Author: Badalian Vardan

ANC and PAP Agreed On Vote of No Confidence To Prime Minister

Lragir.am
Country – Saturday, 08 February 2014, 10:54

The Armenian Time reported that the four non-governmental forces ANC,
PAP, ARF and Heritage are going to start a process of vote of no
confidence to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. The AT reported
referring to its sources that the ANC and the PAP have reached a final
agreement on the content of the document on vote of no confidence to
the prime minister. The ARF and Heritage still have different views on
the process and hesitate over tactical issues. The PAP and ANC though
expect that these two forces will eventually approve the document.

GHN News Agency, Georgia
February 7, 2014 Friday

Georgian Chacha and Cuisine on CNN’s “list of surprises” at Sochi

In perspective
of upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics CNN has published an interesting
article – ‘Dacha, chacha
and a gay bar: 9 ways Sochi surprises’ portraying different remarkable
factswhich readers might find original and attractingabout Sochi.

GHN reports about the facts referring
to Georgia in this article:

‘It might not be vodka in that shot glass’

Russia’s toasting rules are complicated. What, or whom, to toast
changes with each clink, but one constant remains: vodka.

In Sochi, however, vodka is often swapped for its fruitier
Caucasian counterpart, ‘chacha’, a Georgian pomace brandy, often distilled like
moonshine.

Similar to Italian grappa, ‘chacha’ takes on the flavor of the
grape skins and walnut shells often infused with the liquor.

Georgian lore claims chacha has healing qualities, easing earaches
and indigestion.

Just like vodka.

‘The cuisine may be
Armenian and Georgian’

Sochi, which underwent multi-ethnic colonization in the 19th
century, may technically be all-Russian now, but its food remains diverse.

With Armenians accounting for 20% of the city’s population, and
close proximity to Georgia, Sochi offers an impressive sampling of cuisine
beyond the dill and sour cream of traditional Russian fare.

Authentic Armenian dishes can be found at kitschy ‘Amshensky Dvor’ part
of the largest private museum of Caucasian artifacts and history. Chefs make
wood-fired lavash bread and clay-pot stews. (Krasnoflotskaya ul. 15, Adler
District; +7 (862) 295 51 21; open daily, year round).

A Georgian favorite is ‘Ne Goryuy’ known for its chakhokhbili — chicken
in garlic sauce — and its quiet location off the seashore. (Riversky per.
6-? Sochi Khostinsky District; +7 (918) 406 41 04; open daily, year round).

Interfax, Russia
Feb 7 2014

Armenia exports 18% more gold in 2013

YEREVAN. Feb 7

Armenia exported 2,727.4 kilograms of gold, including galvanized
finishes, last year, 18% more than in 2012, the country’s Customs
Service said.

The customs value of the exported gold contracted to $73.6 million
last year from $77.5 million the year before. Specialists with the
country’s Ministry of Economy say this was because world prices went
down.

Armenia exports Dore bars containing up to 92% gold. Pure (bank) gold
is not produced in the republic.

Customs Service data show that Armenia imported 3,773 kg of gold last
year (1,378 kg in 2012) for $168.66 million ($74 million). The
ministry said that it is mainly bank gold that Armenia imports, as
well as precious metal for the production of jewelry and jewelry
itself.

The Customs Service report says that in 2013 Armenia increased cut
diamond exports by 49% to 202,700 carats. The customs value of these
diamonds was up 11.4% at $88 million.

The republic imported raw diamonds weighing in at 116,442 carats for
$406 million last year (96,806 carats, around $268 million in 2012).

Armenia has no diamond deposits of its own and has to import uncut
diamonds for cutting and subsequent export, with preference given to
the countries from which it obtains them – Russia and Belgium.

Cf of

Armenian Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan becomes active again

16:04 08/02/2014 >> REGION

On the night of February 8, Azeri forces violated the ceasefire in
various sections of the border with Armenia, firing intensively at
Armenian frontline positions and settlements, spokesman for Armenian
Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan told Panorama.am.

Asked to compare the enemy’s activity with the tensions on the border
ten days ago, the spokesman said that currently the situation is not
as tense as ten days ago and the shooting is not as intense as in that
period, but Azerbaijan has become active in the past days.

