Author: Badalian Vardan

BUSINESSMEN EXAGGERATING PRICES TO BE PUNISHED IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 22 2014

22 December 2014 – 10:16am

Armenian Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan said that businessmen
exaggerating prices will be punished according to the law. The PM
noted that prices for sugar, flour and some other popular products
had been set too high. Mr. Shaboyan, the head of the State Commission
for Protection of Economic Competition, was asked to make a detailed
price study and present results, Caucasus Online reports.

Abramyan noted that prices for medicine had increased by 40%. He
ordered Healthcare Minister Armen Muradyan to control prices for
medicine.

“I sent people for inspections in all place. There is no such price as
230 drams, gas costs 200 drams, 210 drams in some places,” Armenpress
quotes the prime minister.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN VISITS SIMULATION EDUCATION CENTER IN YEREVAN

17:56, 22 Dec 2014

President Serzh Sargsyan today attended the opening of the Simulation
Education Center at Yerevan State University after M. Heratsi.

Accompanied by the RA Minister of Education and Science, Armen
Ashotyan, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care,
Maternity and Childhood, Ara Babloyan and YSMU Rector Mikayel
Narimanyan, Serzh Sargsyan toured the newly-opened center of N1
University Clinical Hospital, familiarized with the opportunities of
the center founded as part of the reforms which have been implemented
in Armenia’s higher education sector.

The Minister of Education and Science presented the implementation
process of the projects being carried out by the Armenia Higher
Education Competitive Innovation Fund and its spheres of activities.

He noted that with the opening of the simulation center, Yerevan State
Medical University is introducing a new method of medical education –
simulation education. This kind of innovative method allows students
to upgrade their practical skills and reduce the number of medical
mistakes during their professional activities both at the stages of
graduate and life-long education. The innovation project is generally
directed at substantially improving the quality and effectiveness of
medical education.

The simulation center involves four main directions – clinical skills,
reanimation, surgery and midwifery, and gynecology. The center is
equipped with necessary moulages, movers and computers installed with
educational programs. The YSMU has reviewed the educational programs
and has conducted retraining sessions. The full-fledged introduction
of simulation education at the YSMU is planned to launch in February
of 2015.

According to the executives, in case of necessity after the end of
the project a new video course available to other beneficiaries via
the university webpage will be designed. It is planned to organize
special retraining courses for lecturers and employees of the center on
a regular basis in order to involve the best international experience
and ensure reforms yield the best results.

PRICE CHECK: INFLATION PRESSURES PERSIST AMID DOLLAR-DRAM DOLDRUMS

SOCIETY | 22.12.14 | 17:40

Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow intern

RELATED NEWS

Price Watch: Dram rebounds, inflation worries linger

The new customs regime implied by Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU), according to specialists, will only add to
inflation pressures in the country.

This opinion is shared by head of the Consumers Consulting Center NGO
Karen Chilingaryan, according to whom, after entry into the economic
grouping founded by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan there should be
no expectations for a positive change in Armenia’s domestic market.

“They make loud statements that we enter a market of 170 million
people. But if we have no purchasing power, there what is the use of
it?” Chilingaryan said, reacting to government officials’ statements
that EEU membership from January 1 will bring economic advantages
to Armenia.

On Monday the president of the Consumers Consulting Center also told
reporters that unjustified price increases should become a matter
for consideration of Armenia’s State Commission for the Protection
of Economic Competition (SCPEC) as well.

During the recent days prices for some basic foodstuffs and essential
goods drastically went up in the Armenian market in connection with
dram-dollar upheavals, and many businessmen used the opportunity to
raise retail prices.

On December 17, the Armenian dram hit its historical lows at around
600 AMD per UDS, and prices for some goods also shot up by as much
as 30 percent.

Later on, the dram rebounded and today already in most currency
exchange offices one dollar can be bought for 455-460 AMD. (Before
mid-November for a durable period of time the dram exchange rate
fluctuated within the range of 410-420 AMD).

It is noteworthy that last week Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan visited several supermarkets and said that in the event of
the dollar rate fluctuating within 10-13 percent goods in the market
must not get 30 percent more expensive.

