Author: Andres-Papazian

FOOD PRICES IN ARMENIA RISE BY 2.1 PERCENT IN OCTOBER

YEREVAN, November 5. / ARKA /. In October 2012 food prices in Armenia
increased by 2.1% from September, the National Statistical Service
reported, saying the rise was driven by a hike in prices of eggs,
bread, animal and vegetable oils, fruits, vegetables and potatoes
from 2.5% to 9% .

According to its numbers, the price of cucumbers rose by 15.1%,
that of cauliflower by 15.6%, the price of cabbage surged by 17.3%,
that of eggplant by 30.9%, the price of green pepper soared by 32.6%,
that of tomatoes nearly doubled and prices of potatoes and green
beans rose by 2.4% and 4%, respectively.

The National Statistical Service said also the fruit prices grew in
October 2012 by 5.6%.

It also recorded an 18.7 percent drop in the prices for carrots, a
17 percent drop in the price of green onion; radishes price dropped
by 6.4%, that of garlic declined by 6.3%. The prices of oranges and
pomegranates fell by 4% and 24.2% respectively.

Bread prices rose by 2.6 percent due to a rise in f flour prices from
3 to 5.7 percent depending on the type. -0-

From: A. Papazian

ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN MEDICINES IS TO GROW TO $$95-$135 BY 2020: ECONOMY MINISTRY SAYS

YEREVAN, November 5. / ARKA /. Annual production of medicines in
Armenia is to rise to $95-$135 million by 2020, according to Hayk
Mirzoyan, head of a department in the economy ministry in charge of
industrial policies.

Speaking to ARKA news agency on the sidelines of the fourth informal
meeting of heads of local pharmaceutical companies, held in the resort
town of Tsakhkadzor November 3-4, he said in 2010, the output amounted
to $8 million, and in 2015 it is likely to jump to $30-35 million.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the
pharmaceutical sector posted a 5.3% rise in the first nine months of
this year from a year earlier. The total production in that time span
made about 2.7 billion drams.

In the reporting period pharmaceuticals sales made 2.6 billion drams,
a 12.3% growth compared to the same period of 2011, including 935.2
million drams worth products sold in former Soviet republics.

According to Mirzoyan, exports should increase to $20-25 million by
2015 and further to $75-$114 million by 2020.

He said a set of measures will be implemented to attain these figures,
including soft loans and government grants.

The informal gathering was attended by economy and health ministers
Tigran Davtyan and Derenik Dumanyan. The event was organized by the
Union of Manufacturers and Importers of Medicines, the Ministry of
Health and the Ministry of Economy, with the support of EDMC / USAID).

($ 1 – 405.96 drams). -0-

From: A. Papazian

FM, OSCE MG ATTEMPT TO BRING KARABAKH TALKS TO CONSTRUCTIVE VEIN

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister believes bringing the
Nagorno Karabakh process back to the constructive field to be the key
goal of the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart and OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs.

According to Edward Nalbandian, Baku turned down all the proposals by
the mediators and thwarted the negotiations, with the
Hungarian-Azerbaijani deal on assassin Ramil Safarov having undermined
the talks.

~SMeanwhile, Armenia upheld commitment to continue the negotiation
process,~T Minister Nalbandian said, adding that the international
community~Rs indignation over Safarov pardon brought about changes in
Karabakh talks.

~SArmenia~Rs and Minsk Group~Rs intention to keep the negotiations going
remains unchanged,~T he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met on October 28 with the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Robert Bradtke, Igor Popov, Jacques Faure
and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk in Paris. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov joined the parties later.

At the meeting, the co-chairs stressed the necessity to ease tensions
between the conflicting parties, briefing those present on their views
for achieving progress in Karabakh conflict settlement.

The Ministers, in turn, announced their readiness to continue joint
work in reaching a peaceful solution.

In conclusion, the parties agreed to discuss the co-chairs~R
suggestions during the latters~R visit to the region in November,
Foreign Ministry press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO OPEN EMBASSIES IN MEXICO, VIETNAM AND INDONESIA IN 2013

TERT.AM
05.11.12

The Armenian foreign affairs ministry will be allocated 10 billion
557 million drams with the 2013 state budget which is 1 billion 420
drams more as compared with the past year.

The part of the allocated money will be spent on opening new embassies,
deputy finance minister Pavel Safaryan said at the discussion of 2013
budget in the NA.

He said the budget for preservation of Armenian embassies and
representations has increased by 919 million drams making 7 billion
600 million.

“With this money it is expected to open new embassies in Mexico,
Vietnam and Indonesia for which 436 million drams will be necessary,”
the deputy minister said.

He also stressed that funds will also be addressed to paying off the
part of the membership debt to international organizations gathered
for 20 years.

“The debt amounted to more than 20 million and today we manage to find
means for paying it. We have reduced the debt making it 5 million,”
he said.

From: A. Papazian

MILITARY COLLEGE TO BE BUILT IN NAGORNO KARABAKH (VIDEO)

05.11.12

On the sidelines of the events addressed toward ensuring Karabakh’s
security, a military college after Suvorov and Madatov will be built
in Nagorno Karabakh.

College’s press service reports, the works will be coordinated by
General-Mayor (Commandos) Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan.

He said the idea of the opening of the college belongs to former
resident of Karabakh’s Vank village Levon Hayrapetyan, who is funding
the project.

The college’s pupils will start getting military education from
school age. “Our goal is to apply the international experience. A
special task force has been created for it,” Commandos said, adding
that Armenia and Karabakh’s defense is an all-Armenian issue. In this
respect he particularly stressed the significance of engagement of
Diaspora Armenians in this sacred work.

The Karabakh military college will correspond to all the international
norms and standards. According to the project, besides military
divisions, the college will have big halls, football field, boxing
ring, volley-ball, basketball, tennis courts.

The college will be built not far from Gandzasar. The construction
works are expected to be completed by 2014.

From: A. Papazian

National Post (Canada)
November 2, 2012 Friday
National Edition

Spend the weekend with Rafael, Hamlet or a nice Jewish boy

by Chris Knight, National Post

In what’s being billed as the first major American motion picture
comedy to have an Armenian lead, My Uncle Rafael opens Friday at the
Cineplex Sheppard Grande in Toronto. The film stars Vahik Pirhamzei as
Rafael, an old-world font of wisdom who’s sent to live with “a modern
American family” to boost the ratings for a reality TV show.

Meanwhile, Montreal-born actor Bruce Ramsay directs and stars in a new
adaptation of Hamlet as a kind of Godfather-esque 1940s film noir. The
film, which opens at Toronto’s Projection Booth East on Nov. 2, strips
the play down to its Elsinore-set scenes, and features fellow Canadian
Lara Gilchrist in the role of Ophelia.

Finally, the Projection Booth Metro is screening a weeklong
Python-a-thon, with nightly showings of Monty Python and the Holy
Grail and Life of Brian.

From: A. Papazian

Opening of Stepanakert airport has no political goal – Karabakh official

news.am
November 03, 2012 | 23:09

STEPANAKERT.- Azerbaijan is trying to politicize the opening of
Stepanakert airport, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) President’s
spokesperson said.

Davit Babayan commented for Armenian News-NEWS.am on the recent
statement of State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland on
Stepanakert airport.

`Opening of the airport is not pursuing political goals. NKR
leadership repeatedly stated this. Azerbaijan is doing the opposite,
trying to politicize the issue,’ Babayan said.

Commenting on the State Department representative Victoria Nuland’s
statement saying `the operation of this airport should not be used to
support any claim of change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh,’
Babayan said the status of Nagorno-Karabakh had been determined long
ago.

`Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan,
only a part of Azerbaijan created during the Soviet times,’ he said.

Babayan also recalled that opening of the airport is pursuing peaceful
purposes. `It is a facility which will contribute to development of
the country,’ he noted.

The airport of Stepanakert has been launched but no flights are being
operated. Resumption of airport’s operation provokes hysteria in
Azerbaijan.

Baku is constantly threatening to shoot down the planes flying to
Stepanakert. Such threats directly contradict international law on
civil aviation.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Evangelical churches mobilize support for ABMDR

Published: Saturday November 03, 2012

Rev. Joseph D. Matossian with members of the ABMDR Board.

