Author: Badalian Vardan

NUMBER OF ARMENIANS HEADING TO MOSCOW NOT REDUCING – NEWSPAPER

October 17, 2013 | 08:32

YEREVAN. – The recent unrest inMoscow has not reduced the number of
bus passengers wanting to travel from Armenian capital city Yerevan
to the Russian capital, Zhamanak daily reports.

“The mass disorder that started in Moscow and the climate of
intolerance toward immigrants do not deter our countrymen from the
idea of leaving for the Russian capital city.

“Busvoyage Company Manager Robert, for example, told that they
conducted the last Yerevan-Moscow route on Monday.

‘”We believe that our expectations are justified in terms of the
number of passengers. We hope that the passenger movement will be
even more active in November,’ he said.

“To the query as to whether they are cautioning the people, who
are applying to them, about the events taking place in Moscow, or
recommending not going for now, Robert responded that if people ask
them about this, they definitely will caution.

“‘We primarily ‘instruct’ our drivers advising not to leave homes
while there and to stay away from all kinds of contacts as much as
possible,’ he said,” Zhamanak writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN AND BELORUSSIAN SCIENTISTS TO STUDY LAKE SEVAN ECOSYSTEM

10:10, October 17, 2013

Belorussian and Armenian scientists have agreed to set up an
international research station that will study the ecosystem of
Lake Sevan.

The agreement was recently reached at the conclusion of the first
meeting of the Armenian-Belorussian Scientific-Technical Cooperation
Committee that took place at Armenia’s Academy of Sciences in Yerevan.

YEREVAN WORRIES TEHRAN

The head of NSC Arthur Baghdasaryan has met with the Iranian ambassador
to Armenia. This meeting is interesting in the context of recent
focus of Iranian officials on Armenia.

What is the reason of Iran’s focus? Is the reason certain activity
regarding the issue of Artsakh or emergence of new elements? At least,
Iran has always been sensitive to Artsakh. This country is naturally
interested in the state of play and progress of developments because it
has a shared border with Artsakh and areas populated with Azerbaijanis
located along this border.

The Armenian presence at the border favors Iran as it provides
stability and security. However, recent developments cause doubts
about possible “guests” in those areas. In particular, Zori Balayan
and his tacit or explicit supporters are inviting Russia, ready to
hand over Artsakh issue to Russia.

Iran is definitely concerned about these developments. Tehran wants
the border area to be controlled by the Armenian forces. The Armenian
side with its geopolitical ambitions cannot compare to Russia. Given
the traditional Russian style preferring the stick to carrots combined
with its ambitions, bordering with Russian forces could be unpleasant
to Iran.

After strengthening its foothold in Artsakh Russia will move on to
think about northern Azerbaijan where the field will open up for
maneuvers against Baku, Ankara and Tehran.

In this regard, the Armenian forces are the preferred neighbor for
Iran, and official Tehran will want to know to whom official Yerevan
is “selling the house”. In other words, Balayan’s “altruism” may
jeopardize the Armenian-Iranian relations because the Armenian side
will take a step that does not stem from the interests of Tehran.

Hence, by ensuring Russia’s foothold in Artsakh area Armenia will
spoil its relations with its only two friendly neighbors, and relations
with Iran have a big potential in terms of both the geopolitical and
economic prospects.

The Armenian initiative of giving away Artsakh would endanger
everything and mark another U-turn. The U-turn of September 3 stabbed
Europe from the back. Now another treacherous stab is prepared for
partner Iran. This would be the last unreasonable act of the Armenian
politics. That would break the regional balance but unlike Armenia
all the others have the resource to come round.

Hakob Badalyan 11:53 17/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

TURBULENT PERIOD FOR THE CHURCH IN ARMENIA

ARMENIA

Translated from French.

The Armenian Apostolic Church held its first General Synod for nearly
six centuries, but the event was rocked by a scandal.

The council, which was held from September 24 to 27 was the first
since 1441. It brought together religious leaders of the Holy See
of Etchmiadzin in Armenia, the seat of Cilicia in Lebanon, and the
patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople, which together have ten
million followers.

The Synod adopted a measure paving the way for the collective
canonization of all those killed in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 in the
so-called Armenian genocide, and also discussed issues such as the
liturgy, education and social mission of the Church.

Observers suspected that behind closed doors, bishops and archbishops
together have spent more time on the scandal and controversy sowed
divisions in Armenia and the Diaspora. The Armenian Apostolic Church
is the oldest in the world, and survived the persecution and massacres
during its many centuries of existence, remains an essential element
of national identity. The current turmoil, however, are considered
unprecedented. At the end of May, the newspaper Hetq Yerevan published
an article accusing a senior cleric, the Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan,
to be associated with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and a businessman
Ashot Sukiasyan for create an offshore company that has received
several million dollars of misappropriated funds.

