Author: Babajanian Karo

Haykakan Zhamanak: Return of liberated territories against recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh independence unacceptable

08:42 – 24.05.13

Speaking to the paper Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Arayik
Harutyunyan stated that `return of liberated territories against
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh independence’ is unacceptable.

He said currently no document is being discussed in the talks over the
conflict settlement. The paper says he doubted the ongoing
negotiations and stated that the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
leadership in the negotiations is senseless.

Armenian News – Tert.am

`Armenia pays $270 per 1,000 cubic meters for gas at border, not $180
as minister claims’: Head of Regulatory Agency

YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. ArmRosgasprom’s application to Armenia’s
Public Services Regulatory Commission says as from April 1 the
company, according to its agreement with Gasprom, pays $270 per 1,000
cubic meters for gas at the border, head of the Commission Robert
Nazaryan said.

In fact, Nazaryan refuted the energy minister’s earlier statement that
Armenia continues paying $180 per 1,000 m3 until the end of the gas
price negotiations.

After the head of the commission made his statement, oppositional
National Congress of Armenia deputy Nikol Pashinyan blamed the
authorities for hiding the price rise information to win the
elections.

`The people have paid for their `choice’ in the parliamentary,
presidential and mayoral elections’, Pashinyan mocked.

On May 14, ArmRosgasprom cjsc and TransGas limited filed an
application with Armenia’s public services regulatory commission for
review of the current gas price. The application suggests increasing
the price for customers with monthly consumption of up to 10,000 cubic
meters from the current 132,000 drams (including VAT) to 221,000 drams
(including VAT).

ArmRosgasprom closed joint stock company founded in 1997 holds the
monopoly for gas supplies and distribution on Armenia’s domestic
market. The company’s stockholders are Russian Gazprom (80%) and the
Armenian government (20%). -0-
12:00 24.05.2013

One more political party in Artsakh

Monday, 20 May 2013 22:34

On May 16, 2013, the State Register of Legal Entities registered the
eleventh political party in Artsakh, a social-democratic party with
national orientation called `National Rebirth’

The party is in opposition to the authorities of Artsakh represented
mainly by the members of the `Free Motherland’, `Artsakh democratic
party’ and the `Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutsyun’
parties.

The party aims to achieve the government-business separation, the
creation of nature conservation industry, the abolition of poverty in
rural communities and modernization of rural infrastructures, the
creation of a new system of social welfare.

The constituent assembly of the party took place on February 24, 2013,
in Khachen village of Askeran region. Until the formation of all the
party bodies it will be ruled by an interim committee.

The chairman of the party is Hayk Khanumyan.

Armenian juice producer to receive $2.5 mln from IFC and 2.05 mln from BSTDB

May 24, 2013 | 17:04

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Euroterm Company will receive international loans
to expand production.

The company signed a $2.5-million loan agreement with the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) and a 2.05-million loan
agreement with the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB).

The company plans to expand production and purchase more fruits and
vegetables from Armenia’s farmers. Also, Euroterm will develop its own
gardens, and it planted about 18,000 apple seedlings so far this year.

Aside from the loan, IFC will also provide consultations to maintain
the control system of the production security risks.

The loan is provided for seven years, and with terms that are more
suitable than in the market.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Renovation of the Sanctum Is Poor

May 24 2013

Nor Varagavank, a monastic ensemble, on the territory of the village
of Varagavan, district of Berd, region of Tavush, is being renovated.
Norayr Khachatryan, the owner of Ideal System, chain stores, donated
the money for renovation. According to certain information, a large
sum of money has been donated for that purpose, about $1 million. The
construction is ordered by the Ministry of Culture; 120 million drams
has been given for the first phase of renovation. The renovation has
been done poorly, and in that regard, there have been complaints from
the district of Berd. The chief of the village of Varagavan, Samvel
Manucharyan, said that the renovation had started 4-5 months before
and would last for a few years. I asked him about the quality of
construction work, distortion of the famous building’s ancient
appearance. `Well, architects come and go. I know nothing about
architecture,’ the village chief replied. I asked him which
organization carried out the renovation. `There are builders from
different places; there are from our region, also, from Yeghegnadzor,’
Samvel Manucharyan said. Let us note that Serzh Sargsyan came to the
monastic ensemble on April 26, 2012, during his visit to the region of
Tavush and discussed the issue of its renovation. The monastery was
built in 1193-1198 by King David II Kyurikian; later on, his grandson,
Vasak II, expanded the monastic ensemble in 1234-1237. It was named
`Nor Varagavank,’ because Varagavank, a renowned monastery, had been
destroyed by Mongols. In 1213, Ghukas, the Abbot of Varagavank,
brought here holy relics kept in Varagavank, including a piece of the
True Cross brought to Armenia by holy virgins Hripsime and Gayane.
Voskan SARGSYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

Bako Sahakyan, Vigen Chaldranyan discuss cinematography development in Artsakh

16:35 24/05/2013 » CULTURE

On May 23, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met with Honored
Art Worker of Armenia, famous film producer Vigen Chaldranyan.