Source: Panorama.am

Hraparak: Armenian migrants denied entry to Russia

11:16 * 08.02.14

The paper says it has learned from sources that the Russian migration
authorities have denied the entry of many Armenian employment migrants
into their territory.

The gastarbaiters, most of whom are said to be residents of Vardenis
(Gegharkunik region), have reportedly remained stuck on Kazbek.

The paper cites Russia’s new visa rules (which establishes a 90-day
residence period for migrants) as the reason.

“The Armenian gastarbaiters who returned home before New Year to spend
the holidays with families have been told that they will be granted
entry permits after April 26. The latter are at a loss: they do not
know whether to return home – when they don’t even have money for that
– or to wait, and if so, who long and how,” writes the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

What’s Happening In French Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – Saturday, 08 February 2014, 15:26

After the resignation of Archbishop Norvan Zakaryan, Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of France, three candidates run in the election of
the Armenian Diocese of France: Archbishop Vigen Aikazian of the North
America Eastern Coast, the pastor of Nice Grigor Khachatryan and Abba
Zatik Avetikyan, the acting Patriarchal Delegate of Belgium. However,
Archbishop Vigen has suddenly withdrawn, and the election has been
postponed. We interviewed Pastor Grigor Khachatryan.

Is the reason of Archbishop Aikazyan known? Could you explain what is happening?

According to the Armenian press based in Paris and Istanbul,
Archbishop Vigen has resigned but nothing has been announced
officially. As a member of the Diocesan council, I can say that soon
the Diocese will make an official statement. I don’t know the reasons.
There are no complications. The Diocese continues its operation and
preparing for the upcoming elections despite difficulties, including
financial. The Diocese does not have sources of income and being a
young Diocese encounters such issues. The parish of Paris’s Saint John
Baptist Church lends a hand to the Diocese.

Father Grigor, Archbishop Norvan is said to have accrued debts. What
debts are those and what sources of income are possible to find?

The income of a diocese or parish comes from donations of believers.
France was affected by the global economic crisis, and donations
decreased accordingly or altogether stopped. The Diocese is a young
structure, almost totally unknown to the French Armenian believers,
therefore it does not get material support. All the parishes take care
of the needs of the Diocese within their possibilities. To raise money
for the Diocese’s needs it is first of all necessary to present the
activities and programs of the Diocese to everyone and, I think, in
this case the Armenian believers will not leave their Diocese in need.
The Diocese needs to pay monthly salaries, has other needs. As I said,
for the time being the parish of Paris provides the biggest share of
assistance, this is not debt but borrowing.

Do you think the Armenian community of France will accept the next
leader or will the next leader encounter resistance?

Archbishop Norvan has supported the Diocese with his advice over these
few months, and I think that the archbishop will help the next leader
to gain the support of the community.

Father Grigor, is there any change in the life of the Armenian
community of Nice? Does the community remain divided?

Representatives of sister churches attended the Christmas Liturgy, the
deputy chairman of the District Council Mr. Patrick and others were
present. This year Mr. Vanclaire, the deputy governor, attended the
traditional Christmas dinner, so the situation is the same but there
are signs that they will come to terms, and the community will return
to its peaceful life.

When will the problem be resolved? The judicial process has finished,
but the problem persists.

I am sure that everyone will go for reconciliation and forget about
insults to attend to our painful issue, the recognition of the
Genocide. Let us not forget that we are facing the 100th anniversary
of the Genocide and it is impossible to do something significant when
we are fragmented and split.

Father Grigor, are you ready to take on the duties of leader when
there are so many unresolved issues in Nice?

Yes, I am, and the problem of Nice will be resolved soon for the
benefit of our nation and church!

When approximately is the election expected?

It will be known in mid-February.

– See more at:

TURQUIE
La Turquie durcit son contrôle d’Internet

Le Parlement turc a adopté, mercredi 5 février, une série
d’amendements controversés qui renforcent le contrôle de l’Etat sur
Internet. Dénoncés comme > par l’opposition turque et
de nombreuses associations, ces dispositions visent officiellement à >.