The PM also said that the “shock” was over’ and the real exchange
rate would be settled soon.

Some media reports said that last week the heads of four commercial
banks in Armenia tendered their resignations allegedly because of
being blamed for the currency market turmoil.

As for prices for some goods in the market, they remain relatively
high and have not gone down significantly after shooting up overnight.

Some also link it to the starting holiday season during which demand
tends to exceed supply in Armenia, leading to price increases.

IRAN, ARMENIA TO INCREASE CULTURAL EXCHANGES

IRNA – Islamic Rep. News Agency, Iran
December 19, 2014 Friday

Tehran

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ali Jannati and
Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor Arakelian in a meeting on Wednesday
called for increase in bilateral cultural exchanges.

Jannati referred to the two countries’ historical and cultural
relations and called for expansion of ties in all fields including
arts and music.

Iran is ready to publish books in Armenian language, he added.

The Armenian envoy for his part hailed freedom of minorities including
Armenians in Iran.

The official further called for bolstering all out ties between the
two friendly nations.

SEYRAN OHANYAN PARTICIPATED IN SHOYGU’S EXCURSION “OVER THE RUSSIAN PENTAGON”

17:06, 22 December, 2014

YEREVAN, 22 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of the
Russian Federation Sergey Shoygu organized a special excursion at
the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation
for his partners from the member states of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO). Among the guests was Armenia’s Minister of
Defense Seyran Ohanyan. As “ArmenPress” reports, citing the Russian
TVzvezda.ru, the guests and CSTO member states were introduced to
the state-of-the-art systems for developing information received from
different government agencies, “Rosatom”, the command center of the
Main Headquarters, as well as the crisis center of the Ministry of
Emergency Situations.

The latest devices can develop information two times faster than the
“think tank” of the U.S. Armed Forces. The memory space for data is
19 times larger than that of the Pentagon.

WHAT IS NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE GETTING READY FOR?

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 22 December 2014, 20:57

The spokesman for Prosperous Armenia Party Tigran Urikhanyan told
Radio Liberty he does not think the statement by the head of the
National Security Service is not addressed to PAP. Note that Gorik
Hakobyan stated in his speech on the Day of NSS Employees that the
NSS will not be observing from aside calls for rebellions, toppling
the government. They will interfere and will not allow encroachments
upon constitutional order. Gorik Hakobyan considered it as a necessary
warning, not a threat.

At the same time, he considers formation of headquarters in the
Diaspora communities unacceptable as, in his opinion, these will
thwart the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora, while only
ordinary citizens of Armenia may take part in Armenia’s domestic life.

The “pan-national movement” initiated by three non-governmental
forces intend to set up headquarters in the Diaspora. However, the
PAP is doing the main job, and Vardan Oskanyan, a member of the party,
had meetings with the Armenian community in Moscow.

In this respect, Urikhanyan did not comment on this but reiterated
that Gorik Hakobyan’s speech is not addressed to PAP.

However, there is an interesting circumstance. The point is that
the Diaspora comprises not only the citizens of other countries but
also citizens of Armenia who have left Armenia but remain citizens
of Armenia. The number of these people in Russia is high.

Those citizens of Armenia have to right to participate in the domestic
life of Armenia, and in this sense the NSS does not seem to have legal
grounds to prevent their involvement. It is not ruled out that the
PAP spokesman means this when he says that Gorik Hakobyan’s speech
was not addressed to them.

At the same time, the head of the NSS reminds in his speeches from time
to time that the NSS will not allow a change of government. Of course,
preventing change of government by violence is said but everyone
understands that generally preventing a change of government is meant.

This is a tradition inherited from the USSR. On the other hand,
however, when the NSS announced about preventing a change of
government, it is a statement on retaining power. In other words,
if they can prevent a change of government, they can also allow it.

In other words, Gorik Hakobyan’s statement must be interpreted from
this point of view and, in fact, he is not addressing any particular
force. This is a broader matter and is related to larger processes
underway in the world in the context of the U.S.-Russia resistance.