Issues related to culture, particularly cinematography development in
Artsakh were discussed during the meeting.

Both sides underlined that the development of this field requires
serious preparatory work with young people, creation of possibilities
for them to receive professional training and education in Armenia and
in other countries.

Primate of Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan, NKR Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Narine
Aghabalyan attended the meeting, the Central Information Department at
the Artsakh President’s Office reported.

Source: Panorama.am

U.S. Ambassador Heffern: “President Obama uses words that will assist
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation:
Sona Avagyan

15:03, May 24, 2013
When asked by reporters why President Obama didn’t use the word
`genocide’ in his April 24th speech, U.S. Ambassador John Heffern
stated that the U.S. leader used words that would `assist the
reconciliation process’ between Armenia and Turkey.

Ambassador Heffern made the comment at a photo exhibition entitled
Orphans of the Genocide, which deals with the activities of the Near
East Relief Foundation.

When asked by this reporter how the use of the term genocide by the
president would hinder the reconciliation process, Ambassador Heffern
responded, `Politics is based on reconciliation. The words used by the
present are those that will assist such reconciliation in our
judgement.’

Ambassador Heffern said that President Obama’s April 24th speech
contains a very clear formulation that accepts historical facts.

`One and a half million Armenians were slaughtered and sent to their
deaths during the last days of the Ottoman Empire. One of the worst
barbaric acts of our times,’ John Heffern added.

ARMENIENS DE SYRIE
L’écrivain Arménien Hagop Mikaélian arrêté par les opposants à Alep
il est le responsable de l’UGAB à Alep

L’écrivain arménien de Syrie, Hagop Mikaélian a été enlevé par des
terroristes du groupe Al-Nousra nous rapporte le journal arménien «
Agos » paraissant à Istanbul. Hagop Mikaélian se trouvait dans un
autobus qui se dirigeant d’Alep à Beyrouth lorsque les terroristes du
groupe « Zebet Al-Nousra » arrêtèrent. Ils descendirent du véhicule H.
Mikaélian puis autorisèrent le véhicule à repartir. Les hommes armés
ont aussitôt présenté l’écrivain Arménien devant un « tribunal »
religieux qui a reconnu H. Mikaélian coupable de « soutenir » le
régime syrien et condamné à trois mois de prison.

Hagop Mikaéalian est le responsable de l’UGAB d’Alep.

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 24 mai 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

BIAnet.org, Turkey
May 22 2013

Author NiÅ?anyan Sentenced to 13.5 Months of Prison

Istanbul 14th Peace Court convicted author Sevan NiÅ?anyan to 13.5
months of prison for `openly insulting religious values of a certain
faction of the society’ in one of his articles.

Ä°stanbul – BIA News Desk 22 May 2013, Wednesday

Istanbul 14th Peace Court convicted author Sevan NiÅ?anyan to 13.5
months of prison for insulting Prophet Mohammed in one of his
articles.

While NiÅ?anyan’s sentence can not be commuted to a fine due to a
previous judgement, the verdict is open for appeal.
`Ridiculing with an Arab leader who claimed to have contacted God and
gained political, financial and sexual gains from it. This is
kindergarten level example of expression freedom,’ NiÅ?anyan wrote on
29 September 2012 in his article called `We should battle hate
crimes’.

Following the release of the article, 15 individuals separately filed
complaints against NiÅ?anyan for `openly insulting religious values of
a certain faction of the society’.

NiÅ?anyan shared his defense with his followers on twitter after the
verdict was announced.

He also wrote `These dudes are going to sue me. This is earning money
from the shoulder of God. Good business,’ he wrote previously on
twitter.

In April famous pianist Fazıl Say was also convicted to 10 months of
prison for `insulting religious values’ through his twitter messages.
(EKN/BM)

Interfax, Russia
May 21 2013

Mammadyarov: announcement of Armenian pullout date to make phenomenal
breakthrough in bilateral relations

MOSCOW. May 21

The presence of Armenian forces on Azeri lands is the biggest problem
in the Karabakh peace process, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said.

“The biggest headache is the presence of Armenian forces on the Azeri
territory. That is the root of all problems,” he told a press
conference after negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov.

“As I have said before, a more specific date of the beginning of the
forces’ pullout will make a phenomenal breakthrough in every question
we have been discussing,” the Azeri foreign minister stressed.
Te mk