Author: Andres-Papazian

“EXTERNAL RELATIONS GROUP” CENTER OF COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES OPENED IN YEREVAN

21:22, 11 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: “External Relations Group” center
launched in Yerevan. Armenpress reports that the group is aimed at
the large-scale study of the foreign relations of Armenia. Each week
the official web site of the group, mfa.am, will publish various
professional analysis related to the external relations of Armenia.

The group has already organized its first professional open discussion
titled “EU-Armenia-Russia. More for more”.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted
that Armenia had chosen economic development model based on the market
relations. According to the Deputy Minister Armenia-EU relations are
actively developing the evidence of which is the visit of Jose Manual
Barroso to Armenia.

First Counsellor of EU delegation in Armenia Otto Simons, Valeriu
Razlog, Head of EBRD Yerevan RO and Head of EU Advisory Group to
the Republic of Armenia William van der Geest partook at the opening
ceremony of the center.

From: A. Papazian

DAVID BABAYAN: AXE-MURDERER SAFAROV’S CASE MADE YEAR 2012 ONE OF MOST UNSUCCESSFUL YEARS FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

17:43 11/12/2012 ” TOPIC OF THE DAY

2012 was one of the most unsuccessful years for Karabakh settlement
and the main reason behind it is Baku’s policy, particularly making
hero out of axe-murderer Ramil Safarov and processes related to it,
Artsakh President’s spokesman David Babayan told Panorama.am, while
commenting on the 19th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting held recently
in Dublin.

According to him, despite the international community’s calls for
Azerbaijan to revise its position, Azerbaijan keeps its fascist policy
and is not ready for a compromise.

“The Co-Chair countries try to take actions to prevent additional
tension in the region. But it is impossible to restrain Azerbaijan
in this way,” said the spokesman.

Establishing the ineffectiveness of restraining moves against
Azerbaijan, Mr Babayan stressed that it is time for the international
community to take more radical measures.

From: A. Papazian

EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK CHAIRMAN SAYS ARMENIA’S GROWING TRADE DEFICIT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN

YEREVAN, December 11. / ARKA /. Igor Finogenov, the chairman of the
Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), speaking at a news conference in
Yerevan today said Armenia’s economic activity is quite high – 7.9%
– driven by strong performance in industry, agriculture and service
sectors, but its growing trade deficit which rose to $974 million is
of great concern.

“Given limited foreign direct investment in Armenian economy this year,
the trade deficit remains a challenge for the authorities,’ he said,
adding that 50% of foreign investments in Armenia are Russian.

“In the first post-Soviet years, mutual investments in the CIS
and Georgia were mostly channeled into oil, gas and raw materials
sector, but now we see signs of growth in engineering, real estate,
hospitality, telecommunications, food industries, which need fresh
investments. These are the areas where Armenia is no inferior to
other CIS countries. I am confident that Armenia may succeed in this
direction,” he said.

The total amount of foreign investment in the real sector of Armenian
economy in January-September 2012 decreased by 35.2% year-on-year to
$391 million. Foreign direct investment in the real economy sector
amounted to about $221.3 million, down from $479.4 million in the
first nine months of 2011.

Armenian economy minister Tigran Davtyan said earlier the government
is able to ensure a 7 percent economic growth in 2012. The 7 percent
growth target was set by president Serzh Sargsyan on June 18 as he
chaired the first meeting of his new Cabinet.-0-

From: A. Papazian

FIRST RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TV CHANNEL ON SALE

TERT.AM
11.12.12

The first Russian-Armenian TV channel, TV ARM RU, is to be sold for
RUB 80m (US $2.6m).

President of the TV channel Armen Ghazaryan told Tert.am that the TV
channel’s debts are the main reason for the sale.

The TV channel has received some offers, but nothing is clear yet.

The TV channel is broadcasted by all the largest TV networks in Russia.

TV ARM RU is supposed to strengthen Armenian-Russian cultural and
humanitarian ties and defend common interests in the development
of political, economic and social cooperation between multinational
Russia, the other CIS member-countries and Baltic States.

From: A. Papazian

ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ARMENIA MAY BE MORE, THAN EXPECTED: IMF REPRESENTATIVE

17:17, 11 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The International Monetary Fund
considers economic growth of 4 – 4,5 percent for Armenia by the end
of the year.

As reprts “Armenpress” IMF Resident Representative in Armenia
Guillermo Tolosa stated this during the press conference held on
December 11. According to him if IMF considered less than 4 percent
of economic growth in Armenia for 2012, already in September of the
current year they started considering more than 4 percent of economic
growth for the Republic of Armenia.

Among other things IMF Resident Representative in Armenia Guillermo
Tolosa stated: “Frankly speaking by the end of the year the results
can be even better. There are some spheres where we can notice much
better results. Among them we can mention particularly agriculture,
mining industry, and services. It’s of a certain importance that the
sphere of construction also recorded growth. By all means this tempo
is not yet so impressive, but it is rather positive result.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE SILICON VALLEY OF THE CAUCASUS

12:28 10.12.2012

Within the framework of the working visit to the US, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited the California Institute of
Technology, where he met with its President Jean-Lou Chameau. The
Prime Minister presented the reforms Armenia implements in the field
of education and briefed on the process of improvement of the quality
of education and the international accreditation of higher education
establishments.

The interlocutors discussed the perspectives of development of
bilateral cooperation. Reference was made to the potential of
development of Information Technologies in Armenia.

US Congressman Adam Schiff, who was present at the meeting, said
“Armenia has the necessary potential to become the Silicon Valley of
the Caucasus.”

PR Tigran Sargsyan next met with Armenian alumnae of the California
Institute of Technology, students and US-based Armenian scholars.

