Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIE
Le gouvernement investit 3,3 millions de dollars dans l’établissement
du premier fonds de capital aventure en Arménie

Le gouvernement de l’Arménie va acquérir .000 parts de Granatus
Ventures Fund I CJSC totalisant 3,3 millions de dollars.

La participation du gouvernement dans l’établissement du fonds de
capital risque (un fonds de soutien aux entreprises en démarrage)
s’inscrit dans d’un projet de compétitivité de la société électronique
et de l’innovation de la Banque mondiale. Dans le cadre du projet
signé le 26 Janvier 2011, le gouvernement a obtenu un prêt de 24
millions de dollars pour faire face aux contraintes de la concurrence
de la société électronique et de l’innovation de l’entreprise en
Arménie par le renforcement des infrastructures sous-jacentes et créer
un environnement favorable.

La demande pour des investissements en capital en Arménie devrait
s’élever de 7,5 à 9 milliards de dollars dans les cinq prochaines
années.

jeudi 2 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

15% rise in food prices during New Year period – expert

14:27 – 31.12.13

Chairman of the Union of Consumers of Armenia NGO Armen Poghosyan
believes the rise in food prices during the New Year period is
abnormal.

This is evidence of Armenia lacking an economic concept or logic.

`I was mistaken to forecast a slight price rise. All food products,
except for meat, have shown a 15% rise in price,’ Poghosyan told
Tert.am.

Armenia’s Statistical Service reported earlier a 2.3% rise in food
prices this December as compared with this November. The reason is,
according to the Statistical Service, 4.3%-24.2% inflation.

With respect to the egg market, Poghosyan said: `Both government
bodies and businessmen assured us sufficient quantity of eggs would be
supplied to the market. But we see the opposite situation. Some trade
outlets do not sell eggs, while others have raised the price.’

Poultry farming brings quick profit.

`It hardly requires efforts. And if they cannot ensure it, it means we
have no economy. This is the best evidence,’ he said.

As regards the stable meat price, Poghosyan disagrees with the
opinions that an increase in livestock is the reason.

According to him, cattle-breeding is now more expensive because of
higher prices for fodder.

`It is good for consumers, but this sector is not developing. I do not
see any economic development concept in our country,’ Poghosyan said.

Prices will go down after the holidays, but not to be level before the
holidays, he said.

ARMENIE
Le remplacement du Premier ministre arménien n’est pas à l’agenda

Un vice-président du Parlement arménien Edouard Sharmazanov du Parti
républicain d’Arménie a haussé les épaules face aux allégations des
médias à propos de la démission imminente du Premier ministre Tigran
Sarkissian et du remplacement de son cabinet.

S’adressant aux journalistes Edouard Sharmazanov a déclaré que
l’évaluation des gouvernements et de leur crédibilité dans les pays
démocratiques sont exprimés par les parlementaires et les forces
politiques à travers l’approbation de leurs plans d’action et budgets.

« Le programme du gouvernement et le budget pour 2014 ont été
approuvés par la majorité parlementaire. Par conséquent, le
remplacement du Premier ministre ou de son cabinet n’est pas à l’ordre
du jour » a déclaré Sharmazanov.

Le budget 2014 est passé le 12 Décembre. Il a été soutenu par 70
députés et rejeté par 40.

mardi 31 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ART
Un tableau d’Aïvazovski « Scène marine au Crimée » disparait du Musée
d’art national du Kirghizistan à Bichkek

Une toile du grand peintre des marines l’Arménien vivant en Crimée
(Russie) Hovhannès Aîvazovski a disparu du Musée d’art national du
Kirghizistan. Le tableau d’Aïvazovski, « Scène marine au Crimée »
exécuté en 1866 était très côté. D’une dimension de 47×53 centimètres,
le tableau qui avait été découvert en Union soviétique en 1955 était
placé au deuxième étage du musée de Bichkek. Le 27 décembre les
salariés du musée avaient organisé une réception qui s’est terminée
très tard. Le lendemain matin fut constaté que le tableau d’Aïvazovski
avait disparu. La police Kirghize mène une enquête pour retrouver le
tableau disparu. Un tableau estimé à 2 millions de som (près de 40 000
dollars).

Krikor Amirzayan

mardi 31 décembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 30 2013

Gigantic neon rainbow by Sarkis to adorn Ä°stanbul Modern’s façade

Renowned Turkish-Armenian conceptual artist Sarkis’ gigantic neon
installation `GökkuÅ?ak’ (The Rainbow) will grace the outer wall of the
Ä°stanbul Modern starting New Year’s Eve, the Tophane-based museum’s
press office said on Monday.

