Author: Badalian Vardan

HERITAGE PARTY AND FREE DEMOCRATS HAVE CIRCULATED A STATEMENT: ALEXANDER ARZUMANYAN IS NOT FAMILIARIZED WITH IT

17:07 . 27/03

Heritage Party and Free Democrats issued a joint statement today with
which they presented a complex political-civil alternative for the
democratic-national transformation of the republic.

Stating a range of realities, the signatories of the covenant have also
touched upon the topic of the Armenian-Turkish relations, which after
the publication of the Heritage Party’s proportional list in the past
days became a topic of a big discussion for the party. The statement
published today states that “the Armenian-Turkish relations must be
established based on historical justice, international law, recognition
and compensation of the Armenian Genocide and acknowledgement of
the deprivation of homeland. The Armenian -Turkish border must be
opened and the diplomatic relations must be established without
preconditions. If Turkey continues to set forth preconditions then
Armenia, too, must do the same”.

Many have noticed that though in the past Heritage Party together with
ARF-D representatives systematically, during each four-day session
demanded from the NA chairmanship to exclude the Armenian -Turkish
protocols from the parliamentary agenda and to withdraw Armenia’s
signature, no such demand is set forth in this document any more.

At the same time, the surprise was big when Alexander Arzumanyan, who
is the fourth in the list of Heritage and Free Democrats Parties, told
us that he isn’t still familiarized with the statement and it isn’t
still final: they are examining it presently. But the statement signed
by the same Alexander Arzumanyan has been circulated among mass media.

TOURISM IN TATEV: TWO MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS JOIN FORCES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

27.03.12 | 15:02

Photo:

Tatev rural communities in Armenia’s southern Syunik province will
receive major assistance as part of a long-term program by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia and the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA). The two structures signed
a Memorandum of Agreement on Tuesday to join efforts and raise funds
for the program.

Earlier this year the two organizations jointly elaborated a four-year
community development program for Tatev rural communities. The program
is comprised of thirteen sub-projects, focusing on community and
tourism infrastructure development, and income generation. (Tatev is
one of Armenia’ key tourist attraction sites, with its 9th century
monastery (first structure dates back to 4th c) and picturesque
natural surroundings. The remoteness and lack of infrastructure,
however, make life in rural communities challenging,)

Arman Khachaturyan, CEO of NCFA, says the program budget is $1.6
million, 20 percent of which will be funded by the UN. UNDP and NCFA
plan to organize a fundraising event in April to attract investments
from international organizations, representatives of private and
public sectors, and other sources.

EUROTERM INVESTS $6.8 MILLION IN ARMENIAN FOOD AND VEGETABLE PROCESSING FACTORY

news.am
March 28, 2012 | 14:46

YEREVAN. – Euroterm Company will invest $6.8 million in Armenian
food and vegetable processing factory, director of the Company Eduard
Ghazaryan told the journalists on Wednesday.

The factory produces 150 tons of concentrate and 60 tons of tomato
paste per day.

The factory is specialized in producing juices: well-known brands
include Noyan and Fiesta. It exports 60% of the production and intends
to raise production volume to $10 million this year.

FORMER ARMENIAN FM MEETS WITH SWEDISH DELEGATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 28, 2012 – 13:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
met with Sweden’s delegation on March 28 to discuss domestic situation
in Armenia and the forthcoming parliamentary elections, as well as
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and situation in Middle East, in particular,
Syria and Iran.

Developments in Russia were also covered.

Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia Diane Jansen attended the meeting, Mr.
Oskanian’s office reported.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARRIVES IN DUBAI

Panorama.am
28/03/2012

Armenian Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan who headed a delegation
to Almaty to attend the CIS Jubilee Session of the Council of the
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA), departed to United Arab Emirates
on March 28.

According to NA public relations department, On March 29 Mr. Nikoyan
will have a meeting with Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of Federal
National Council (FNC) in Dubai. The Armenian parliamentary delegation
will return to Yerevan on March 30.

