Author: Badalian Vardan

SOMMET RUSSO-ARMENIEN LE 24 OCTOBRE A MOSCOU (KREMLIN)

RIA Novosti

17 oct 2011
Russie

Les presidents russe et armenien, Dmitri Medvedev et Serge Sargsian,
tiendront des negociations le 24 octobre a Moscou, a annonce lundi
un communique du Kremlin.

“Le 24 octobre, des negociations russo-armeniennes au sommet auront
lieu au Kremlin”, lit-on dans le communique.

M. Sargsian se rendra du 23 au 25 octobre en visite d’Etat a Moscou
a l’invitation de son homologue russe.

ARMENIAN PRIEST DEFROCKED FOR EXPRESSING CONDOLENCE TO ERDOGAN

news.am
Oct 18 2011
Armenia

An Armenian priest was defrocked for publishing condolence letter in
Turkish press on death of Premier Erdogan~Rs mother.

Members of the council of Armenian Surb Khach church in Istanbul~Rs
Uskyudar district decided to publish a condolence letter to Premier
Erdogan on the occasion of his mother~Rs death, Turkey-based Armenian
Agos newspaper reports.

The move was negatively perceived by Armenian Deputy Patriarch of
Constantinople Aram Ateshyan.

Ateshyan defrocked the priest of Surb Khch church Koryun Fenerjyan for
publishing a letter without holding consultations with patriarchate.

STATUS QUO IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT CANNOT LAST LONG, SAYS U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE

Shanghai Daily

Oct 18 2011

BAKU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The existent status-quo in Armenia-
Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot last long and must be
treated with seriousness and urgency, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State William Burns said Tuesday in Baku.

According to Burns, the U.S. remains committed to the principle of
doing everything possible to strengthen and update process conducted by
the OSCE Minsk Group on the highest level – at the presidential level.

The Deputy Secretary of State said the United States being a co-
chair of the OSCE Minsk Group stands ready to continue talks on
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The military
way of solution of the problem is impossible, he said.

As part of his visit to Azerbaijan, Burns also met with President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday. The meeting focused on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and cooperation
in the field of global projects and activities in the energy sector.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire deal in 1994 over the
disputed Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that lies within Azerbaijan but
has been under the control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian
forces after a separatist war broke out in 1988.

The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, Russia and the United
States, has been orchestrating the peace negotiations between the
two South Caucasus countries since then.

PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

Office of the President of the Republic

Oct 17 2011
Armenia

The President of France Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to President
Serzh Sargsyan which states:

“Mr. President,

I would like to express my cordial thanks for the exceptional reception
that was extended to me during my state visit to Armenia which I had
the honor and pleasure to conduct on October 6 and 7.

My state visit first and foremost is memorable for the emotions that
overwhelmed me at the Genocide Memorial, where I paid tribute to
the victims of the capital crime perpetrated against Your people on
April 24, 1915. Please be assured that France will be relentless in
its commitment as long as the massacres have not been duly recognized
by the descendants of those who had perpetrated the crime.

I am happy that the visit provided the opportunity to assure the
Armenian people of France’s sincere gratitude for everything that
those who had escaped the Genocide gave to France, contributing to
the shaping of the image of France, right up to amalgamating with it.

I have equally emotional memories of the enthusiasm that engulfed
the France Square and which was a manifestation of such a close
friendship of our two nations enrooted in history and forged in the
calamities of the last century. I would also like to assure you that
France views Armenia as its friend and sister.

Please, have no doubt that France is unfalteringly stands by Your side
to conquer the challenges that Your country faces first of all, on the
road toward the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through
negotiations. At fateful for Your country moments, You have been able
to prove Your courage and sense of responsibility which are admirable.

I am confident that should it be necessary You will be able to assume
the risk of peace in the name of Your country and for the benefit of
the region, making by that Your imprint on Armenia’s future.

Now, we have to define prospects outlined during our meetings so that
programs which will further strengthen our friendship are implemented.

Rest assured that France will sincerely and unequivocally work toward
their implementation.

I wish Armenia a well-deserved peaceful and prosperous future. I also
wish that Your mission of the leader of the country is crowned with
the success which You are truly worthy of.

Please accept, distinguished Mr. President, dear Serzh, the assurances
of my deepest esteem and my most profound friendship.”

STATE INSPECTION ON VETERINARY AND FOOD SECURITY FINED 14 ARMENIAN COMPANIES IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.5 MILLION DRAMS

/ARKA/
October 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Fourteen Armenian companies were fined in
the total amount of about 1.5 million drams in the result of checks,
said the Head of Department of Food Security of state inspection on
veterinary and food products within the Armenian Agriculture Ministry
Artur Varzhapetyan on Tuesday.

“We have traditional risky areas related to perishable products,
in particular with marking and expiration date. In the result of
monitoring in about 1.2 thousand shops in Armenia, in 80% of cases
different types of violations were detected”, said Varzhapetyan.

Monitoring lasted 45 days and ended on October 3. “Currently, the
results are being analyzed and summarized, after which they will be
publicized”, he said.

For different types of violations by the shops, according to
legislation, a penalty from 30 to 300 thousand drams is envisaged.

“Moreover, according to the new law, if marking is mentioned on
expiration date, the penalty will be from 100 to 300 thousand drams”,
he said.

During monitoring the method of warning was applied which assumes
explanatory works with entrepreneurs.

