Author: Andres-Papazian

RUSSIA’S GAZPROM MAY BUY GREEK GAS MONOPOLY STAKES

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 16, 2012 – 19:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian gas giant Gazprom may participate in a
tender to buy stakes in Greece’s DEPA gas monopoly to provide direct
supplies to European consumers, Gazprom said on Friday, March 16,
RIA Novosti reported.

The Greek government planned to sell 55 percent of DEPA and 31
percent of its transport branch DESFA in the fourth quarter of 2011
but privatization slowed down due to provisions of the EU Third
Energy Package, which requires the separation of energy production,
transportation and sales.

The bids for the tender must be received by March 22, 2012.

Nomos-Bank analyst Denis Borisov said in late February that the two
Greek companies might cost from $1.5 billion to $2 billion, but the
price was likely to be lower taking into account the current debt
problems of the country.

Gazprom exported 2.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Greece
in 2011.

Borisov also said that another reason for Gazprom to buy the gas
firms was Greece’s participation in the South Stream gas pipeline
project intended to carry Russian natural gas to Europe, bypassing
transit countries such as Ukraine and Belarus.

From: A. Papazian

SOS GIMISHYAN: “HHSH TORPEDOED THE CONSENSUS”

08:10 pm | Today | Politics

Leader of the Christian-Democratic Renaissance party Sos Gimishyan
says he has no problems with Armenia’s first President and leader of
the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

“I am still a HAK member and I do hope that the situation will better
in our country,” Mr Gimishyan told A1+.

He named the reasons why the four parties affiliated with the
opposition blog, including the Christian-Democratic Renaissance party,
refused to be included on the HAK’s electoral list.

“I wish the parties reached a consensus over the electoral list. I
did everything to make the President [Levon Ter-Petrosyan] happy but
his party – the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) torpedoed the
agreement. As a result, we were left out of the list,” he said.

“Then we drafted a document expressing our approval of the principle
and sent it to the President. as there was no agreement between the
parties, we were waiting for the President to make the electoral list.

The political council was to convene a sitting on Wednesday but it
was held on Tuesday. I was in Georgia at that time and could not
participate at the meeting. Later they did not tell me anything about
the issue,” said Sos Gimishyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN VIOLINIST TO REPRESENT AUSTRIA AT EUROVISION YOUNG MUSICIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 15, 2012 – 21:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Emmanuel Tjeknavorian has been selected to represent
the host country, Austria at the Eurovision Young Musicians 2012
edition in Vienna. The national final included 14 presentations with
Emmanuel conquering the jury choice. 16-year old Emmanuel Tjeknavorian
will play the violin at the competition.

A jury consisting of Raimund Langner, Ranko Markovic, Maighread
McCrann, Christian Scheib and Elke Tschaikner listened to performances
by all fourteen young contenders in the Austrian final, before
selecting Emmanuel Tjeknavorian as the winner.

Emmanuel Tjeknavorian was born to a family of musicians, and
currently studies in Vienna. He made his performing debut at seven,
and since then has gone on to win various national and international
competitions, escarm.blogspot.com reported.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH AMID RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:20:25 – 15/03/2012

The Russian foreign ministry is set to observe the schedule of
issues relating to Karabakh. For instance, the head of the fourth
department of the Russian foreign ministry denies that the Russian
foreign minister Lavrov visiting Ankara discussed the Karabakh topic
there, and nothing significant is happening relating to the Russian
and Turkish relations, though that discussion definitely took place.

The statements of the head of the 4th department of the Russian
foreign ministry sound too controversial. For example, denying that
the Karabakh topic is indirectly related to the Russian and Turkish
relations, this high-ranking official announced that “Turks offered to
reject the construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki railway once the Russians
tell them some time later, not right now, five territories will
be handed over to Azerbaijan.” Hence, it is not ruled out that the
Karabakh issue is being bound to the relations of Russia and Turkey.

This official questions a possible status to be granted to Karabakh,
even after the so-called “settlement”, citing the example of North
Cyprus which exists without a status.

The Russian foreign ministry is interested in the attitude of the Minsk
Group to Armenia. In addition, there were arguments for unfolding the
activities of the Minsk Group as an ineffective organization. No doubt
Russia is trying to change the format of settlement of the Karabakh
issue by way of the processes underway in Europe and the United States.