Elles permettent notamment à l’autorité gouvernementale des
télécommunications (TIB) de bloquer sans décision de justice les sites
Internet portant atteinte à la > ou publiant des contenus
jugés > et autorisent la même TIB de
requérir auprès des fournisseurs d’accès et de conserver pendant deux
ans des informations sur les sites visités par chaque internaute.

UN DES PREMIERS CENSEURS DU WEB

Plusieurs des députés de l’opposition sont montés à la tribune
mercredi pour dénoncer la > imposée à travers cette nouvelle
loi par le gouvernement islamo-conservateur du premier ministre Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, au pouvoir depuis 2002. >, a lancé un élu du Parti républicain du
peuple, Hasan Ören.

Dès mercredi soir, de nombreux internautes ont réagi avec véhémence
contre le nouveau texte. Reporters sans frontières a dénoncé la > et le Comité pour la protection des journalistes une car elle
introduit , a-t-il précisé devant
la presse. La nouvelle loi doit

SUISSE
Echecs : Aronian dédie sa victoire à Zurich à Charles Aznavour

Le Grand Maître arménien Levon Aronian a dédié sa victoire dans
l’avant-dernier tour contre Hikaru Nakamura (USA) au Zurich Chess
Challenge à l’ambassadeur d’Arménie en Suisse Charles Aznavour.

Aznavour avait rencontré Aronian 31 ans avant le 4ème rond.

> a tweeté Aronian, affichant une photo avec Aznavour.

La veille du cinquième et dernier ronde au Zurich Chess Challenge,
l’arménien est un point derrière le champion du monde Magnus Carlsen
(Norvège).

samedi 8 février 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIE
Restrictions de voyage : La nouvelle loi russe a des conséquences pour
les travailleurs migrants arméniens

À son retour en Arménie en provenance de Pemz en Russie il y a une
semaine, le travailleur migrant Garush Grigoryan a appris qu’il ne
pourrait pas retourner en Russie avant trois mois.

Grigoryan et des milliers d’autres travailleurs font l’objet d’une
nouvelle loi adoptée par la Russie qui restreint les voyages en Russie
pour tous ceux qui y ont résidé pendant au moins 90 jours.

> a dit Grigoryan, 51 ans, originaire du village d’Aygeshat
dans la province d’Armavir. Il prend en charge sa famille de six
membres en travaillant en Russie.

Grigoryan a dit qu’avant quand leur visa expirait ils allaient en
Ukraine ou au Kazakhstan pour un jour juste pour traverser la
frontière et ensuite revenir en Russie de nouveau, mais la nouvelle
loi prévoit un retour dans le pays d’origine de l’étranger.

Les hommes arméniens qui ne bénéficient pas du statut de main-d’oeuvre
migrante paniquent maintenant. Beaucoup de ceux qui étaient venus en
Arménie pour passer la saison des vacances avec leurs familles
réfléchissent maintenant s’il est judicieux de revenir dans les
nouvelles conditions.

> a dit Koryun Gyulnazaryan, 24 ans.

Selon Gagik Yeganyan, chef du Service des migrations d’Arménie la
toute nouvelle approche adoptée en Russie après Juillet 2013, est
destinée à limiter l’entrée des gens dans ce pays.

a déclaré Nalbandian.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

samedi 8 février 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

New EU Package For Eastern Partnership

Lragir.am
Politics – Saturday, 08 February 2014, 12:08

Radio Free Europe informed that 13 EU member states have developed a
new program of cooperation with 6 post-Soviet states. According to the
program, which is supported by the United Kingdom and Germany, Eastern
Partnership members will be offered more extended cooperation than the
Association Agreement. The paper entitled 20 Points on the Eastern
Partnership Post-Vilnius contains provisions on mobility, visa,
student exchanges, more Twinning projects, as well as increased
participation in community programs and agencies. The EU will boost
its role in the settlement of lasting conflicts. There is also a point
on an open and frank dialogue with Russia, stressing at the same time
that Russian pressure on the EaP countries is unacceptable. The EU
envisages publication of studies to explain to people the long-term
goals of the Eastern Partnership, including a possible impact on
Russia and the Customs Union/Eurasian Economic Union and negate
unfounded claims of costs.