Author: Badalian Vardan

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY WILL INVEST 6.5 BILLION DRAMS NEXT YEAR INTO FACILITY’S UPGRADING

YEREVAN, December 22. / ARKA /. The South Caucasus Railway (SCR),
a Russian company operating Armenia’s railroads, will invest 6.5
billion drams next year into the upgrading of the facility, SCR CEO
Viktor Rebets told a news conference today.

He said the investment program’s focus will be on the rehabilitation of
the infrastructure, and its priorities will be track facilities, power
systems, signaling, centralization, blocking and communication systems.

He said the company has invested as much this year as stipulated by
the contract and despite a drop in freight volume it decided not to
cut on next year’s investment.

The company expects that the freight traffic in 2015 will grow by
0.9%, the number of locally transported passengers by 0.6% and the
number of passengers traveling to neighboring Georgia by 0.1%. It
also expects its profit to increase by 151.9 million drams. Labor
productivity is projected to increase in 2015 by 3.3% and the median
monthly wage will grow as much to reach 201,000 drams.

The company said it will work also to improve the company’s position
in the transport market, its fiscal management, raise the safety on
the railway and introduce the automated 1C accounting system.

The South Caucasus Railways is run by Russian Railways. The
concessional agreement was concluded in 2008 for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation. .($1 – 455.75 drams). -0-

HOMESTRETCH: EEU MEMBER STATES’ PRESIDENTS TO CONFIRM ARMENIA’S ACCESSION

ANALYSIS | 22.12.14 | 11:21

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

On December 23, Moscow will host a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian
Council and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. At the meeting
of the Eurasian Council it is expected that Armenia’s accession to
the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will be confirmed and an agreement
on Kyrgyzstan’s accession will be signed.

However, the day before these important meetings the presidents of
Belarus and Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev,
have decided to visit Ukraine, which, in fact, is at war with the
third member of the EEU – Russia. Moreover, Lukashenko already on
Sunday arrived in Kyiv and pledged full support for Ukrainian leader
Petro Poroshenko.

Nazarbayev also expressed a desire to become a mediator in settling
the Ukrainian-Russian dispute. Experts are wondering what these visits
are related to and how they will impact decisions on December 23.

The devaluation of the Russian ruble and the sharp economic downturn in
Russia have weakened the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin
in the Supreme Eurasian Council, and, as Western analysts suggest,
Belarus and Kazakhstan are trying to achieve greater rights for
themselves in the emerging EEU. Moreover, they often use for this
the factor of Armenia’s membership, which has been sought by Putin
and for his consent to this membership Belarus President Lukashenko
already appears to have received a lot of discounts and incentives.

The parliaments of all three EEU member countries have ratified the
treaty on Armenia’s accession, but the president are yet to sign the
ratification bills on December 23 and, apparently, Lukashenko and
Nazarbayev intend to achieve new preferences on the account of Armenia.

But what is the goal of the Belarus and Kazakh presidents’ visits
to Kyiv? Maybe Lukashenko and Nazarbayev have decided to talk to
Poroshenko about the establishment of a kind of free trade zone?

Earlier it was reported that Russia had appealed to the European
Commission with a proposal to create a free trade area between the EU
and the EEU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that it is quite
possible if Russia withdraws from Ukraine. Maybe Lukashenko went to
Kyiv to convey conditions of Russia’s “withdrawal” from Ukraine?

Forecasts about the EEU that will be formally launched from January
1 are different – some view it as a “stillborn” project or a formal
alliance like the CIS, others argue that the project is too important
for Putin, and he will achieve its implementation at any cost.

However, one question remains open – will the international community,
particularly the United States, Europe and major Asian nations, wish
to recognize the EEU as an entity of international law? Will they wish
to conclude agreements not with different member nations of the EEU,
but with the Union itself, thus confirming the re-establishment of
a mini-USSR?

BEELINE TO COMPLETE DIGITIZATION OF THE NETWORK IN METSAVAN, NORASHEN AND KUCHAK COMMUNITIES

by Mariam Lazarian

arminfo
Thursday, December 18, 17:09

By the end of the current year, Beeline will complete landline network
digitization in Metsavan community in Lori region, Kuchak community in
Aragatsotn region and Norashen community in Armavir region. Beeline
informed that from then on, high-quality digital network services
will be available for the residents of these communities, broadband
Internet quality will be enhanced, while Kuchak community residents
will start taking advantage of broadband Internet services. During
digitization works, the equipment will be also replaced and modernized.

“Beeline remains committed to its strategy of across-the-board
development and this year has considerably enlarged the digitization
geography of its fixed network. Digitization works will continue next
year as well, and we will provide simple, convenient and high-quality
network services for our subscribers in Armenian regions”, said
Beeline Armenia CEO Andrey Pyatakhin.

The digitization index exceeds 87% in Armenia, while the total wire
length is over 8.5 thousand km.

Fixed networks of 16 Armenian settlements were digitized in 2014. The
company believes reduced landline network tariffs are one of its
achievements in 2014. Since 1 September 2014, the tariff of an
outgoing call from Beeline to the NKR and international numbers has
cost 5 AMD/ min.

ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline brand) is the subsidiary of VimpelCom Group.

The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators
providing voice and data services through a range of wireless,
fixed ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline brand) is the subsidiary of VimpelCom
Group. The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators
providing voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed
and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating
in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and
Armenia as well as Vietnam and Cambodia, in territories with a total
population of about 345 million. The Group companies provide services
under the “Beeline” brand. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to
list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). VimpelCom’s
ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VIP”.