In this context, the statement of the National Security Service is
actually a bid for the present geopolitical situation which will
affect Armenia approaching the stage of forming government. This is
a bid for participation in the process of forming government.

What matters is on whose behalf the bid is submitted. In other words,
is the NSS of Armenia reminding about its role in the context of
Russia which, despite weakening, will not allow infringements upon
its influence in Armenia.

Or, is the NSS of Armenia reacting to processes relating to Armenia,
not wishing to appear in the margin, and is trying to make an
individual bid as an influential security agency ahead of likely
medium-term and long-term realities in case Russia loses its influence.

UFC ON FOX 14: GEGARD MOUSASI DETERMINED TO SECURE A WIN AGAINST DAN HENDERSON

mirror.co.uk
December 19, 2014 Friday 2:59 PM GMT

‘The Armenian Assassin’ talks to Mirror Fighting about his upcoming
fight with “legend” Dan Henderson and his disappointing showing against
‘Jacare’ Souza

By Alex Watt

Gegard Mousasi was not impressed by his last performance.

It’s a point he makes abundantly clear over the course of our short
interview and something which he plans on correcting next month when
he fights at UFC on Fox 14 in Sweden.

Mousasi (35-5-2) fights fellow UFC, PRIDE and Strikeforce veteran
Dan Henderson (30-12) in the co-main event of the January 24 show.

Speaking about his future opponent, Mousasi said, “He’s tough. He has
fought the best and he’s been against a lot of good fighters. He’s
a legend. I’m happy to fight him.”

The 44-year-old Henderson would appear to be in the twilight of
his career, having won just one of his last five fights. Not that
Henderson’s recent form makes him any less dangerous in Mousasi’s mind.

“He’s fighting the best guys out there so, obviously, the chances of
losing is bigger,” added Mousasi. “I don’t know which Dan Henderson
is going to show up for this fight but I just prepare for the best one.

“There’s no gameplan, I just fight. This time, I’m going to go in
there and just fight. After my last fight, it was bad and I wasn’t
happy with my performance. This time, I just want to go out there
and give my all. Lose or win, I don’t care, as long as I give my best.

“This fight, I’m going to fight like my old self; go forward and put
the pressure on and try and make it a high tempo fight.”

That last loss came to Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza in September, when he
was outclassed by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist and succumbed
to a guillotine choke in the third round.

It’s not an experience Mousasi looks back on fondly.

He said, “Even just walking to the ring that night I know I was not
myself. I’ve never felt so bad before a fight; not physically, but
with the desire to fight. I don’t know, it just wasn’t my day.”

When pushed on what made him feel so out of sorts that night,
Mousasi is hesitant to respond, simply saying, “I know, but it’s a
very long explanation”.

Gegard Mousasi interview

‘The Dreamcatcher’ joined the UFC in 2013 and has gone 2-2 inside
the Octagon thus far.

Mousasi has won gold across two weight divisions in multiple promotions
– Strikeforce, Cage Warriors and Dream – but a UFC title shot looks
a long way away for the 29-year-old right now.

He added, “I’ve lost two fights against the best middleweights so
it’s a far away thing to think about the title just now. I always
have that in the back of my head but, at this moment, I just need to
get a couple of wins before I can think about that again.

“I’m not even close. I mean, you never know in the UFC, but you
have Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva coming back, you have (Lyoto)
Machida, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, there’s so many guys, you
know? It’s a difficult division now and I just have to take it one
fight at a time and see what happens.”

At the top of the pile, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is set
to defend his title against Vitor Belfort at UFC 184 on February 28.

Although Mousasi has no dispute with Vitor Belfort getting the next
middleweight title shot, he has been vocal in the past about ‘The
Phenom’s’ use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Unsurprisingly
then, Mousasi is pleased that the controversial ‘TRT’ has now been
banned in MMA but he doesn’t sound convinced that it will completely
stop the use of PEDs in the sport.

“For sure (it’s a good thing that TRT is banned). You never know,
people are going to try any way to get past it and pass the drug
tests. You never know if you’re fighting someone who is on something
or not.

