Author: Andres-Papazian

IT’S OFFICIAL: GEORGIA IS THE “CRADLE OF WINE”
Yigal Schleifer

EurasiaNet.org

July 31 2012
NY

The title of being the birthplace of wine is a contested one, with
Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and even Azerbaijan all vying for it. But now
Georgia can at least claim that it is officially the “cradle of wine.”

As the all-things-Georgian-wine blog Hvino News reports, the European
Union has just awarded Georgia the exclusive right to sell wine within
its territory with the tagline “Georgia – the Cradle of Wine.” From
Hvino’s dispatch:

According to “Sakstat” (Georgia’s statistical institution), until 2011
this brand has belonged to a British company. The new registration
allows Georgia to ban any other company using the name without
permission. Use of the brand “Cradle of Wine” is supposed to help
promote Georgia as the oldest wine-producing country.

But even before Georgians had a chance to raise a celebratory glass,
the Financial Times weighed in on the question of Tbilisi’s plan to
label every bottle of wine with the now exclusive slogan, calling
the victory in Brussels a “mixed blessing”:

Emphasising its rich heritage is the obvious way for Georgian wine
to make its mark in a highly competitive global market. But some
consumers may more readily associate cradles with babies or bottle
racks than the history of the Alazani Valley.

This slogan may need more time to ripen.

Georgia has certainly been clever when it comes to marketing its wine.

When President Mikhail Saakashvili went to a 2006 summit meeting
of the GUAM group of countries — Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and
Moldova — in Kiev, soon after Russia had initiated a boycott on his
country’s wine, Tbilisi arranged for billboards to be put up in the
Ukrainian capital which promoted Georgian wine as “containing more
freedom than allowed” and as the wine “prohibited in Russia.”

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, below is a “Cradle of Wine”
promotional film made by the Georgian government, which lets the
viewer know that, along with wine, Georgia is also the birthplace of
“singing, toasting and merrymaking”:

From: A. Papazian

SYRIAN CONSUL IN YEREVAN ENDS DIPLOMATIC MISSION

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 31 2012
Russia

In an official bulletin, the Syrian Embassy in Armenia has informed
about the end of the diplomatic mission in Yerevan of the former
Syrian Consul to Armenia, Mohamed Hossam Hafez, the Armenian Ministry
of Foreifgn Affairs’ Press Secretary Tigran Balayan told News.am.

Al-Jazeera television had disseminated information that Hossam Hafez
had sided with Syria~Rs opposition.

The clashes in Syria have been continuing since March 2011 and,
according to United Nations reports, 16,000 Syrians have lost their
lives as a result of these incidents.

A total of 60-70 thousand Armenians live in Syria, comprising 0.5
percent of the country~Rs population.

From: A. Papazian

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE WILL BECOME “A CRITICAL” DATE, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS

Mediamax
July 30 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will become a “critical”
date.

The President who is on a working visit in London said this during
his meeting with the representatives of the Great Britain’s Armenian
community.

“Your community has quite a big potential and its full and effective
use will enable achieving new successes in recognition and condemnation
of the Genocide and resolution of all-national tasks”, said Serzh
Sargsyan.

From: A. Papazian

PAPER: ARMAVIA’S CZECH PILOTS REFUSE TO OPERATE FLIGHTS TO SYRIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 2, 2012 – 11:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Hayots Ashkhar paper, Czech pilots
employed by Armavia air company on contract basis refuse to operate
flights to Syria, given Czech foreign ministry’s instruction to
refrain from visiting conflict zones.

Zvartnots, displeased with the situation, is currently taking austerity
measures, including flight delays, in response to Armavia’s debt
repayment delays.

Armavia demanded Zvartnots reduce service prices, which have turned out
to be the highest both in the CIS and the Middle East, the paper says.

From: A. Papazian

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IGNORES ALARMS ABOUT HARVEST DAMAGE

tert.am
02.08.12

Armenia’s farmers have been alarming about damage of about 90 percent
of early potatoes in Ararat valley while the Ministry of Agriculture
continues ignoring the calls, farmer Varuzhan Khodedanyan told at a
news conference on Thursday.

He said the problem is not with the potatoes only but tomatoes as well.

The farmer said they have not gathered the harvest not being able
to sell it, while remaining in the soil the vegetables were spoiled
by pests. “It will have grave consequences not only for us, but the
whole agriculture as well,” the farmer said, adding that it will cause
seed issue and in the coming year the price for potato will go up.

Khodedanyan said they contacted the Ministry of Agriculture immediately
after noticing the focus of pests but the specialists did not come
forth with any practical proposal. “We have told them about the issue
but they did not pay attention to it. Now the pests have spread on
potatoes and tomatoes as well,” the farmer said.

He noted that they have even applied to the US Department of
Agricultural.

Another farmer Armen Sinomyan said they have tried to solve the issue
on their own but failed. The farmer criticized the ministry saying
they can only speak on TV about growth of harvests as if it was the
result of their work and not farmers’.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR INVITED SAN ISIDRO MAYOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Vahagn Melikyan had a meeting with San Isidro Mayor
Dr. Gustavo Posse on August 1. Armenian Apostolic Church Argentinean
and Chile Diocese Archbishop Gisak Muradyan, various representatives
from Argentinean Armenian Community institutions and organizations
as well as San Isidro Municipality employees took part in the held
meeting.