Reference was made to the situation in the sphere of natural and exact
sciences in Armenia and the perspectives of their development. Tigran
Sargsyan urged the students and scholars to reinforce their ties with
the Motherland and contribute to the development of science in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN DIPLOMATS COME TOGETHER FOR A MEETING IN PARIS

12:58 10.12.2012

On December 9 in Paris Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian convened
consultations with Armenian Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives
accredited to European countries.

The Foreign Minister briefed the Ambassadors on the latest developments
in Armenia’s foreign policy, the process of settlement of the
Artsakh issue, the results of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting
in Dublin. Reference was made to the issues to be discussed at the
forthcoming Armenia-EU Cooperation Council meeting in Brussels in
a week and the works towards proper organization and conduct of the
presidential elections in compliance with democratic standards.

Edward Nalbandian gave instructions on the further deepening of
cooperation with international organizations, development of bilateral
relations with European countries, the work to be done ahead of the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

During the meeting a special emphasis was put on the economic component
of the Embassies’ activity, the development of inter-parliamentary
ties, expansion of decentralized cooperation.

The heads of Armenian diplomatic missions presented the processes
taking place in their respective countries of accreditation and the
steps taken towards development of relations with Armenia.

The high-ranking diplomats discussed a number of regional and
international issues.

From: A. Papazian

LA SCPEC CONFIRME LA HAUSSE DES PRIX DU PAIN ET DE LA FARINE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 10 decembre 2012

L’organe publique en charge de lutter contre les monopoles en Armenie
a confirme que les commercants ont releve les prix de la farine et
du pain. La Commission d’Etat pour la Protection de la Competition
Economique (SCPEC) a dit que les prix du pain ont grimpe de 10 a 20
drams au cours des deux dernières semaines.

Le president de la SCPEC, Artak Shaboyan, a blâme la hausse du prix
de la farine sur les marches internationaux. Il a aussi dit que la
Russie frappee de secheresse aura moins de ble pour les exportations
cette saison.

Artak Shaboyan a dit il y a des centaines de boulangeries en Armenie
et il n’y a aucun problème de competition. Il a dit que l’evaluation
de ce marche montre qu’il est libre et les plus grands importateurs
de ble Alex Grig et Manana Grey sont observes par la SCPEC.

Dans le port russe de Novorossiysk, où les societes armeniennes
achètent la plupart du ble, le prix d’une tonne de ble de categorie
4 en septembre est passe de 240 $ a 265 $

lundi 10 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

CONFERENCE DE 2 JOURS SUR L’EDUCATION DU MINISTERE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 10 decembre 2012

Le 27 novembre, au Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzin, avec les benedictions
de Sa Saintete Karekin II, Patriarche Supreme et Catholicos de Tous
les Armeniens et en collaboration avec la Fondation armenienne de la
Table Ronde, une conference de deux jours s’est ouverte sur l’education
du ministère.

La conference a ete suivie par des ecclesiastiques ; des theologiens ;
des experts educatifs de l’Armenie, de l’Europe et d’Asie Centrale ;
des representants du Ministère du Travail et des Affaires Sociales ;
des representant des Nations unies (UNFPA).

La conference s’est ouverte avec des remarques par Son Eminence
l’Archeveque Nathan Hovhannisyan ; directeur du Departement des
Publications du Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzin et President du Conseil
Monastique.

lundi 10 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

MONTPELLIER ME LUC KIRKYACHARIAN, BETONNIER DESIGNE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 10 decembre 2012

“Je me sens montpellierain pour la première fois.” Me Luc Kirkyacharian
savoure. Hier, ses pairs l’ont elu bâtonnier designe (*), titre qui
lui avait echappe lors des deux dernières elections. Sa troisième
candidature a ete la bonne : il l’a facilement emporte face a Regine
Barthelemy (dont c’etait la première tentative) dès le premier tour,
par 402 voix contre 244 sur 708 votants.

M e Kirkyacharian “C’est une belle election, avec une majorite absolue
au premier tour, cela ne s’etait pas vu depuis dix ans”, se targue
ce specialiste du droit du travail. Qui a cependant eu l’avantage de
n’avoir a lutter que contre un seul adversaire… Etonnant ? “Cela
fait longtemps qu’il n’y a pas eu aussi peu de candidats, confirme
Michèle Tisseyre, l’actuel bâtonnier. La fonction est très lourde,
c’est une experience formidable, mais il faut vraiment se rendre
disponible. Moi, c’est douze heures de travail par jour en moyenne.”

“Je me sens desormais montpellierain”

Luc Kirkyacharian, presque sexagenaire, natif de Paris, mais qui a
longtemps vecu a Grenoble avant de preter serment a Montpellier, en
1979, aime cette ville qu’il n’a plus quittee. Et avec ce bâtonnat,
il entend consacrer une grande partie de son energie a ses confrères.

“J’ai tellement ete boulimique de travail que j’ai voulu prendre
du recul et m’interesser au collectif”, dit celui qui a effectue
deux mandats au conseil de l’Ordre et passe dix ans comme membre du
conseil regional de discipline. “Mon travail sera de faire le lien
entre les quinze branches de notre profession qui sont quinze metiers
differents et dont le judiciaire n’est que la partie visible.”

Feru de haute montagne, armenien par son père – “Kirkyacharian veut
dire “l’homme du milieu de la vie”” -, il vit cette election comme une
integration a la cite. “Avec mon nom armenien, moi qui n’ai pas fait
l’universite ici, qui fais du droit social longtemps meprise, je me
sentais decale. C’est pour ca que je me sens desormais montpellierain.”

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lundi 10 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian