Author: Andres-Papazian

97,000 people left Armenia in first nine months of 2012 – newspaper

news.am
October 20, 2012 | 08:17

YEREVAN. – The number of passengers who left from and did not return to
Armenia in the first nine months of this year – and by all means of
transport – has constituted 97 thousand. The Armenian State Migration Agency
publicized this datum, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports.

`In an interview with our reporter, Agency Chief Gagik Yeganyan said he
does not wish to give assessments, at this time, on the difference between
the arrivals and the departures because this datum is constantly changing
and an assessment can be made solely with the summarized numbers of the
year,’ Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian PM, UNWTO Secretary General explore the potential of
development of tourism

ARMRADIO.AM
11:16 20.10.2012

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Taleb Rifa, Secretary General
of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), who had arrived in
Armenia to participate in the two-day conference in Yerevan titled
`Universal Values and Cultural Diversity in the 21st Century: The Role
of Tourism.’

Mr. Rifa hailed the results of the conference. The UNWTO Secretary
General said he was impressed by the progress Armenia has registered
in the field of tourism. He attached great importance to the signing
of the Yerevan Declaration on intercultural dialogue and cultural
diversity, which promotes the development of tourism and respect for
universal values.

The interlocutors discussed the perspectives of development of tourism
in our country. The Prime Minister noted that despite the steady 5%
growth registered in the sphere, the implementation of the policy of
continuous development of tourism is one of the priorities of the
Armenian Government.

The parties emphasized the importance of creating a favorable
atmosphere for the development of mass tourism all over Armenia,
utilization of the local tourism potential, promotion of investments
in the field of hotel construction, creation of a network of
affordable hotels, examination of the best international practices and
establishment of ties with leading countries in the sphere.

UNWTO Secretary General expressed his willingness to help Armenia
solve the above-mentioned issues.

From: A. Papazian

Diaspora not helping Armenia enough – AGBU head

[image: Diaspora not helping Armenia enough – AGBU head
October 20, 2012 | 12:23

The Diaspora-Armenian communities face the peril of assimilation and
weakening, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) President Berj
Setrakian stated Saturday addressing the AGBU General Meeting being held at
the newly opened Matenadaran (Armenian ancient manuscript library) building
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In his words, solely ten thousand from the one-million-strong
American-Armenian community is actively involved in pro-Armenian
activities, and the situation is the same in Europe as well. The diaspora
annually collects $10-12 million for pro-Armenian activities, but this
amount is insufficient.

As per Berj Setrakian, if the seven-million Diaspora Armenians were to
donate $25 each, $100 million would be collected on a yearly basis.
According to the AGBU President, the low level of fundraising also weakens
the influence of the Armenian lobby groups in the US and Europe.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Le président Sarkissian s’engage à organiser des présidentielles exemplaires

Comme il l’avait fait avant les législatives de mai, le président
arménien Serge Sarkissian a assuré que son gouvernement déploierait
tous ses efforts pour que les élections présidentielles de février
2013 soient justes et libres. Le président arménien, qui devrait
briguer un 2e mandat lors de ce scrutin, s’exprimait le 17 octobre
lors d’une réunion du bloc des partis conservateurs européens, dont
est membre observateur la formation qu’il dirige, le Parti républicain
d’Arménie (HHK), qui a conservé sa position dominante dans le
Parlement arménien à la faveur des dernières législatives, globalement
jugées démocratiques par les observateurs européens même s’ils ont
déploré la persistance d’irrégularités. `Les élections législatives
qui se sont tenues en Arménia l’été dernier ont été considérées par
les observateirs internationaux comme les plus réussies depuis
l’indépendance. Les autorités de la République d’Arménie sont décidées
à transformer l’essai et à installer dans la durée les progrès
enregistrés, de telle sorte que les élections présidentielles à venir
soient libres, justes, transparentes et démocratiques’, a indiqué M.
Sarkissian dans sdon discours prononcé au congrès du parti populaire
européen (PPE), qui se tenait à Bucarest.

Dans cet objectif, a-t-il poursuivi, les autorités prennent les
`mesures préparatoires’ inspirées par les recommandations faites par
la mission d’observation électorale déployée en Arménie principalement
par l’OSCE. Citant les conclusions de la mission, l’Union européenne
avait fait une évaluation globalement positive des législatives du 6
mai, malgré les accusations de fraudes et irrégularités dénoncées par
l’opposition arménienne. Les leaders de l’UE ont indiqué dans le même
temps que le scrutin présidentiel à venir devrait être plus
démocratique encore, en précisant que cela était une condition pour la
tenue de la conférence internationale des dontaeurs sur l’Arménie
prébue par l’Europe. Selon les informations publiées dans les media,
Erevan espère que les bailleurs de fonds pourront lui verser une aide
pouvant aller jusqu’à un milliard de dollars.

M. Sarkissian a évoqué cette conférence dans in son discours, en
précisant que son gouvernement comptait sur une aide financière
`conséquente’ de l’UE afin de metter en `uvre les réformes «
structurelles qui donneront lieu à un système de gouvernance plus
performant’. Le chef de l’Etat arménien a aussi souligné que l’Arménie
était `une partie indivisible de la civisation européenne’. Il a à cet
égard souligné à nouveau l’importance de la participation de l’Arménie
au Programme de partenariat oriental de l’UE qui lui permet de
postuler un `accord d’association’ avec l’Europe des 27 (bientôt 28
avec la Croatie). Le PPE, conduit par la CDU allemande et l’UMP, avait
accordé un statut d’observateur au HHK de M. Sarkissian ainsi qu’à
deux autres partis arméniens au début de l’année.

samedi 20 octobre 2012,
Gari ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Another `fiasco’ of Armenian diplomacy (video, photos)

2012-10-19 23:31:15

On October 17, RA President, RPA leader Serzh Sargsyan, who was on a
working visit in Bucharest (Romania), participated in the convention
of European People’s Party and made a speech.

