Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT EARMARKS 150MLN DRAMS FOR SME DEVELOPMENT IN 2013

YEREVAN, January 24. /ARKA/. Armenian government decided to allocate
150mln drams under a small and medium enterprise (SME) development
program in 2013.

The main aim of the program is to provide continuous state support to
small and medium companies, the country’s minister of economy Tigran
Davtyan said.

The money will be used particularly for supporting businessmen in
start-up, providing loan guarantees and technical and financial
consultations on various issues.

The minister pointed out that the loan threshold may be increased
from 3 to 5mln drams due to high demand.

Davtyan stressed that about 92% of the money will be directed to the
country’s regions.

He also said that these funds are only a part of SME development
program in Armenia. SME will be also supported by the SME crediting
fund (about 778mln drams) and the SME Investments universal credit
organization (about 6bln drams)

“It is recoverable resources which will help continue financing
start-ups and guaranteeing loans”, the minister said.

A total of about 98bln drams were allocated for SME in Armenia in
2007-2012, he reported.

There are currently about 60,000 companies, 92% of which are small
or medium-sized, the minister said. ($1=405.44drams). -0-

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS HAS NOT DEVELOPED IN 2012 – ARMENIAN MFA

news.am
January 24, 2013 | 14:52

YEREVAN. – Because of Turkey’s unconstructive position, no development
has taken place in Armenia-Turkey relations in 2012, the Armenian MFA
2012 Report states.

Over the course of the year past, the international community
reaffirmed its support to Armenia’s principal position of normalizing
Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions.

To note, the protocols on normalizing relations between Armenia and
Turkey were signed on October 10, 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland. But the
ratification process of these documents is suspended in the
parliaments of both countries, and due to Turkey’s unconstructive
position. In addition, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced
that Armenia could withdraw its signature from these protocols.

UK AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON HER MUCH-TALKED-OF BLOG POST

Thursday 24 January 2013 10:21
Photo: PanArmenian Photo
UK Ambassador Katherine Leach

Yerevan/Mediamax/. UK Ambassador Katherine Leach commented on her
much-talked-of post on the presidential elections due to be held
in Armenia.

In January 22, the Ambassador wrote a post in her blog which was
qualified by some people as interference in Armenia’s domestic affairs.

Katherine Leach noted in the note in U.K. Embassy’s Facebook page that
“Armenia’s partners are asking questions as they meet the different
people involved and watch the election campaign”.

“As President Sargsyan himself said in an interesting observation in
his interview on Radio Liberty, while the elections are of course for
Armenia itself first and foremost, they are held within the domain of
the international community and it matters that the members of the
community consider Armenia to be one of them. I think this puts it
very well. We are both working to understand each other’s points of
view better – with the aim of deepening our common values and common
understanding. In that spirit – please feel free to continue to share
your opinion”, said the UK Ambassador.

1450 LOCAL OBSERVERS AND 6 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

12:53, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: 12 local and 6 international
organizations have been accredited to launch an observation mission
during Presidential Elections of Armenia due February 18.

>From international organizations Center for Electoral Systems
(ICES), OSCE / ODIHR (office for Democratic institutions and Human
rights), PACE (parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe),
CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, CIS observation mission and Embassy
representatives accredited in Armenia will follow the elections in
Armenia, Armenpress reports.

Over 1450 observers from local organizations are set to follow February
18 elections too, namely Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
(63 observers), Democracy and Electoral Processes (2 observers),
Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS (977 observers),
Martuni Women’s Community Council (MWCC) (285 observers), “Ability
and Development for Civil Society” NGO (61 observers), “Harmony”
(470 observers), “Electoral systems Center” (60 observers), “Dilnet
Service” (71 observers), “Choice Is Yours” (172 observers), Support of
people with special needs, Unison NGO ( 15 observers), Civil Society
Institute (67 observers), Armenian Helsinky center (103 observers).

The deadline for accreditation expires on February 2.