Los Angeles – During morning worship on October 7, Armenian
Evangelical churches throughout Southern California offered special
prayers for the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).

The Call to Prayer was requested by Rev. Joseph D. Matossian, Minister
to the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA) and a
longtime supporter of ABMDR. In his Call to Prayer addressed to
Evangelical pastors, Rev. Matossian urged them to “offer a prayer for
God’s special touch, as well as for divine guidance for the leadership
of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and its great endeavors.”

During his sermon at the United Armenian Congregational Church, in
Hollywood, Senior Pastor Rev. Ron Tovmassian spoke eloquently about
the life-saving mission of ABMDR. He urged members of the congregation
to register as potential bone marrow stem cell donors, “as there are
hundreds of patients who are in critical need of a donor match,” he
said. Rev. Tovmassian also informed the congregation that he himself
had joined the ranks of ABMDR, and went on to encourage everyone to
participate in ABMDR’s upcoming Walk of Life in Los Angeles.

Walk of Life, the annual walkathon of ABMDR, will take place on
Saturday, October 20, in Glendale. The event will start in front of
Glendale Memorial Hospital at 7:30 AM and conclude at noon at Verdugo
Park, where a community celebration, featuring live music, food, and
appearances by elected officials, will be held. Event participants
will also have the opportunity to become familiar with the work of
ABMDR and register as potential stem cell donors.

Among those in attendance at the United Armenian Congregational Church
morning worship on October 7 were Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of
ABMDR, and Diana Artunian of the ABMDR Board. Following the service,
Dr. Jordan and Artunian further familiarized congregation members with
the activities and goals of the registry.

“It is so wonderful to have the support of Rev. Matossian and Rev.
Tovmassian,” Dr. Jordan said. “The Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America continues to play an instrumental role in securing our
community’s solidarity with our mission.”

About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date,
the registry has recruited over 22,000 donors in 16 countries across
four continents, identified 2,135 patients, and facilitated 13 bone
marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit
abmdr.am.

From: A. Papazian

The Keene Sentinel, NH
Nov 4 2012

Why US foreign policy matters abroad

by Victoria Dementieva

Most U.S. citizens might not be so interested in the politics of other
countries, but in my country of Azerbaijan and many others around the
world people are watching with interest who will be elected to the
White House for the next four years. It is not a secret that the U.S.
is a powerful state to which most countries listen and respect.

The U.S. is also a mediator in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. It is a disputed mountainous section of land in Azerbaijan
of 1,700 square miles that lies along its border with Armenia.
Populated by Azerbaijanis and ethnic Armenians, Nagorno-Karabakh was a
part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic under Soviet Union
rule. In 1988, Karabakh Armenians began demonstrating in favor of
unifying instead with the Armenian republic. That’s when clashes
between Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in the region started.

During the fighting, in which between 20,000 and 30,000 people are
estimated to have died, the ethnic Armenians gained control of the
region. Many Azerbaijani people had to flee the area. The Armenians
also pushed to occupy Azerbaijani territory outside Karabakh, creating
a buffer zone linking Karabakh and Armenia. As a result, 20 percent of
Azerbaijan is occupied territory.

With the break-up of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh
declared itself an independent state, further escalating the conflict
into a full-scale war. The independence of the area has not been
recognized by any state in the world. A cease-fire was signed in 1994.
Since then, the United States, Russia and France have lead the
negotiation process for a permanent agreement. Through its leadership
role in the negotiation, the U.S. balances out the influence of
Russia, which retains great dominance in the South Caucasus region and
for its own self-interest is not actively working change the current
situation.

That’s just one example of why the kind of foreign policy the U.S.
will pursue over the next 4 years – if it will remain the same or,
taking into account some quite tough statements by candidate Mitt
Romney, be dramatically changed – is of keen interest to me and many
people living outside the U.S.

No one expects great changes in U.S. foreign policy towards the South
Caucasus, but the U.S. election can build momentum to push the peace
negotiation forward because no matter the winner, the election is
expected to bring fresh interest in U.S. foreign policy.