Serzh Sargsyan’s speech became a subject of heated discussions for the
public: there were both positive and negative responses. But it’s not
the content of his speech that makes us mention of this event once
again.

Remarkable is the fact that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, unlike
many other delegates, was busy during the President’s entire speech:
she was talking, `going here and there’. A question arises: will it
receive the attention of our diplomats or Merkel can do whatever she
wants? Or would other presidents or PMs allow themselves to act in a
similar way? Or maybe Merkel learned Armenian and was listening to the
RA president without any earphones?
Our task is to voice the issue; think over this gentlemen…

From: A. Papazian

EUBC congratulates Armenian Boxing Federation

October 19, 2012 – 21:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) has addressed a
special congratulatory note to RA Boxing Federation on the occasion of
Armenia’s successful performance at European Schoolboys Championships,
held Oct- 1-7 in Anapa, Russia.

The vice-president of RA Boxing Federation Samvel Gasparyan has also
expressed satisfaction with Armenian boxers’ participation, according
to the official website of RA Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.

14 athletes represented Armenia at the championships, with Arman
Antonyan and Alyosha Stamboltsyan winning silver, and Ashot
Mkhitaryan, Razmik Antonyan, Mnatsakan Harutyunyan, Zakar Khachatryan
and Van Melkumyan grabbing bronze.

From: A. Papazian

Fine of 30 Million Imposed on ArmenTel

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:51:56 – 19/10/2012

Today, a number of issues, including complaints submitted by citizens
against ArmenTel, Armenian Electric Networks, Haypost and South
Caucasus Railways were discussed.

ArmenTel Company was fined by 30 million. The Company applied a
different fee without letting the customer know about it. The others
were reprimanded for the quality of their services.

From: A. Papazian

Russian political expert: Georgian Dream is an American project

ARMINFO
Friday, October 19, 17:37

Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream is obviously an
American project and this force has come to power in Georgia with the
support of Washington, Vladimir Zakharov, Director of the Institute of
Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian Region, says
in his interview with ArmInfo.

“The whole operation connected with the change of power in Tbilisi was
undertaken in the USA; Moscow has nothing to do with it”, the expert
says. He stresses that as soon as pragmatist Ivanishvili replaces
rather emotional Mikheil Saakashvili, Moscow will start negotiations
with Tbilisi, which is undoubtedly a positive step. Zakharov thinks
that these negotiations may also lead to a consensus on resumption of
railway and motor communication via Abkhazia. That matter is what
Georgia will ask for that.

“Today the launch of a through traffic via Abkhazia is beneficial to
Russia and Georgia, as well as Turkey and Armenia. In this case Russia
will receive an opportunity to establish land communication with
Armenia, which is very important for maintenance of Russia’s presence
in the South Caucasus. Armenia will come out of the semi-blockade
imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey, and Turkey itself will gain a direct
land access to the immense Russian market. Thus, if implemented, the
given project will radically change the whole geopolitical scene of
the region”, Zakharov says.

To note, on October 18 Bidzina Ivanishvili, candidate for prime
minister of Georgia, expressed his intention to start a tour to
Europe. Earlier Ivanishvili received an invitation from Washington and
said that his first foreign visit will be paid to the USA.

From: A. Papazian

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN AND TURKISH CIVIL SOCIETY TO COME TOGETHER AT A CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL

armradio.am
17:35 19.10.2012

On October 22-23, 2012, more than 50 representatives of the Armenian
and Turkish civil society and expert communities will come together
at a conference in Istanbul to discuss the role of non-state actors
in promoting Armenia-Turkey relations.

The conference is organized as part of the “Support to Armenia-Turkey
Rapprochement” (SATR) project, funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), and implemented by the Eurasia
Partnership Foundation, Yerevan Press Club, International Center
for Human Development, and Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
(Employers) of Armenia. Key Turkish partners for the project include
the Global Political Trends Center, the Turkish-Armenian the Business
Development Council, Anadolu Kultur, the GAYA Research Institute, the
Media and Communications Department of Izmir University of Economics,
Toplum Gonulluleri Vakfi, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies
Foundation, and the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey.

The conference will summarize the outputs, achievements, and
lessons learned during the two years of the Support to Armenia-Turkey
Rapprochement Project implementation, as well as present an opportunity
to discuss strategies for the road ahead for non-state actors in
promoting Armenia-Turkey relations.

USAID and its partner organizations support Armenia-Turkey
rapprochement by facilitating engagement between civil society groups,
establishment and development of business partnerships and regional
professional networks, and enhanced understanding between the people,
for peace and economic integration in the region.

kish-civil-society-to-come-together-at-a-conference-in-istanbul/

From: A. Papazian

PROTEST BEFORE PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE: THIS IS NOT THE HOMETOWN YOU PROMISED TO INHERIT (VIDEO, PHOTO)

2012-10-19 17:07:42

More than 60 employees of the Cilivilitas Foundation held on Friday
a protest march, calling for urgent measures to halt the pressures
against the organization and its founder.

The group headed to the Prosecutor General’s Office from Yerevan’s
Northern Avenue to pass a petition-letter to Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepyan.

“We submitted a petition-letter, as well as the copies of a total
of 13,057 citizens’ signatures to the Prosecutor General’s Office,”
spokesperson for Civilitas, Albert Manaseryan, told.

Like the other employees of the foundation, Manaseryan thinks that
the criminal charges against Oskanian have no legal bases and pursue
political interests.

“We urge for urgent measures to halt this political persecution against
both Civilitas and its activities, and its founder, Vartan Oskanian,”
he said.

From: A. Papazian