ARMENIA-US HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL DIALOGUE CONTINUED ON REGULAR BASIS IN 2012

news.am
January 24, 2013 | 13:23

YEREVAN.- Armenia and the U.S. continued developing partnership in
2012, says the report issued by Armenian MFA. High level political
dialogue continued on regular basis.

The report says in December 2012 Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited
the U.S. where he met with Vice President Joe Biden. He participated
in the opening of Armenia~Rs representation in Silicon Valley, ArmTech
Congress 2012 and reached agreements with American IT companies.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Armenia in June 2012 and
was received by President Serzh Sargsyan. Armenian FM had a number of
meetings with Secretary of State and her deputies within the framework
of international conferences. Armenia also hosted delegations of the
Senate and the House of Representatives.

On 22 May FM Edward Nalbandian attended the official opening of
memorial stele to the Armenian Genocide victims erected in the
Armenian heritage park in Boston. In March Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan visited the U.S.

Minister Nalbandian delivered a speech on foreign policy at Los
Angeles World Affairs Council. on 24 September, 2012.

The U.S.~VArmenia Economic Task Force (USATF) held a meeting in Yerevan
in October. A memorandum on understanding between the governments
was signed to cooperate in energy sector.

DR. PEROOMIAN DISCUSSES HER BOOK AT UC IRVINE

January 24, 2013 – 13:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Humanities Gateway at UC Irvine hosted earlier
this month Dr. Rubina Peroomian, currently a Research Associate at the
UCLA Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Department, Asbarez reported.

It was one out of a series of lectures to be held at UC Irvine
to educate and bring awareness to the Irvine community about the
Armenian Genocide as well as sponsor the yet to be established Armenian
studies program.

The lecture began with Professor Touraj Daryaee, professor of ancient
Armenian and Persian studies at UC Irvine, who introduced Professor
Peroomian with a brief summary of her life, achievements, and active
role in the Armenian community.

Peroomian has been an expert on the Armenian genocide for years,
teaching and also educating others on how to effectively communicate
knowledge about the horrific massacres of 1915. Her literary works
alongside her unfailing faith in the Armenian Cause have gained her
a Lifetime Achievement award by the Armenian Educational Foundation,
one by the Armenian National Committee of America, and many other
medals and awards.

Peroomian discussed her latest book “The Armenian Genocide in
Literature: Perceptions of Those Who Lived Through the Years
of Calamity” (2012), which provides the means of analyzing and
understanding the interpretations of transmission of the traumatic
memory through first, second, third, and even fourth generations
of survivors.

By conducting interviews with Genocide survivors and reading stories
of genocide, Peroomian broke into the “gloomy labyrinth of Armenian
Genocide literature” and was deeply affected by the material she
heard and read.

PRICES TO GO UP AFTER ELECTIONS – CHAIRMAN OF THE UNION OF CONSUMERS

tert.am
24.01.13

Prices in Armenia are going to rise in April, chairman of the Union
of Consumers Armen Poghosyan told the reporters on Thursday.

“These are not waves but are of permanent nature, which means the
prices are incessantly growing and it will be followed by the increase
of prices of certain services as well. The rise in gas tariff from
$180 to $240 will affect the electricity tariff as well,” he said,
stressing that the gas tariff raise depends on Kremlin only.

At the same time he reminded the tax changes already made by the
Armenian government relating to dentist services, real estate sphere.

He said it will harm only common citizens.

“There are ways that are being applied in the pre-electoral period
only, like restricting the wave. But the wave of price growth will
hit from April,” he continued.

Armen Poghosyan said his way of thinking is not political but social
and economic, so he does not think that the change of the country’s
leader will stop this wave.

“What will happen after the elections? The incumbent president
will be elected by 80% or more. But the government should always be
criticized. But to say that Petros is bad one, Poghos will come and
fix it is wrong,” he added, stressing that today’s replacements are
just of ‘mending’ nature.

