaction officielle soit a Erevan ou Tbilissi.

mercredi 26 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

INAUGURATION DE LA PLAQUE OLGA BANCIC

Le jeudi 04/07/13 a 16H30 au 114 rue du Château a Paris 14eme se
tiendra l’inauguration de la plaque memoriel pose sur l’immeuble
où habitait Olga BANCIC juive roumaine membre du groupe Manouchian
decapitee en mai 1944, en presence du maire du 14emme arrondissement
Pascal CHERKI et de l’adjointe au Maire de Paris chargee de la Memoire
et du Monde Combattants Catherine VIEU-CHARIER.

Les Ambassadeurs d’Israël et d’Armenie ont egalement ete invites a
cette manifestation, une reception a la Mairie du 14eme devrait etre
prevue ensuite ainsi que la projection d’un film sur la FTP MOI.

La presence des membres de l’ANACRA ainsi que les portes drapeaux
sont attendus

JPEG – 901.9 ko mercredi 26 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS AZERI PRESIDENT SHOULD STUDY HISTORY

June 26, 2013 – 15:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Regardless of Azeri wishes and expectations, the
independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a fact, with no
other alternatives possible, the deputy parliament speaker said.

Commenting on recent statement of President Ilham Aliyev who voiced
intention to “restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,”
Eduard Sharmazanov noted, “the sooner Baku reconciles itself to
Artsakh’s independence, the easier it will find to accept the reality.”

In reply to Aliev’s claims that the territory of modern Armenia is a
part of historic Azerbaijan, the official referred the Azeri leader
to works of Strabo, Plutarch and Ptolemy to avoid blunders in history
knowledge in future.

From: A. Papazian

AGHVAN VARDANYAN: THERE IS INTERNAL TENSION IN POLITICAL FIELD

15:17 26/06/2013 ” POLITICS

Although political processes have stopped and there is a summer calm
in politics, nevertheless, there is internal tension in the political
field, Secretary of ARFD parliamentary faction Aghvan Vardanyan told
today’s news conference.

Among the problems that have caused tension in the political field he
mentioned the retreat of national and state values, growing emigration,
contradictions between the government and the Control Chamber, the
offshore scandal, the EurAsEC and the European Union.

Speaking of ARFD’s tasks in view of the mentioned problems, Vardanyan
said, “We should carry out internal reforms at least for one year,
and restore the confidence of the public. There is much to be done.”

The ARFD member added that he believes that the President should
address the people no later than in early autumn. “The domestic
problems and foreign challenges have caused the necessity of his
speech.”

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT, GFI SOFTWARE COMPANY SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

19:15 ~U 24.06.13

Armenia’s government and the GFI Software, a developer of Web & Mail
security, Networking & Security and Archiving & Fax computer software,
have signed a memorandum of understanding.

The document was signed by Armenia’s Minister of Economy Vahram
Avetisyan and President and CEO of GFI Software Walter F. Scott III.

The sides stressed the importance of the memorandum and noted that it
will facilitate the development of bilateral cooperation and promotion
of GFI Software programs in Armenia.

Vache Gabrielyan, Head of the Armenian Government Staff, said that
the IT sector is one of the Armenian government’s priorities and is
the center of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s attention.

Walter F. Scott III said that the Armenian office of the GFI Software
company has a 50-member staff and plans to double it soon.

He appreciates the opportunities for IT development in Armenia and
Armenian specialists’ high professional level and skills.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SPEAKS ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

June 24, 2013 | 16:13

US Ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, and his wife visited
Akhtamar Island on Lake Van, and marveled at the Surp Khach (Holy
Cross) Armenian Church on the island.

Following his trip, Ricciardone shared his impressions with news
reporters, CNN Turk news agency of Turkey reports. He stressed that,
after its restoration, the church had become more beautiful than 33
years ago, ever since his first visit there.

The US ambassador also stated that the process of normalization of
relations between Turkey and Armenia was moving forward.

” The results are already apparent. Four times more tourists visited
Akhtamar as compared to the previous year. The history of Van occupies
an important place for tourism. At the same time, it is very important
for the Armenians and the Americans. Those that want to come to Van
should come without hesitation,” the American diplomat noted.

From: A. Papazian

TRAMS IN STRASBOURG WILL BE DECORATED IN COLORS OF ARMENIAN FLAG

21:27, 24 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS: Foreign affairs minister of the Republic
of Armenia, President of Minister’s committee of Council of Europe
Edward Nalbandian and mayor of Strasbourg Ronald Ries took part in the
ceremony of presentation of trams with symbol of Armenian presidency
in Council of Europe.

“Armenpress” was informed from press service of foreign affairs
ministry that performing with greeting speech during the ceremony
Edward Nalbandian said that for several months citizens of Strasbourg
and the guests of the city will use trams decorated in colors of
Armenian flag which will transfer to thousands of passengers the
warm heart of Armenian people, their wish to share with 800 million
Europeans peaceful sky and build decent future.

At the same day minister Nalbandian left for Poland to join
thedelegation headed by President Serzh Sargsyan which arrives in
Poland on an official visit.

From: A. Papazian

350 INTELLECTUALS URGE PRESIDENT, CATHOLICOS, TO HALT GANDZASAR MONASTERY RESURFACING

On June 21, 350 “intellectuals” (architects, historians,
archaeologists, ‘meritorious artists’, musicologists, actors,
composers, painters, poets….) signed a letter addressed to Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II,
calling on them to immediately halt the on-again, off-again resurfacing
of the Gandzasar Monestary complex in Artsakh.

They call on President Sargsyan and Catholicos Garegin II to invite a
team of specialists (seismologists, geo-physicists and archaeologists)
that will organize the removal of the polished stones that have been
attached to complex and restore the monastery to its original and
unadulterated form.

The list of “intellectuals”, in Armenian, can be accessed here.

From: A. Papazian