Author: Babajanian Karo

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: RUSSIA TO EXPAND MILITARY PRESENCE IN ARMENIA

11:37 26/09/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Moscow is going to expand its military presence in Armenia. Haykakan
Zhamanak has learnt that the 102nd Russian military base in the
Armenian city of Gyumri will be equipped with additional personnel
in the near future.

A spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, Artsrun Hovhannisyan,
neither confirmed nor refuted the information.

According to the paper’s sources, the number of Russian servicemen
and their family members who will settle in Gyumri will be 2,500-3,000.

Source: Panorama.am

RUSSIAN BORDER GUARDS ASSAULTED MP POSTANJYAN AND SMASHED HER CAMERA

On the way from Meghri to Yerevan Member of Parliament Zaruhi
Postanjyan was assaulted by Russian border guards wearing uniforms
of the Federal Security Service who stopped her car for a check.

Zaruhi Postanjyan said the road was closed near Agarak in the
afternoon, at around 1 o’clock, and they tried to take a video of the
traffic jam. The Russian border guards seized and smashed their camera.

Zaruhi Postanjyan asked to explain what was going on and called the
police. Eventually the commander of the Russian border guard regiment
Colonel Mirzoyev showed up and apologized to her. The colonel informed
that the road was blocked because they were looking for an Iranian
who tried to smuggle in drugs.

Their car had already been checked once during that day. According
to the member of parliament, she introduced herself and told the
purpose of her trip. She was heading for constituency 38 to campaign
for their candidate. The person with the FSS uniform talked to someone
on telephone before she was allowed to move on but refused to explain
why the road was blocked.

By the way, besides the Russian border guards or security officers
there were also MoD soldiers in the place.

12:08 26/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

LE GROUPE AREXIMBANK-GAZPROMBANK AUGMENTE SON CAPITAL

ARMENIE

Le capital du groupe Areximbank-Gazprombank a ete augmente de 4,1
milliards de drams a declare la banque.

“Le capital a augmente de la part du seul actionnaire de la banque,
la societe russe Gazprombank” selon la banque.

Ainsi, le groupe Areximbank-Gazprombank Group possède le cinquième
plus grand capital autorise en Armenie. Desormais il est de 16,4
milliards de drams.

Areximbank-Gazprombank Group a ete cree en 1998 pour soutenir
l’entrepreneuriat et servir les flux financiers entre la Russie
et l’Armenie

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LA PRODUCTION DE VINS DEVRAIT RAPPORTER AUX VIGNERONS

ARMENIE

Le President de l’Union des Vignerons d’Armenie affirme que cette
annee verra un excellent rendement pour les raisins, et que les
acheteurs vont travailler efficacement avec des paiements ponctuels
aux fournisseurs.

Avag Harutyunyan, chef de l’Union des Vignerons, a declare a la presse
que selon les donnees officielles les 45 entreprises acheteuses de
raisin d’Armenie vont acheter autour de 240000 tonnes dont 160 000
tonnes qui va etre utilise pour la production alimentaire et la
fabrication de vins.

Avag Harutyunyan a dit qu’il y a environ 10 entreprises actuellement
actives dans le domaine, qui ont achete près de 10000 tonnes de
raisins, et a partir du 20 Septembre toutes les entreprises vont se
joindre au processus.

” Nous avons d’excellentes cultures saines, de haute qualite. C’est
la dernière annee de la periode de transition lorsque l’agriculteur
demande a acheter ses raisins. Cette annee, un processus a commence qui
mènera a l’annee prochaine où nous demanderons d’acheter des raisins
a l’agriculteur. C’est un moment crucial pour le marche du raisin
armenien ” a-t-il dit ajoutant que les prix d’achat du raisin commence
a partir de 145 drams (environ 35 cents) par kilo et dit qu’il croit
que le prix ne baissera pas, parce que si les agriculteurs avaient
des dizaines d’hectares de vignes , la baisse serait justifiee, mais
maintenant un agriculteur en Armenie a en moyenne ‘un demi-hectare de
terrain avec des capacites de rendement de 70 a 80 quintal (100 kg)
d’où un prix rentable pour lui qui serait de 180 a 200 drams par kilo.

Selon Avag Harutyunyan, il n’y aura pas de problèmes avec les societes
acheteuses, parce que depuis l’annee dernière, le gouvernement et
l’administration presidentielle ont supervise les paiements et toutes
les entreprises, a l’exception d’une seule ou de deux, ont contracte
des dettes.

En reference a l’Union douanière il a dit que le vin ne posera pas de
problème, mais les choses sont differentes avec le brandy armenien,
parce que 95 pour cent de celui-ci est consomme par les pays membres
de l’UD et que c’est un pays tiers, a savoir la France, qui dicte
les règles sur ce marche.

” L’accord d’association nous permettrait d’utiliser le mot” Cognac
“sur le marche armenien, le droit d’utiliser le terme” cognac “sur
le marche russe est le privilège des relations franco-russes. Ils
peuvent parvenir a un accord tout moment, et dans ce cas, notre
presence dans l’Union douanière dependrait en grande partie d’eux ”
a dit Avag Harutyunyan, ajoutant que si le brandy armenien n’est pas
autorise a acceder a l’UD il n’y aura pas assez de demande pour elle
pour correspondre aux volumes actuels de production.