“It is obvious that all are complaining but this complaint is not an
organized one. Everyone is speaking about it in their kitchens but
nothing more. Do we react when water or gas tariffs are being raised?

Why don’t we take to streets?” he said.

TURKEY RIGHTS WATCHDOG CONCERNED OVER ASSAULTS AGAINST ARMENIAN WOMEN

tert.am
24.01.13

Turkey’s Human Rights Association (IHD) has expressed concerns over
the continuing violence against ethnic Armenian women in Istanbul’s
Samatia district, the Radikal reported.

In a statement following the Wednesday incident that saw an Armenian
woman assaulted and brutally injured, the organization says an
organized group may be behind the assaults.

The head of the Association’s Istanbul department, Umit Efe was
quoted as saying that the chain of violent acts might be motivated
by racist policies.

“The signs are the same, with the targets being elderly, helpless
women. The death of Maritsa Kucuk and the assaults against the three
other women add to our concerns,” he said.

The police, according to him, work day and night to resolve and
prevent the crimes.

“We expressed our concerns that the attacks occur repeatedly and pursue
an organized scheme. We will see to it that the cases are resolved,”
said Efe.

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN CHARITY FUND TO FINANCE RESTORATION OF DALAR VILLAGE KINDERGARTEN

11:32, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of Los Angeles based
Armenian-American “Christmas Orphans and Disabled Children” Charity
Fund the kindergarten of Dalar village of the Aragatsotn Province will
be capitally restored. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the head of
the foundation Hovhannes Balayan stated that previously the foundation
financed the restoration of the roof of the kindergarten. Now the
whole building will be capitally restored.

Hovhannes Balayan mentioned: “The building is rather big and there
is a lot of work to do.”

Among other things Hovhannes Balayan underscored that there are over
230 children in the kindergarten. On the institutive of the charity
foundation a number of events have been held in Armenia on the occasion
of the New Year. More than 10 thousand children participated in the
events from a row of orphanages and other institutions from various
parts of the republic.

USAID TO SUPPORT BLACK SEA SILK ROAD CORRIDOR PROJECT

12:23 24.01.2013

On January 24, the USAID Enterprise Development and Market
Competitiveness (EDMC) Project signed a grant agreement with
non-governmental organization Armenian Monuments Awareness Project
(AMAP) to implement the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor (BSSRC) project.

Funded jointly by the European Union, AMAP, and USAID, BSSRC is
a 2-year initiative that will foster cross-border cooperation and
economic development in 100 communities across four countries of the
Black SeaBasin – Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey. BSSRC, with AMAP
as the lead implementer in Armenia, will also help alleviate rural
isolation and develop local communities through eco-friendly tourism
to enhance visitors’ experiences and protect cultural monuments and
biodiversity.

There are three main components to the BSSRC in Armenia:

– A nature trail of 43 cultural, historical and natural sites marked
by 148 directional signs, 114 information panels, 77 trail markers,
and 55 walking tour plaques.

– A virtual e-trail consisting of a web-based portal and five
smartphone applications with multi-media and multi-language content
with social network integration. As agreed on by the consortium
of participating countries, Armenian IT engineers will service the
project and design the online directory and smartphone applications
used in all four countries. The directory will allow local hospitality
service providers to list their services (lodging, food, local crafts,
souvenirs, guides, etc.) and market them to the global community.

– A training seminar for local, regional, and national hospitality
service providers on the use of social networks to market local
hospitality services on the trail.

The European Union supports the project through its Black Sea Basin
Joint Operational Programme as part of the European Neighborhood
and Partnership Instrument and the Instrument for Pre-Accession
Assistance. The project’s activities in Armenia are supported by
the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of
Communication and Transport, the Ministry of Nature Protection,
the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, the International Council on Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS), the Botanical Institute of Academy of Sciences,
and the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds, as well as the
Archaeology and Ethnography Institute of the Academy of Sciences and
the Democracy Today NGO.