Author: Badalian Vardan

Coconut Oil Controversy Goes Unanswered by Agriculture Minister
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
13:35, February 10, 2012

Back in December the State Commission for Economic Protection (SCEP)
fined several dairy producers when it was discovered that they had
added coconut oil and milk powder to their sour cream.

Ashtarak Milk, a company owned by ARF MP Ashot Apoyan, was fined 50 million AMD.

When asked by Hetq if the fine had ulterior political motives, SCEP
President Artak Shaboyan said the agency isn’t involved in politics
and that, in any event, Ashtarak Milk accepted the error of its way
and had already paid the fine.

The use of coconut oil is an inexpensive way for manufacturers to
raise the fat content in dairy products.

But is it safe?

We posed the same question to Minister of Agriculture Sergey Karapetyan.

`Coconut oil is another food additive. But it was the SCEP who fined
those companies. Now the Food Safety Agency is looking into the
matter,’ Minister Karapetyan said.

RUSSIA IS SWINGING THE STATUS QUO
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:16:27 – 20/02/2012

Apparently, Russia decided to “convince” Armenia to recognize
Karabakh’s independence. The Editor-in-Chief of Regnum Agency Modest
Kolerov attended the conference dedicated to the 20 anniversary of
Karabakh independence and stated that no international recognition will
happen until Armenia recognizes Karabakh’s independence: “The inertial
process will not protect the independence of Artsakh, without any new
historical national acts this process will not develop. It makes no
sense to require the recognition of independence from the world for
as long as Armenia does not recognize the independence of Karabakh”
said Kolerov.

Director of the International Institute of Military States (Russia)
Aleksei Martinov shared his opinion and said: “I am sure, Armenia
should immediately recognize Karabakh’s independence”.

In response, Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s parliament Eduard Sharmazanov
stated that Armenia does everything for the recognition of the NKR
independence and the recognition by Armenia is necessary to achieve
this aim, it will happen.

The arguments brought by the Russian political scientists are
interesting. Say, Kolerov compares the situation with the one of
Abkhazia and Ossetia. He says that Russia was going to recognize this
republic establishing agreement relations with it. Kolerov was as
if hinting that the recognition by Armenia can become a springboard
for Russia. It is noteworthy that dwelling on the recognition by the
West, Kolerov noted that it won’t happen until French peacekeepers
are deployed in Karabakh. This once again seems a hint – if Russian
peacekeepers are deployed in Karabakh, recognition may follow also.

But why do we need such recognition like in case of Abkhazia?

One more no less strange argument is brought by the other expert
Aleksei Martinov who stated that Karabakh’s recognition by Armenia
will lead to the non-resumption of the conflict, while it is evident
that the conflict will be resumed if Armenia does not recognize it.

The Russian political scientists are evident to be trying to achieve
a change of the status quo by Armenia which has not yet allowed
the Russian party be present in Karabakh. Karabakh’s recognition by
Armenia and documental recognition of responsibility for its security
may enable the Russian troops in Armenia widen their competences
reaching also Karabakh.

Many Armenian politicians dwelt and dwell on the necessity to recognize
Karabakh. But when Russia or any other party starts pushing Armenia
to make that step in the most inconvenient moment, it causes doubts.

In the end, no one hides that Russia’s policy relating to the Karabakh
issue will become more aggressive after Putin’s election. But the
status quo of the Karabakh issue is so fragile, it has been so long
and carefully laid, that no violations, even for Putin’s ambitions,
must be allowed.

ARMENIA’S CIVIL AVIATION RECOGNIZED THE BEST IN THE CIS

ARMENPRESS
February 20, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS: Head of the Government-affiliated
Civil Aviation Department Artyem Movsisyan was in Kiev February 14-16
and in Moscow on February 17. Press office of the department told
Armenpress that Movsisyan participated in Kiev in the event organized
by TRASECA organization. Within the framework of the EU funded program
starting from this year trainings, certifications will be organized for
the employees of the department for three years. Overall 80 employees
of the department will be involved in the program. The programs will
be conducted for free.

On February 17 Artyem Movsisyan participated in the official event
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of creation of Inter-State Aviation
Committee in Moscow where Armenian aviation department has been
considered the best in the CIS countries and was granted an award.

Power Engineering Magazine
Feb 18 2012

Rosatom prepared to finance 50% of new reactor at Armenian NPP –
minister

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom is prepared to finance 50%
of the cost of a project to build a new generating unit at the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Armen Movsisian said at a press conference on Thursday.

The Russian proposal was discussed in Yerevan last week during a visit
to Armenia by Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko, Movsisian said.

At the time, Kiriyenko said Rosatom was prepared to invest 20-25% “and
more,” but that the “main investments will be on the part of Armenia.”

Movsisian also said that Armenia is prepared to consider any other
lucrative proposal for any other investor to participate in the
project.

It was reported earlier that CJSC Metsamorenergoatom, a 50-50
Russian-Armenian joint venture set up to build the new generating
unit, is holding negotiations with foreign investors to involve them
in this project.

Movsisian also said that, according to the law, the government may not
retain a controlling stake in the company that will operate the
generating unit.

“How many percent will belong to who does not play any significant
role. What’s important is that a company registered in Armenia will
operate the unit,” the minister said, adding that the nuclear reactor
with capacity of 1,060 MW is scheduled to be built in 2019-2020.

The existing reactor at the Armenian NPP will undergo a stress test in
2012, the preparations for which were already made last year,
Movsisian said. If the reactor passes the test, Armenia plans to
extend its service live for another ten years.

The Armenian NPP now has one 400 MW generating unit, the intended
service life of which ends in 2016. However, Armenia has already said
that the reactor will only be mothballed after a new one is built.
IAEA experts have also said that the life of the existing reactor can
be extended.