The deputy minister Grigory Karasin notes that Russia and Armenia must
benefit from the new relations between Russia and Turkey to enable
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. “Armenia and Azerbaijan have
a chance to resolve the problem, this option will not be available
always”, he said, “this chance cannot be missed unless there is a
favorable situation.”

Hence, it is possible that Russia is bidding on this situation and
is not confident of its initiatives. The important thing for Russia
is to push the United States out of the Black Sea and the Caucasus.

The deputy head of staff of the Russian president’s office, S.
Prikhodko, says the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is possible
only with the participation of Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
proceeding from regional security where the participation of “alien”
states will not lead to stability and security. He thinks the solution
of problems between Armenia and Turkey is possible only with the active
participation of Russia. He noted that the efforts of the United States
throughout years could not normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations
because the United States has other goals and is not interested in
normalization.

In analysis of the political projection, that is the material
which has not been disclosed in public politics, such categories as
“information”, “analysis”, “conclusions” are highly relative.

In fact, there is one example of argument supported with information
which the Russian diplomats engaged in the Russian-Turkish relations
cannot deny.

Turks have offered the Russians to stop the implementation of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki project if the Russians announce that “five regions
will be handed over to Azerbaijan, some time later, not right now.”

At the same time, Turkey is not interested in the Karabakh issue,
and this and analogical proposals are made because Russia wants to
get maximum concessions from Russia to make their relations more
substantial and binding.

From: A. Papazian

DEFENSE MINISTRY OF ARMENIA CONSIDERS THE COUNTER RESPONSE TO THE MURDER OF ARMENIAN SOLDIER LOGICAL

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 15, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani mass media circulated a
report March 15 as if armed forces of Armenia wounded a 19-year old
Azerbaijani serviceman Tarlanoglu Isayev. The report says the latter
has been hospitalized, doctors say his condition is stable.

Commenting with the request of Armenpress on the information,
spokesperson for the Defense Ministry of Armenia Davit Karapetyan said,
“The Azerbaijani armed forces killed Armenian soldier and the response
of the Defense Ministry is logical and there is no need to remind it
again,” Karapetyan stressed.

From: A. Papazian

LITERARY EVENT DEDICATED TO YEGISHE CHARENTS IN WRITERS UNION OF ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 15, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Yegishe Charents’ 115th birth
anniversary was marked by the march of “curly-hair boys” to the poet’s
memorial complex, Chairman of Writers Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan
said at March 15 literary event, Armenpress reports.

“In the course of his life Armenian great poet Charents did not have
a chance to celebrate the birthday, he was even discharged from the
Writers Union that day,” said Levon Ananyan, adding that the events
dedicated to Charents will be continued throughout the year.

Doctor of Philological Sciences Davit Gasparyan said: “Charent’
heritage is not handed to relevant archives entirely, and so we need
to obtain them, study and present to society.” Charents decoding of
the recent 3 years will soon be issued, he added.

Charents’ poems and verses sounded during the whole event.

From: A. Papazian

PIRUZ SARGSYAN: THE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IS LOW
Liana Yeghiazaryan

“Radiolur”
15.03.2012 17:39

The level of financial literacy is very low, and the financial
institutions – banks, insurance and crediting companies – use this
factor to violate the citizens’ rights, Piruz Sargsyan, Financial
System Mediator of Armenia, told a press conference today. According
to her, here the problem lies in contracts, rather than laws.

“As a rule, people do not read the contracts before signing them.

Sometimes the contracts are so perplexing, that even specialists face
difficulties understanding them,” she said.

The Office has concluded during the three years of its activity that
citizens mostly complain of banks and insurance companies. The number
of complaints further increased last year, when the compulsory car
insurance system was implemented.

Up to now 70% of all disputes have been resolved in favor of the
citizens, the Financial Mediator said, adding that even 50% is
considered a good number in international practice.

The Office of the Financial Mediator continues to defend citizen’s
rights free of charge; however, citizens themselves must pursue the
protection of their rights, Piruz Sargsyan concluded.