“The UFC is testing more so that’s good but you’re always going to
have characters who will try to cheat the system.”

Fight Night Stockholm: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – Tickets On Sale Now!

For now, Mousasi’s only focus is Dan Henderson and, primarily,
turning in a better performance than he did against Souza.

Mousasi added, “I want to go out and just fight and whatever happens,
happens. I’m going to go all out and what the result is going to be;
I don’t care. I’m going to do my best and that’s the most important.

“I’m going to go for the victory, for sure. But, I’m not going to be
disappointed. My last fight, it just wasn’t me and I didn’t do what
I set out to do, so with this fight I’m going to go out there and
just fight.

“If something happens, it’s not my fault, anything can happen, it’s
a fight. But I am always training hard for the fight and I will be
happy with any result.”

Will Gegard Mousasi defeat Dan Henderson at UFC on Fox 14?

Mirror Fighting Facebook Promotion

A1+ JOURNALIST DENIED ACCESS TO PRESS CONFERENCE ON MARCH 1 TRAGEDY

17:25 | December 22,2014 | Politics

A journalist of A1+ TV Company has not been allowed to participate
in a press conference held at the office of Artur Baghdsaryan. She
was told that the event was only open to several media outlets.

According to Aravot.am, Artur Baghdsaryan am, Arthur Baghdasaryan
had invited journalists to say that his Country of Law Party (OEK)
had no connection with the March 2008 tragedy that left ten people
killed in the Armenian capital.

“Who gathered those people at [Liberty] Square? And who gave the order
to open fire at them? Both answers are known. The OEK had no connection
to the bloody events. We did not have such levers. We have nothing
to do with the bloodshed and plunder in the country. They blame us
for forming a coalition government with Serzh Sargsyan. We agreed
because we wanted changes. But when we did not have any changes we
withdraw from the coalition,” said Mr Baghdasaryan.

THE 2014 WAS A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR TURKEY – TURKOLOGIST

15:00 / 22.12.2014

The 2014 was a difficult year for Turkey, Turkologist Gevorg Petrosyan
told the reporters on Monday. He said five important events took
place there having direct or indirect impact on Armenia.

First of all the expert mentioned the April 24 message which was part
of their plan relating to the Armenian Genocide centennial.

“Continuing the policy of denial, with this message Turkey creates
an illusion that positive changes are taking place in their country,
the so-called new Turkey is being created. It is in case when this
is the continuation of the policy of denial,” he said.

The other important point, according to the expert, is the Islamic
State-Turkey relations. In June this year the Islamic forces
established Islamic State in Iraq which may be said has become a new
acting force in the Middle East. The expert said the two forces seem
to be enemies but in reality they are engaged in shadow cooperation.

Petrosyan said that another significant thing was the dispute between
Gulen associates and the ruling circles. The disputes started from
December last year and lasted throughout the year. The expert said
that Gulen associates are known with their anti-Armenian lobbying in
the USA.

The other thing that happened there were the blasts in mines which
claimed many lives. It became the reason of criticism addressed to
the government and the opposition forces directed their criticism
toward Erdogan.

The 2014 was also marked with the conduction of elections in Turkey.

In March municipal elections were held there with Erdogan’s party
wining with greater number of votes than previously. August has been
marked in Turkey with historic presidential elections. These were
the first ones when people were electing the president, previously
the president was elected by the parliament.

Nyut.am

UN SOLDAT MORT AU FRONT HIER A L’EST DU HAUT KARABAGH

HAUT KARABAGH

Hier 21 decembre sur la ligne de contact a l’est de la Republique
du Haut Karabagh un jeune soldat armenien a trouve la mort, victime
d’un tir ennemi. La victime est le soldat David Koloyan (19 ans). Le
ministère de la Defense enquete sur les conditions dans lesquelles ce
militaire Armenien trouva la mort. Le ministère de la Defense de la
Republique du Haut Karabagh affirme dans un communique diffuse hier
soir >.

Krikor Amirzayan

lundi 22 decembre 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com