EXPERT DOES NOT CONSIDER FRANCE WILL WITHDRAW OSCE MINSK GROUP – NEWSPAPER

news.am
March 27, 2012 | 10:53

PARIS. – The European Parliament has recently adopted a document on
Armenia, offering to replace France by the EU in the OSCE Minsk Group.

The document is likely to be passed, as the Parliament has voted
for it and the plenary session does the same. However, it does not
necessarily mean that France has to leave the MG, Gaidz Minassian,
expert at French Foundation for Strategic Research said in an interview
with Armenian Zhamanak (The Times) newspaper.

“We can view the issue from several angles: whether France represents
the EU, or should it leave for another EU member state or should EU
itself to replace France? Engagement in the MG is quite different from
co-chairing the group. If the EU desires to more actively participate
in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, it needs to clarify its format
of participation whether it wants to be a co-chair or just a member
of the MG,” the expert said.

The expert considers it is not necessary to claim that the document
was initiated by Turkey and Azerbaijan, as the Europeans have their
own interests. EU has an inner battle, where France and Germany desire
to have a decisive role in important processes. Besides, other member
states will also wish to replace France or Germany. Anyway the expert
does not consider that France will yield.

“I do not consider that France yields its place in the MG. It is more
likely that the French representative becomes the one for the EU as
well,” Minasyan concluded.

HAYATSK: FOREIGN MINISTRY’S BUILDING SOLD TO HOTEL COMPANY

Tert.am
27.03.12

The paper says it has learned from “reliable sources” that the
building of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has been sold to a foreign
company engaged in hotel businesses.

The latter reportedly purchased the premises for $400 million.

According to the paper, the Foreign Ministry will move to the Justice
Ministry’s former building.

“It is noteworhty that Hilton company, on the other hand, has acquired
the premises of the Central Post,” says the paper.

CULTURE MINISTER OF ARMENIA CONGRATULATES THEATRICAL FIGURES ON WORLD THEATER DAY

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 26, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS: Culture Minister of Armenia Hasmik
Poghosyan has addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of
the World Theater Day, Ministry”s press service told Armenpress.

Expressing her warm congratulations, Hasmik Poghsoyan noted this is
one of the most favorite and expected holidays of our cultural life.

“And it is natural, as theater has accompanied us throughout our
history,” she added.

“I should state with joy that today our theatrical figures go on to
be the bearers of centuries-long traditions of the Armenian theater,
and to enrich them elevating to a new quality level,” the message runs.

Wrapping up the message, Hasmik Poghosyan wished endless energy and
new achievements to all theatrical figures and devotees of the theater.

POPULAR ARMENIAN CLERGYMAN MAY BE EXILED FROM U.S. OVER VISA EXPIRATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 26, 2012 – 22:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Dozens of parishioners demonstrated outside
Glendale’s St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in the rain Sunday,
March 25 to express their anger over the transfer of a popular reverend
who was forced to leave the country because his visa expired, Glendale
News-Press reported.

His supporters said church officials did not work to extend Fr. Rev.
Barthev Gulumian’s visa because of internal politics, sparking a
campaign on social media against the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

Gulumian was removed from his Glendale post, where he has worked for
the last six years, and transferred to Venezuela.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Western Prelacy said that while
it wanted Gulumian “to continue his valuable work in the Armenian
American community, the Western Prelacy is compelled to comply with
U.S. laws which in this case mandated that Father Barthev leave the
U.S. albeit for a temporary basis.”

The statement added that his return “will be processed in compliance
with U.S. immigration laws and policies.”

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO UK VISITS OXFORD AND KENT UNIVERSITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 26, 2012 – 17:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – From March 22-26, Armenia’s ambassador to the
UK Karine Kazinian visited Universities of Oxford and Kent at the
invitation of Armenian students union. The ambassador discussed
problems the students experience in the UK. In her speech at the
University of Kent she briefed those present on the challenges Armenia
currently faces, bilateral ties with Great Britain, as well as the
issue of the Armenian Genocide recognition, MFA press service reported.