After the article came out, Sukiasyan wrote to the newspaper claiming
to be responsible for the full responsibility for this situation.

Bishop Ksoyan and Prime Minister Sarkisian both denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors have opened a criminal case, which means that a lawsuit
is a possibility.Sukiasyan left Armenia.

Bishop Ksoyan is a prominent figure of the Armenian Church, and some
have seen as a possible successor to the Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II Armen Badalyan, an analyst at the Centre for Policy
Studies in Yerevan, said that the case showed how the church had
become closely linked with political and business groups that support
Armenia. “In his attempts to find a justification for its existence,
… Government adopted the church as an ally. In return, the senior
clerics have seen granted privileges “said Badalyan. “The result is
that instead of focusing on society and help him with his problems,
the church focuses on the government.”

Stepan Danielyan, Head of Cooperation for Democracy Center and editor
of the site , said that the establishment of the church
has been mired by controversy, some clergy undertake in activities
and support of the political authorities.

“The Church continues to lose influence. When Armenia became
independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union, much has been
expected of the church, but these expectations have not been met “Has
he told IWPR. “The Church continues to ignore the face quxquelles
things most people are concerned about – the social, economic and
political vital and endless corruption scandals.”

Another point of contention is the synod the resignation of Archbishop
Norvan Zakaryan, the head of the church for the large Armenian
community in France.

In July, the Archbishop wrote to Zakaryan Catholicos Karekin accusing
her of abuse.

“You gain pleasure in humiliating me and blacken my name. You’re
probably not even aware that you hit people’s feelings, “he wrote. The
archbishop continued by offering his resignation, which was duly
accepted the Catholicos.

At the beginning of August, Nurhan Manoukian, Patriarch of Jerusalem,
entered the fray, criticizing the Catholicos Karekin for allowing
Archbishop Zakaryan to resign.

“A healthy generation can not grow in an atmosphere of fear and
threats.This will hurt our people and our church, which – more than
ever – need priests educated, honest and pure, not toadies “wrote
the patriarch.

The Catholicos has not responded publicly to the letter, but his
spokesman Vahram Melikian denied that he was authoritarian in style.

“The gathering of bishops at the end of September is strong evidence
of how the church is trying to solve its problems by taking all
opinions into account,” Melikyan said at a press conference. “It is
inevitable that there are differences of opinion within the church,
but that does not mean that there are different factions in the church
or something like that, or there was a battle between them. ”

Armen Karapetian is a freelance journalist in Armenia.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Thursday, October 17, 2013, Stephane © armenews.com

LE CHEF DE L’UNION DES ARMENIENS DE RUSSIE SALUE L’ADHESION PROCHAINE DE L’ARMENIE A L’UNION DOUANIERE

ARMENIE

Ara Abrahamian, un riche homme d’affaires base en Russie d’origine
armenienne, qui est egalement president de l’Union des Armeniens de
Russie, a salue l’annonce du president Serge Sarkissian que l’Armenie
allait rejoindre l’Union douanière.

S’exprimant lors d’une conference de presse a Erevan il a felicite le
President Sarkissian pour cette decision mais a souligne que dans le
processus d’adhesion l’Armenie doit etre guidee en premier lieu par
ses propres interets et accepter les conditions proposees uniquement
si elles repondent a ses interets.

Abrahamian a minimise les arguments selon lesquelles la decision a
ete precipitee, en disant que cette question avait ete discutee et
debattue au cours des dernières annees.

jeudi 17 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LE TAUX DE CROISSANCE ECONOMIQUE DE L’ARMENIE VA S’ACCELERER D’ICI LA FIN DE L’ANNEE SELON LA BANQUE CENTRALE

ARMENIE

Le taux de croissance economique de l’Armenie va s’accelerer dans
une certaine mesure a la fin de l’annee selon la Banque Centrale.

Selon des experts de la Banque centrale, les taux vont s’accelerer
grâce a des programmes industriels et agricoles, ainsi que la poursuite
des projets de grande envergure dans la construction de routes.

Le taux de croissance economique a ralenti au cours du premier semestre
de 2013, par rapport aux niveaux prevus, selon le rapport.

Cela etait dû a la baisse de la croissance attendue de l’economie
mondiale et des politiques budgetaires en Armenie visant a reduire
les investissements bruts et stabiliser la dette selon le Conseil de
la Banque Centrale.

Le conseil a egalement indique que la croissance economique etait de
3,5% a la fin du premier semestre, comparativement a 7,5% a la fin
du premier trimestre. Le niveau de l’activite economique a progresse
de 3,8% entre janvier et août 2013, par rapport a la meme periode de
l’annee precedente.

jeudi 17 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SERZH SARGSYAN HOSTS ACADEMICIANS FROM FOREIGN STATES

16:00 ~U 16.10.13

President Serzh Sargsyan received on Wednesday top academicians from
different states, who have arrived in Armenia as part of the events
dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences
(NAS).