Par Gohar Abrahamian

ArmeniaNow

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

INAUGURATION DE LA STATUE RENOVEE ” NOUS SOMMES NOS MONTAGES ” A STEPANAKERT

REPUBLIQUE DU HAUT KARABAGH

Hier 25 septembre a Stepanakert, le President de la Republique du
Haut Karabagh, Bako Sahakian entouree de nombreuses personnalites
a inaugure l’espace renove de la statue ” Menk yenk, Mer lernere ”
(Nous sommes nos montagnes) a l’entree de Stepanakert. Cette statue
monumentale etant l’un de symboles de la resistance du peuple armenien
de l’Artsakh (Karabagh).Lors de cette inauguration, Bako Sahakian
a insiste sur la force des symboles et la necessite de renover ces
espaces. Il a egalement remercie le bienfaiteur Garen Aïvazoumian qui
a genereusement finance ces travaux de renovation et d’amenagement
d’espaces verts autour du complexe. Etaient presents a la ceremonie
l’ex-president de la Republique du Haut Karabagh Arkady Ghoukassian,
Hovig Abrahamian le president du Parlement armenien, la Première dame
d’Armenie Rita Sarkissian, le president du Parlement de Stepanakert
Achot Ghoulian, le Premier ministre Ara Haroutiounian, la baronne
britannique Caroline Cox, le sculpteur Achot Baghdassarian l’auteur
de la statue, ainsi que de nombreuses autres personnalites venus de
l’Artsakh, d’Armenie ainsi que de l’etranger.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

UN ARMENIEN DE 65 ANS GRAVIT LE MONT ARARAT PIEDS NUS !

ARARAT

Gaguik Mouradian (65 ans) habitant Gumri, Yelena Shouvayeva-Petrossian
la redactrice de ” Zposashrtchayin Hayastan ” (Armenie touristique)
et un groupe d’alpinistes de la Federation armenienne d’alpinisme ont
gravi le mont Ararat (5 156 m). Mais Gaguik Mouradian a effectue une
large partie de l’ascension du mont Ararat pieds nus, dediee au 25ème
anniversaire des victimes du seisme de Spitak. Selon le periodique
des Armeniens de Russie ” Yergramas “, Gaguik Mouradian a effectue
pieds nus les 4 100 premiers mètres de l’ascension du mont Ararat. Il
pouvait continuer ce parcours pieds nus, mais les rochers saillants
l’empechèrent de le faire. A noter que c’est la première ascension
de l’Ararat pieds nus…

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

L’ARMENIE ET LA GRECE VEULENT POURSUIVRE LEUR COOPERATION MILITAIRE

Defense

Les militaires armeniens et grecs ont promis de poursuivre ce
qu’un haut general de l’armee grecque a decrit comme la cooperation
bilaterale “strategique” lors d’une visite a Erevan.

” Les fondements de cette cooperation sont historiques, nos deux
nations ont depuis longtemps des relations etroites “, a declare le
General Mikhail Kostarakos, chef du National-major de la Defense
hellenique, après des entretiens avec son homologue armenien, le
general Yuri Khachaturov.

Les deux generaux se sont adresses a la presse après avoir preside la
signature d’un plan d’activites conjointes pour l’annee prochaine. Ils
ont donne peu de details sur ce document aux journalistes.

Le ministère armenien de la Defense a declare dans un communique
que les deux parties envisagent d’organiser plus d’une douzaine
d’evenements conjoints en 2014. Ceux-ci incluent des cours de
formation, des exercices et d’autres formes “d’echange d’experience”,
a-t-il dit.

Hier matin, Kostarakos a rencontre Serge Sarkissian. Le president
armenien a loue ” la cooperation etroite dans le domaine militaire
” existant entre les deux pays.

Des centaines de militaires armeniens ont ete formes dans les academies
militaires grecques au cours des deux dernières decennies.

Membre de l’OTAN, la Grèce a egalement contribue a former et a equiper
une brigade de l’armee armenienne fournissant des troupes aux missions
dirigees en Afghanistan et au Kosovo.

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Claire ©armenews.com

CUSTOMS UNION POPULAR IN MOST POST-SOVIET STATES, FINDS STUDY

Business New Europe
Sept 25 2013

September 25, 2013

A substantial majority of the population in most of the potential
Customs Union member states is in favour of joining the Russian-led
bloc, according to a study by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The EDB Integration Barometer finds that the highest level of support
is in Central Asia. A full 77% of Uzbek respondents say they are in
favour of entry to the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space,
the trade block Moscow is currently pushing so hard to fill with former
Soviet states – especially those to the west that are flirting with
the EU.

In Tajikistan, 75% of respondents would be happy to join. In
Kyrgyzstan, where the government has said it plans to sign up by 2015
but has recently provoked suggestions that it is dragging its feet,
72% of respondents would like to see the deal sealed. The figures
are even higher than in the existing member states, Belarus, Russia
and Kazakhstan, where public support is at 65%, 67%, and 73%.