National Public Radio editor Ron Elving predicts that if Barack Obama
is re-elected, there might renewed focus on foreign policy: `Usually,
if a candidate is elected for a second term, he is more active in the
foreign policy issues.’

And if Obama’s reelected, his appointment of the next Secretary of
State will also be important, Elving adds. `It may be a person who is
closely familiar with foreign policy issues, for example John Kerry.
He knows the region very well. This can have a positive influence on
the process.’

And after some tough statements on Russia during Mitt Romney’s
campaign, he’s also expected to focus on that part of the world if
he’s elected.

`Mitt Romney is concerned over the Russian factor, therefore, I think
that he will be more active in the post-Soviet countries and support
the issues on disputed territories more actively,’ Politico Managing
Editor Bill Nichols said.

Elving agrees: `He will be more active in cooperation with those
countries. It will give opportunities for maneuvering, reaching
agreement and solving the conflicts.’

Unfortunately after more than 20 years, there is a lack of progress in
negotiation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The negotiation is in a
stalemate. That means the outcome of the U.S. presidential race could
have an important role in helping to push the process forward.

Victoria Dementieva of Baku, Azerbaijan is journalist visiting The
Keene Sentinel during the lead-up to the presidential election through
the Washington-based Foreign Press Center and International Center for
Journalists (ICFJ), which was co-founded by former Sentinel publisher
James D. Ewing. Dementieva is a correspondent for the international
politics department of APA (Azeri Press) news agency, where she writes
about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

From: A. Papazian

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
November 3, 2012 Saturday

Ambassador Abu Saeed: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey Responsible for
Every Drop of Blood Spilled in Syria

BEIRUT, (SANA) – Ambassador of the International High Commission for
Human Rights in the Middle East, member of the International
Parliament for Safety and Peace, Haitham Abu Saeed, held the countries
supporting terrorism responsible for every drop of blood spilled in
Syria.

In an interview with Syrian TV on Friday, Abu Saeed pointed out to the
involvement of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in what is happening in
Syria, saying “the involvement of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in what is
happening in Syria is plain and clear and they declare this through
the media ..

we regret this and condemn it.

“We have asked them to stop this immediately, and we add our voice to
the voice of Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in
demand not only from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but also from Turkey
which may be involved more than others, to stop supporting
militants… we hold them fully responsible yesterday, today and in
the future for every drop of blood spilled in Syria.” Abu Saeed
described the position of Ki-moon on the need to stop supporting armed
groups in Syria as being serious, explaining that this position is
based on the facts that indicate the presence of terrorist
organizations in the Syrian interior which work to undermine security
and the Syrian society.

He noted that the International High Commission for Human Rights
demanded the cessation of arming the opposition, saying “we were
optimistic regarding the need to limit arming in Syria since the
beginning of the events… we have referred to these topics since the
beginning and we had accurate information that we listen to through
the International Investigations Office belonging to the International
Parliament for Safety and Peace and the International High Commission
for Human Rights, which provides us with all the security and
intelligence information about topics that are assigned to it.” Abu
Saeed pointed out that European sides gave documented that only five
percent of the so-called armed opposition are Syrians and the rest are
of multiple non-Syrian nationalities.

Abu Saeed said that the opposition exploits the massacres it commits
prior to international conferences on Syria, stressing that the
International High Commission for Human Rights relies in its reports
on concrete evidence and objectivity, not emotions and political
whims.

He explained that the opposition accuse the Syrian government of
massacres, while the Commission carried out investigations,
discovering that sides in the opposition benefited from these
massacres and exploited them.

Abu Saeed also condemned Turkey’s hijacking of the Syrian plane and
later the Armenian plane, describing such acts as Mafia-like and
violating international aviation laws.

He went on to stress that change in Syria cannot come through
violence, but rather through ballots, noting that the international
community is aware of the strength and popularity of President Bashar
al-Assad and is afraid of this, as they are aware that if a democratic
choice were to be made as they claim then the Syrians will choose
their leadership, and more specifically they will choose President
al-Assad.

Regarding the mission of UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Ibrahimi, Abu Saeed
affirmed that the Commission supports Ibrahimi and is prepared to
offer anything that could ensure the success of his mission.

H.

Sabbagh

From: A. Papazian