From: A. Papazian

KAREN CHSHMARITYAN: DCFTA IS A SERIOUS GUARANTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Karen Ghazaryan

“Radiolur”
15.03.2012 18:42

The Armenia-EU agreement on establishment of Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is a serious guarantee for economic
development in Armenia, MP Karen Chshmarityan told a press
conference today. According to him, 3-4 years are needed for the
final implementation of the agreement.

Speaking about the opportunities provided by the agreement, Karen
Chshmarityan said it will make Armenia improve the quality of services.

“Armenia will get access to a market of 500 million people. This will
make the economic participants raise the quality of production and
services,” he added. Thus, all this will promote the development of
knowledge-based economy in Armenia.

Karen Chshmarityan hopes that the obstacles like corruption and
monopoly will not hamper the successful implementation of the
agreement.

According to the MP, the cooperation with the EU will not be an
obstacle to the free trade agreement with the CIS.

From: A. Papazian

“ARMENIA” INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS SAYS IT MAY BUY ARMAVIA

news.am
March 15, 2012 | 15:34

YEREVAN.- If there is a proposal, “Armenia” International Airports
company is ready to discuss purchasing the Armenian national carrier –
Armavia, the company representative said.

Andranik Shkhyan, Deputy Director of “Armenia” International Airports,
told the journalists that the company cannot consider Armavia owner’s
remarks as an official proposal.

Earlier Mikhail Baghdasarov, owner of Armavia, told journalists he
is ready to sell the company.

Nevertheless, Eduardo Eurnekian who owns and manages not only “Armenia”
International Airports but other airports in different countries has
not purchased any airport so far.

In one of his recent interviews Baghdasarov did not rule out
possibility that Armavia may declare it bankrupt. In this regard
Armenia International Airports lawyer Arman Ter-Tatchyan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am that bankruptcy is the easiest way to avoid implementing
the commitments.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan
Phone: 734-763-0622
E-mail: [email protected]

ATOM EGOYAN TO ADDRESS UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The lecture by the producer of “Ararat” will be webcast live

LIVE WEBCAST

Ann Arbor, Mich. March 15, 2012. The Armenian Studies Program at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has announced that internationally
renowned writer, director and filmmaker Atom Egoyan will deliver the
2012 “Dr. Berj H. Haidostian Distinguished Annual Lecture” on campus
on March 19, 2012.

With fourteen films and related projects to his credit, Atom Egoyan
has won numerous internationally recognized awards including five
prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, two Academy award nominations,
eight Genie Awards as well as major awards at film festivals in
Hamburg, Tokyo, Jerusalem, Reykjavik, Las Palmas, Hong Kong, Cairo and
Athens.

In 2010 Egoyan had a retrospective of his films at the Filmoteca
Espagnol in Madrid, following similar events in previous years in
Paris and New York.

In this lecture titled “Ararat-Ten years After,” Atom Egoyan will
revisit the making and trajectory of his 2002 film “Ararat,” which
offers a special and unique insight into the Genocide of the Armenians
by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire during the First
World War.

Egoyan’s lecture is open to the public and will take place at 7:00 PM
(Eastern US time zone), Monday, March 19 at the Forum Hall (fourth
floor) of the Palmer Commons building on the campus of the University
of Michigan. The lecture will be videotaped and made available on the
website of the Armenian Studies Program (). It
will also be webcast live at .

The “Dr. Berj H. Haidostian Distinguished Annual Lecture” was
established by the family of the late Dr. Berj H. Haidostian, a
prominent and devoted physician, in honor of his long relationship
with the University of Michigan and the Armenian Studies Program.
Recent Haidostian Distinguished Lecturers have included Dr. Gerard
Chaliand of Paris, Dr. Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution, Mr.
Thomas de Waal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Dr.
Vartan Gregorian of the Carnegie Foundation, Armenia’s Ambassador to
the US Arman Kirakosian, and the US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans.

Armenian Studies Program
The University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Program promotes the
study of Armenian history, culture, and society. A member of the
University of Michigan International Institute, the program organizes
educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community. For
more information, contact the Armenian Studies Program at (734)
763-0622 or visit

University of Michigan International Institute
The University of Michigan International Institute houses 18 centers
and programs focused on world regions and global themes. The institute
develops and supports international teaching, research, and public
affairs programs to promote global understanding across the campus and
to build connections with intellectuals and institutions worldwide.
For more information, visit

From: A. Papazian