The inauguration of `GökkuÅ?ak,’ a 7.5 by 15 meter installation that
was first displayed in September in the BeyoÄ?lu-based Galeri Mana, on
the Ä°stanbul Modern’s front wall is the first of a series of events
that will mark the museum’s 10th anniversary throughout 2014.

Founded in 2004 by the EczacıbaÅ?ı Group, Ä°stanbul Modern is Turkey’s
first private museum with a special focus on contemporary art. A
majority of the museum’s permanent collection comes from the
EczacıbaÅ?ı family’s private collection, started by the late Nejat F.
EczacıbaÅ?ı.

The installation, which will adorn the museum for the next 365 days,
was billed as a `meditation on art’s various ways of coming to life as
an endless field of thought and action’ in Monday’s press release. `It
symbolizes the never-ending rhythm, excitement and happinesses of
life,’ the statement read.

Sarkis defines his installation as a `rainbow gaining momentum towards
the Big Bang.’ The 75-year-old artist was quoted in the press release:
“GökkuÅ?ak’ should be regarded as a miracle. Art is always about new
beginnings, [the artist does make] references [to other occurrences],
but while creating [an artwork] all these references disappear and
fresh [ideas] are born.’

Levent ÇalıkoÄ?lu, chief curator of Ä°stanbul Modern, said in the press
release that in `GökkuÅ?ak,’ Sarkis draws parallels between a `miracle
of the nature and the ambiguity and excitement during the initial
phases of an artistic idea.’ The installation also stands as a symbol
of the Ä°stanbul Modern’s `wide scope in the variety of artistic fields
we bring together under the same roof,’ ÇalıkoÄ?lu added.

The museum encourages its visitors to take photographs under
`GökkuÅ?ak’ and share these pictures on social media with the tag
#gökkuÅ?akaltındayım, which will then be compiled into an album on the
museum’s Facebook page.

The museum, located on the Bosporus coast in the busy Karaköy
neighborhood, has drawn over 5 million visitors since it opened its
doors on Dec. 11, 2004.

Heat World
Dec 30 2013

EXCLUSIVE: Harry Styles is studying Armenian culture to get closer to
Kendall Jenner

Posted by Laurence Mozafari

Sounds like Harry Styles is going to get a bit more cultural, as he’s
started studying Armenia, which just so happens to be part of the
family history of one, Kendall Jenner.

Harry has long been fascinated with Judaism and explored that culture
through studying religion and delving into the history of Israel, but
now his attention is firmly turned his to Armenia.

`Kendall isn’t Armenian by birth, but her family is heavily steeped in
Armenian culture since mum, Kris was married to Robert Kardashian’
says a source.

`It has been extremely important to Kris to keep those traditions
alive in their home for the older girls, who are now without their
father.

“Kendall told Harry about how much she loves and respects her
background, and now he’s hopping on the bandwagon’, added the source.

The news comes as we reported that Harry’s One Direction bandmates
have been concerned that his dealings with Kendall are tearing his
attention away from the band.

Hmm, Hazza must be pretty keen on 18-year-old, Kendall. As much as we
adore our friends, we’re not sure we’d go diving into their cultural
history on whim. It sounds like Mr. Styles is keen to impress the
family…

The source continued: `Harry has been emailing back and forth with
Kris Jenner to get her secret family recipes for Armenian classic food
dishes.

`He’s been studying up on the history of the country, and Kendall
promised to take him to the biggest Armenian community in L.A.,
Glendale, for a feast, when he comes to visit her.

`Her family’s favourite restaurant is Carousel. Kris has promised to
cook for Harry, too, and take him on an Armenian Apostolic Church to
witness a classic mass, also the next time he’s in L.A.’

Well, we’re all getting a bit more cultural, especially if it involves
eating! We’ll bring you more on this blossoming romance as it happens.

`A person that has problems with morals and reason dares speak of it’:
politicians on Armenia’s second president

16:59 – 30.12.13

A person that has problems with morals and reason dares speak of it,
Political Secretary of the Heritage party Styopa Safaryan told Tert.am
as he commented on Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s interview.

`I am not defending Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. The fact is that
he is not fully informed of the real situation in the country. But a
surprising fact is that Robert Kocharyan is placing the responsibility
for the economy formed during his presidency on Tigran Sargsyan,’
Safaryan said.

`It is no coincidence that certain political forces have become active
– the Prosperous Armenia Party, Armenian National Congress – which are
known to cooperate with one another. I think Tigran Sargsyan is aware
of the forces invigorating their activities. So he gave a press
conference to make it clear he is not leaving,’ Safaryan said.