Surprisingly, given the troubled relationship with Russia, a majority
of Georgians – 59% – are in favour of hooking up with the Russian-led
bloc. The figure is twice as high that seen in the EDB’s 2012 report.

Armenia is the only state to have succumbed to the Kremlin’s pressure
thus far. Following a rise in Russian gas prices and a large arms
deal handed by Moscow to his country’s bitter rival Azerbaijan,
President Serzh Sargsyan announced in early September that Armenia
will join the Customs Union.

Despite demonstrations in Yerevan against the decision – due to the
fact that it will likely rule out closer association with the EU –
67% support the move, according to the report. By way of contrast,
just 37% of Azeri’s would like to see their country join the Customs
Union – the lowest level of support in any country of the Commonwealth
of Independent States. Over half – 53% – see the club negatively.

Negative opinions have also increased in Moldova and Ukraine, reaching
24% and 28% respectively. However, 50% of Ukrainian respondents and
54% of those in Moldova said they supported Customs Union entry.

Many countries in the post-Soviet space still consider countries
outside the region to be the most attractive sources of foreign
capital. For example, 60% of Tajikistani respondents said China was
the most attractive source of capital, Georgia looked to the US,
Uzbekistan to Japan and Azerbaijan to Turkey.

Meanwhile, a majority of Moldavians and Ukrainians see the EU was
the most attractive source of capital. Both countries say they are
determined to sign trade and association pacts with Brussels in
November, which has seen Moscow raise trade barriers in recent weeks.

Politically, respondents from Central Asia, Armenia and Belarus
were oriented towards the post-Soviet space, while those from Russia,
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine favoured the EU, and Azerbaijan identified
more closely with Turkey.

PIANIST KARINE POGHOSYAN PLAYS ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL TONIGHT

Broadway World
Sept 25 2013

ð~_’¤by Classical Music News DeskSeptember 25

The vibrant young Armenian pianist Kariné Poghosyan will perform
at St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 2nd Ave., New York City this evening,
September 25th, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the 2013-14 Concerts @
St.Vartan series. Ms. Poghosyan will also be leading the St. Vartan
orchestra in their inaugural appearance. The program will include
works by Schubert, Bach, and Liszt.

The complete program follows:

Schubert-Liszt: Ave Maria Bach: Piano Concert No. 1 in D minor (with
the St. Vartan Orchestra) Liszt: Sposalizio Liszt: Dante Sonata

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors, free for children under
12, and will be sold at the door on the day of the concert. Tickets
can be reserved by calling 212-686-0710.

The exceptional Armenian pianist Kariné Poghosyan has been praised
for her ability to get to the heart of the works she performs. She
made her orchestral debut at 14 playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto
No.1, and her solo Carnegie Hall debut at 23, and has since gone on
to win numerous awards as well as perform in some of the world’s most
prestigious concert halls.

An avid musician who has been described as “extraordinary” and
“larger than life,” Kariné Poghosyan has performed in recitals
at Carnegie’s Well Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway
Hall, the Trinity Church Concerts at One series, the Beverly Hills
Sundays at Two series, the Valley Committee for the LA Philharmonic,
the Bach’s Lunch Recital Series in California, the Young Artists
International Peninsula Festival in California, and the International
Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York. In the fall of 2007,
she organized and performed a three-recital concert series at the
Yamaha Piano Salon titled Twentieth Century Piano Sonata. Recently,
she helped organize the “Requiem and Resurrection” concert in
commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the
Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York, where her performance of
the Piano Sonata by Khachaturian received a standing ovation and was
described as “jaw-dropping.” The Armenian Mirror Spectator wrote, “The
three-movement Khachaturian Sonata-a rarely performed composition-is a
real tour-de-force for the virtuoso pianist. Technically pristine, Ms.

Poghosyan brought out the driven qualities of the outer movements,
and the heart-rending beauty of the middle section.”

ARMENIA HOLDS RATE, LOWER INFLATION TO ALLOW LOOSER POLICY

Counting Pips
Sept 24 2013

September 24th, 2013

By Armenia’s central bank kept its benchmark
refinancing rate steady at 8.5 percent, repeating that it expects
inflation to decline in coming months and this would allow it loosen
monetary conditions.

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), which raised its rate last month by
50 basis points, said it does not expect any significant inflationary
pressures from the external environment and the domestic economy is
characterized by weakening demand due to lower private consumption
and investment.

In addition, a restrictive fiscal policy is affecting demand, the
CBA said.

Last month the CBA also said it expected to be able to loosen its
policy as inflation falls and that it expects inflation to ease in
the short-term and hit its target range.

In August Armenia’s inflation rate rose by 0.3 percent from July for
an annual rate of 9.3 percent, up from 8.52 percent. The central bank
targets inflation of 4.0 percent within a 1.5 percentage point band.

Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product expanded by an annual 0.6 percent
in the second quarter, down from 7.5 percent in the first quarter.