As information and public relations department of the Foreign Affairs
Ministry told Armenpress, the issues pertain to Armenian-Argentinean
bilateral relations, possible areas of cooperation were touched upon
in the course of the meeting. It was stated, mutual visits could
become serious impetus for the strengthening and deepening further
cooperation. In this context Armenian top diplomat highlighted the
development of “sister cities ” idea, which was accepted positively
by Gustavo Posse.

The sides dwelled on the draft resolution condemning 1915-1923
Armenian Genocide due to be accepted by San Isidro City Council the
same day. The Ambassador stressed the importance of resolution in the
restoration of justice, as well as the prevention of similar crimes
in the future.

The meeting was concluded by a press conference , during which the
mayor and the ambassador answered journalists’ questions.

From: A. Papazian

ZHAMANAK: STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF PALACH IS FALSE

Panorama.am
02/08/2012

According to Zhamanak daily, the statement issued several days ago on
behalf of PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan’s godchild, King Deluxe Company’s
owner Arthur Harutyunyan, nicknamed Palach, is false. The paper says
the statement was released not by Palach but by a media company owned
by Tsarukyan.

That statement came in response to earlier rumors of “reconciliation”
between Tsarukyan and Palach with the help of the Transport Ministry,
the paper’s sources claim.

From: A. Papazian

ARGENTINA ACCUSES BRITAIN OF SACRILEGE

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: An Argentine war cemetery on the
Falkland Islands has been vandalized, reports Armenpress citing
Euronews.

The destruction is being investigated by police and the Island’s
government has condemned the crime. The remains of 237 Argentine
soldiers are buried in the cemetery. Their families blamed British
hostility for what they called an act of sacrilege.

From: A. Papazian

PHONE SERVICE AND INTERNET ARE DISABLED IN ALEPPO

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 1, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: The situation is growing tenser in
the second largest city of Syria, Aleppo. Months long Turkey has
been trying to disguise its actions towards Syria, yet currently the
country comes forth obviously, Syrian Armenian Community representative
Nazaret Elmagyan told in the briefing with Armenpress.

Started from August 1, the situation in Muslims populated districts
became extremely worse . According to Elmagyan Armenian and Christian
habited districts are not endangered, everything is quiet.

Elmgyan voices hope, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will manage
to defeat rag- tag rebels through obstinate struggle.the strong and
consistent stance by Russian Federation towards Syria gives the ground
for such optimism.

Aleppo-based Facebook users informed Armenpress, telephone and internet
connection of Aleppo city is disabled and does not work.

Syrian Armenians arrived Yerevan state, the way taking to the airport
is dangerous, because the rebels are controlling some parts of the
road. Our compatriots note, they have not frequented work places for
more than a week, the food prices have rather increased.

Syrian Armenians said, the maintenance of Bashar al- Assad in power is
preferable for them and will be favorable for the Armenian community.

In accordance with Syrian Human Rights Defense Organization the ongoing
clashes have resulted in the death of over 17 thousand 192 people. By
the info of Arab mass media 11 thousand 897 were peaceful civilians,
while 4348 were security officers. Among the victims there were 7
Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because of
lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

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From: A. Papazian

LES ETATS-UNIS SALUENT LES PROGRES EN MATIERE DE SECURITE DE LA DOUANE ARMENIENNE
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 2 aout 2012

L’Armenie a ameliore la securite aux frontières dans le cadre de sa
cooperation permanente avec les Etats-Unis dans la lutte contre le
terrorisme international, selon le Departement d’Etat americain.

” L’Armenie fait des progrès dans l’amelioration de la securite aux
frontières, ” a indique le departement dans son rapport annuel sur
les mesures antiterroristes qui ont ete prises partout dans le monde
l’an dernier.

Elle a cite l’installation de nouveaux equipements anti-contrebande aux
postes-frontières armeniens, qui a ete la plupart du temps finances
par le gouvernement des Etats-Unis. Ces portails de securite ont ete
installee a tous les points d’entree du pays ainsi qu’a Zvartnots,
l’aeroport international d’Erevan.

“En outre, l’agence americaine pour la reduction des menaces a conclu
un accord pour fournir un soutien sous la forme d’equipements et de
modernisation d’infrastructures le long de la frontière georgienne,
y compris pour les tours des postes-frontières et des stations de
relais, afin d’ameliorer les services des communications pour les
gardes-frontières, ” indique le rapport . Il note egalement a cet
egard les plans du gouvernement armenien visant a mettre tous les
postes frontaliers avec la Georgie en conformite avec les normes de
l’Union europeenne au cours des trois prochaines annees.

Dans un developpement connexe, les Etats-Unis et l’UE ont parraine
cette annee des exercices de formation armeno-georgiens visant a
ameliorer les capacites des deux Etats du Sud Caucase a prevenir
le trafic illegal des armes de destruction massive a travers leurs
territoires.

Le Departement d’Etat a egalement salue les autorites d’Erevan
pour l’amelioration des lois de contrôle, des exportations et des
procedures et pour son travail en etroite collaboration avec l’OTAN
afin de mettre en place un ” centre permanent ” fonctionnant 24 heures
sur 24 au sein du ministère armenien des Situations d’urgence. ”
Ce Centre est destine a assurer une coordination interinstitutions
efficace dans la gestion des crises, y compris en reponse aux attaques
terroristes,” a-t-il explique.

Le Ministère a en outre declare qu’aucun cas de financement du
terrorisme n’a ete decouvert en Armenie.

From: A. Papazian