Armenian National Congress (ANC) party member Vahagn Khachatryan told
Tert.am that Armenia’s incumbent premier was not an ordinary citizen
during Robert Kocharyan’s presidency. As Chairman of the Central Bank
of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan was one of the main figures implementing
Robert Kocharyan’s economic policy.

`Before stating his assessments at his last press conference, he
should have expected such a response, especially so that two-digit
economic growth was recorded during Robert Kocharyan’s presidency,’ he
said.

It is common knowledge that lop-sided growth is risky, and this fact
has been mentioned for years.

`Tigran Sargsyan was never critical of that economic policy. And he
has now got a response he should have expected,’ Khachatryan said.

PAP parliamentary group member Tigran Urikhanyan told Tert.am that
that the Armenian premier `stopped following moral and elementary
logic long ago.’

`I said that the premier was a criminal as far back as 2009. Concrete
facts have been cited throughout his premiership. Several months ago I
was persuading him to go to the police and confess to what he had done
against the people,’ he said.

As regards the emigration problem raised by ex-president Robert
Kocharyan he said: `There is no need to answer this question. We have
statistics, which does not require any comments.’

Faith in own strength is important element of patriotism – Armenia
agriculture ministry

December 29, 2013 | 21:11

Armenian Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan on Sunday paid a visit
to an MOD military unit.

Karapetyan thanked the military servicemen at the unit for their
difficult yet honorable service, and he wished them a safe military
service.

The minister expressed optimism toward Armenia’s future, and he
underscored the personal contribution by every soldier and citizen in
protecting the borders and the strengthening of the homeland.

`The faith in one’s own strength, optimism, [and] the firm will and
spirit are important components of practical patriotism.

`And I am glad that, aside from modern weaponry, the soldier standing
at our borders also possess these weapons,’ Sergo Karapetyan noted.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIE
La modernisation de l’observatoire de Byurakan nécessite 50 millions
de dollars chaque année

La modernisation de lobservatoire Byurakan en Arménie va coûter 50
millions de dollars chaque année a annoncé Areg Mikayelyan,
vice-président de la Société arménienne d’Astronomie.

« Avec ce montant, nous pourrions au moins garder notre télescope en
bon état et fournir périodiquement à l’observatoire des équipements
modernes » a-t-il dit.

L’observatoire a été reconnu comme un trésor national cette année et
100 millions de drams ont été alloués à ces fins, mais ce montant est
suffisant seulement pour la restauration partielle du miroir du grand
télescope (diamètre 2,6 mètres).

L’Observatoire de Byurakan a été créé en 1946. En 1998, l’observatoire
a été nommé du nom de l’ éminent astrophysicien Viktor Hambardzumyan,
son fondateur et premier directeur.

lundi 30 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Economist: Despite signing the “road map” on Armenia’s joining the
Customs Union, we still have questions about privileges or
shortcomings of the Customs Union

by Alexandr Avanesov
Wednesday, December 25, 14:20

Despite signing the “road map” on Armenia’s joining the Customs Union,
we still have questions about privileges or shortcomings of the
Customs Union, chairman of Employers Union of Armenia, Gagik Makaryan,
said at today’s press-conference.

It is not clear yet if the decision of the Armenian authorities
contains more positive or negative elements. The technical side of the
issue is not clear either, in particular, possible dividends when
implementing the “roadmap” especially in the context of the
export-import operations. Will Armenia gain from using of the new
customs taxes or not? Especially if we take into consideration the
fact that at the Russian market there are practically no industrial
goods produced in Armenia. So, the share of the alcohol production in
the general volume of the trade and economic cooperation between
Armenia and Russia amounted to $136 million, the share of rough
diamonds – $24 mln, of fresh fish $13, of fresh fruits and vegetables
– $12 mln, of grape – $9,5 mln, etc. In fact, all this is agriculture
production but not industrial. “Against such background, it is not
clear what global issues Armenia is going to resolve at the level of
the Customs Union”, – the economist asked.

Yesterday Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Armenia signed
a statement on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and the Common
Economic Space. Given the need for further mutually beneficial
development of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and
supporting Armenia’s intention to become a full member of the Customs
Union, the Presidents of the four countries approved the action plan
(roadmap).

To recall, on Sept 3 2013 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed
Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union and participate in
formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Before that Yerevan had been
actively negotiating on the Association Agreement/ Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union. Armenia was
expected to initial the AA/ DCFTA during the Eastern Partnership
Summit in November 2013, but it failed to.