Vp of

Source: Interfax News Agency

Interfax, Russia
Feb 17 2012

Armenian economy will grow 4.2% in 2012-2013 – World Bank

YEREVAN. Feb 17

The World Bank predicts that Armenia’s economy will grow 4.2% per year
in 2012-2013 and that inflation will be 4%-4.5%.

That is a base forecast, and could be revisited in conditions of
Eurozone economic crisis, the director of the Bank’s Yerevan offices,
Jean-Michel Happi, told reporters on Friday.

Although the Armenian economy is recovering from the economic crisis
of 2009, it is still not vigorous and is very much susceptible to
shocks from abroad, Happi said. In conditions of post-crisis
export-price decreases, less investment and private transfers, big
Armenian economic growth cannot be counted on, he said

The country needs to increase its GDP and export growth rates to
ensure the stability of state foreign debt, Happi said. After the
crisis, Armenia’s foreign debt increased substantially and is unstable
now, he said. Despite the economic recovery, Armenia has to provide
for the entry of new companies into the market, promote the
improvement of the competitive environment, the development of
exports, and the diversification of sources of economic growth, he
said.

Armenia’s budget for this year reckons GDP growth of 4.2% and
inflation of 4% – plus or minus 1.5 of a percentage point.

The World Bank board of directors has approved to credits for Armenia
totaling $91 million, Happi said.

A credit of $80 will be extended for supporting the country’s state
budget, including $50 million for a 25-year term with a five-year
grace period at 1.25% per annum and $30 million (25 years) with a
ten-year grace period at LIBOR plus a floating margin. These funds are
aimed at increasing the level of state management and the
competitiveness of the private sector, as well as helping the most
vulnerable members of society, Happi said.

The second credit is of $11 million, to be supplied as additional
financing for the country’s social investment fund in order to
continue social programs. This is also a 25-year credit, with a
five-year grace period and extended at a rate of 1.25% per annum.

The World Bank has provided Armenia with credits amounting to $1.597
billion since 1992.

Cf

Iranian news agency reporter arrested in Azerbaijan

February 18, 2012 – 18:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Forces of the national security ministry of
Azerbaijan arrested and jailed Fars News Agency (FNA)’s correspondent
in Baku, the agency said.

According to FNA dispatches, the security forces raided the house of
the FNA correspondent on Thursday, Feb 16 night and arrested him
without any specific charge.

During the attack in the Nardaran neighborhood, many other political
activists were also arrested.

The move is seen as part of Azerbaijan’s recent anti-Iranian move as
Baku had earlier expelled the official representative of the Islamic
republic news agency as well, the agency said.

Meantime, political observers also believe that the wide-scale arrests
by the Baku government are aimed at intimidating and pressuring the
opposition activists.

Vazgen Manukyan: It is simply absurd to discuss the status of Karabakh

arminfo
Saturday, February 18, 16:38

“It is simply absurd to discuss the status of Karabakh. How can some
states made a decision to transfer another independent state to the
serfdom of the third state? I have not heard of such a precedent in
the world history over the past 100 years”, Chairman of the Armenian
Public Council Vazgen Manukyan said at the international conference
“The 20th Anniversary of the NKR: Realities and Perspectives” in
Stepanakert.

“This state can decide only via a referendum whether to join some
state or not. An independent state cannot be included in another state
without its own consent, regardless of who will sign the relevant
document – Armenia, Georgia, France, the United States, or some other
state. We should realize it and consolidate Karabakh’s independence”,
he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the NKR should conclude
a mutual assistance agreement with Armenia, but should be a real
subject of independence. “The Karabakh war was waged on us, and we won
the war. 20 years have passed since then, and today we have a state
with 20-year old independence”, said Vazgen Manukyan, who was a member
of the Karabakh Committee and ex-premier of Armenia.

Google: `I love Armenians’ Translated as `I love Turkey’

by Armenian Weekly
February 18, 2012

A screenshot of Google’s translation of ‘I love Armenians’
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.) – Google’s online translation service
(translate.google.com) is translating `yes sirum em hayerin’ (I love
Armenians) to `I love Turkey.’

The mistranslation was pointed out to us by Lebanese Armenian activist
Serouj Baghdassarian. The Armenian Weekly has verified it.

One IT expert we contacted said, `The mistranslation not only
constitutes a breach of professionalism, but suggests the possibility
of malice. I wonder how many other phrases are translated in a similar
manner.’ He added, `Google must immediately rectify this problem and
provide an explanation.’

Assad: Syria is facing attempts to divide it

February 18, 2012 – 15:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, Feb
18, blamed 11-months of turmoil in which his forces have cracked down
on protesters as a ploy to split the country, Reuters reports.

“What Syria is facing is fundamentally an effort to divide it and
affect its geopolitical place and historic role in the region,” Assad
was quoted by Syrian state television as saying, after meeting China’s
vice foreign minister in Damascus.

Meanwhile activists said that Syrian government forces renewed their
bombardment of the opposition stronghold of Homs on Saturday.

The troops were close to Baba Amro, a southern neighborhood that has
been target of the heaviest barrages since the armored offensive began
two weeks ago, activists claimed.

Manvel Grigoryan reelected as YVU chairman

Aysor.am
Saturday,February 18

Today during the 9th congress of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union Manvel
Grigoryan was reelected as the chairman of YVU department. On the YVU
9th congress the YVU admitted a statement according to which YVU
defends the initiative of President Serzh Sargsyan in foreign and
domestic political spheres.

The statement says, `Yerkrapah was and is carrier of ideology and the
soldier of the independent statehood of Armenian people.’ It says also
that Yerkrapah has defended people of Artsakh in the war time and now
is the defender of its statehood as well.