“Monitoring was conducted in two phases. First, inspectors conducted
consultations and explanatory works, and I would like to mention that
visiting the same stores in the second phase, inspectors recorded that
most of the violations were corrected. It evidences that in many cases
consultation of the specialist is more effective that application of
administrative penalties”, he said.

Parliament of Armenia on September 14 adopted amendments in the law
“On security of food products” in the second and final reading, and
changes in the accompanying laws, particularly in the law “On the
protection of consumer rights”, Code of Administrative Violations,
Criminal Code, according to which it is envisaged to prohibit import
and sale of products if the expiration date is not mentioned, or it
is mentioned twice or marking is mentioned on expiration date. It aims
at excluding the opportunity of selling overdue products in Armenia.

The changes also envisage punishment for import and sale of overdue
products up to criminal responsibility with a term of imprisonment
from 3 to 5 years if it harmed health or caused death. ($1 – 375.4
drams).

BAN KI-MOON SLAMS ISRAEL OVER EAST JERUSALEM SETTLEMENT PLANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 18, 2011 – 19:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel
over reports that it plans to build 2,600 more housing units in East
Jerusalem, saying further settlement activity was “unacceptable.”

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over continued efforts
to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East
Jerusalem,” Ban’s press office said in a statement.

“Recent developments in this regard have been unacceptable,
particularly as efforts are ongoing to resume (Israeli-Palestinian)
negotiations, and run contrary to the Quartet’s call on the parties
to refrain from provocations,” it said.

The Peace Now anti-settlement group said that Israel planned to
build the housing units in a new urban settlement in East Jerusalem,
angering Palestinians who want a halt to all such projects before
they return to peace talks, Haaretz reported.

LE CAFE DE PARIS IS NOT ON SALE, SAYS OWNER VALERI-ASHKHEN GORTSUNYAN

Tert.am
18.10.11

Yerevan-based French-Armenian businesswoman Valeri-Ashkhen Gortsunyan
has dismissed allegations that she is going to sell her business and
leave Armenia.

Speaking to Tert.am Gortsunyan, who is the owner of Le Cafe de Paris
cafe in central Yerevan, said she visits her cafe 5-6 times a day
and will continue doing business in Armenia.

“No, I have not sold my Le Cafe de Paris and am not going to do so
yet,” said she, denying also the reports that she is going to leave
the country. “That is a lie.”

Further, she said she is resentful about some media outlets who she
claimed distort her words.

“I am already afraid of transferring my thoughts to porters. I am
starting not to trust [them],” explained she, adding there are no
obstacles to her business in Yerevan.

The businesswoman’s comments come after media reports that some
Armenian high-ranking officials want to seize her business. MP of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia Zohrab Zohrabyan was named as one
of them.

“National Assembly MP Zohrab Zohrabyan has nothing to do with me,
neither with my personal life nor with my business. Leave me alone!”~T
she said.

RUINS OF ANI UNPROTECTED IN THE FACE OF PLUNDERING – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 18, 2011 – 15:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Though officially considered a museum with ticket
only entry, ruins of Ani are unprotected in the face of plundering,
according to the head of Armenian Architecture Research Foundation.

As Samvel Karapetyan told a news conference in Yerevan, in 2004-2005,
the excavations organized by French archaeologists revealed a vast
number of gravestones, some of them carrying Armenian inscriptions.

However, in 2006, the gravestones were broken with the remainders of
those entombed taken out of graves, which proves thefts occurred even
on the museum territory.

“Rumours are afloat among Western Armenia population, asserting
Armenians have left, abandoning their treasures, leaving the territory
unprotected in the face of thefts,” Karapetyan said.

A group of experts, led by Karapetyan, visited Ani on July 30, 2012.

MIGRATION FROM ARMENIA AFFECTS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT- ALIYEV

Tert.am
18.10.11

Armenia’s decreasing population affects the Karabakh settlement
process, according to the Azerbaijani president.

Speaking of the country’s post-Soviet achievements at a an official
reception dedicated to the 20th anniversary of independence, Ilham
Aliyev characterized the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a major
impediment to Azerbaijan’s progress.

He particularly referred to Azerbaijan’s advantages over Armenia in
terms of its military potential and population.

Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan’s military budget, which exceeds
Armenia’s State Budget by $500,000 million, as well as the difference
of population between the two countries impact negatively impacts
the final settlement of the conflict.

“Azerbaijan’s army has exceeded 9.1 million, whereas the Armenian
citizens, who live in apathy, constantly leave their country. We
will never put up with the loss of our land and will restore our
territorial integrity,” he added,

DELEGATION OF YEREVAN MAYOR’S OFFICE VISITS MONTREAL

ARMENPRESS
19:18, 17 October, 2011

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: At the invitation of Montreal Mayor’s
Office and Montreal Public Consultation Office (OCPM), the delegation
of Yerevan Mayor’s Office visited Canada, headed by Staff Secretary
Vahe Stepanyan.

Press service of Yerevan Mayor’s Office told Armenpress that within
the framework of the visit the members of Yerevan delegation met with
Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay. Leader of the Armenian Diocese of
Canada Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan was present at the meeting. Welcoming
the guests, the Montreal Mayor attached importance to the need for
expansion of partner relations between the two cities, in that context
pointing out the role of the local Armenian community and regional
diocese in both economic and cultural life of Montreal.

Head of the delegation, Staff Secretary of Yerevan Mayor’s Office
Vahe Stepanyan conveyed Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan’s greetings
to the Montreal Mayor and expressed gratitude for the warm reception.

During the meeting issues on bilateral cooperation were discussed.