Greeting the guests, the president thanked them for visiting Armenia
to attend the the celebrations.

He highly praised National Academy’s the glorious past, noting that
the Armenian scientists have had their considerable contribution to
the country’s scientific and socio-economic development over the past
decades, reports the presidential press office.

Sargsyan said that the great achievements the academy has had over
this period, is also due to an active international cooperation.

He stressed the role of joint efforts in both the bilateral format
and within international organizations, especially the Federation
of Pan-European Academies which serves as a united platform for
cooperation for around forty countries, including Armenia.

NAS President Radik Martirosyan, who also attended the meeting,
thanked Sargsyan for keeping the academy under permanent spotlight
and assisting and encouraging young scientists.

The guests later addressed the current challenges of the national
sciences and the existing potentials for developing the sector.

They too, highlighted the role of active joint efforts, highly
appreciating their effective cooperation with the NAS.

At the end of the meeting, Sargsyan invited the academicians to attend
a presidential award ceremony for the best students in the IT sector.

ZORI BALAYAN MADE A MESS: REGNUM’S SENSATION

Naira Hayrumyan
Comments – Wednesday, 16 October 2013, 22:50

Regnum Agency has published an article that has actually confirmed
the lack of arguments for joining the Customs Union. The author,
an “Armenian analyst” named Anush Levonyan, bluntly criticized
the Russian propaganda machine and Russian Cooperation for the
inability to bring articulate arguments why Armenia should give
away its sovereignty and join the Customs Union. Anush Levonyan
acknowledges the professionalism and abundance of arguments of
opponents of Soviet integration. Apparently those placed in charge
of wrapping the funky “Customs candy” in nice paper have failed. And
the authors of such confessions are nervous at seeing the sarcastic
air with which confessions of love to Russia are made. Anush Levonyan
gives such an example. After leaving for Moscow Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said with a serious air that Armenia’s decision to join the
Customs Union was a very important decision, and the Armenians will
feel the difference in 20 years. Apparently, neglect in the voice
of even Armenian officials speaking about the Customs Union angers
our Russian friends. They may call Tigran Sargsyan back to Moscow
and make him repeat the same without sarcasm. The last drop was
Zori Balayan’s letter in which he opened the cards of the Russian
agitation & propaganda in Chernomyrdin’s style and marred the full
picture. It will take long for the Russian experts to clean off Zori
Balayan’s mess which has caused deep disgust in Armenia against the
Russian imperial policy. The Russian propaganda machine is hopelessly
stuck in the Armenian mountains. Russia is said to recall notorious
Krivopuskov who was preaching an Armenian-Russian merger. Recently he
has been accused of participating in the punitive campaign against the
Armenians of Karabakh. How can he stay here longer? This happens when
the empire does not change its rhetoric for and methods 300 years and
handcuffs are presented as a lifebelt. This happens when Armenians are
made to sign anti-Armenian theses or invent Armenian signatures. This
happens when those pushing forward the imperial policy are too lazy
to think about tiny advantages and arguments for expansion. Only
naked expansion is there which cannot be covered with any argument,
especially that there are no and can be no arguments and advantages.

Simply the interests of Armenia and Russia are objectively different.

Moreover, they are mutually excluding.

‘HERITAGE’: THERE IS A WISH TO TOPPLE THE REGIME, BUT NO OPPORTUNITY

by Ashot Safaryan
Wednesday, October 16, 16:53

Armenia stands against serious challenges, as rash decisions of
the authorities regarding several key issues put sovereignty of the
country under a serious threat, deputy chairman of the opposition
Heritage party, Armen Martirosyan, said at today’s press-conference.

He also added that only resignation of the incumbent power and changing
of the management system may correct the situation.

The time is ripe for all the political forces to consolidate so that
to gain resignation of the power. Only in that case we shall be able to
preserve sovereignty of Armenia and to ensure its stable development”,
– Martirosyan said and added that the opposition needs the formation
of a single agenda for fighting the power.

He said that the political opposition of Armenia is weak. “Also,
unfortunately, our opposition does not have a strong public support
in a large public protest. Our citizenry are certainly protestors,
but, unfortunately, they wait either for someone to struggle on their
behalf, or for joining together where everyone can get involved,” –
Armen Martirosyan concluded.

MARCHETTI DISAPPOINTED BY ITALY’S DRAW AGAINST ARMENIA

Forza Italian Football, Italy
Oct 16 2013

ArmeniaAzzurriFederico MarchettiItalyLazioMario BalotelliNapoliSan
PaoloWorld CupItaly goalkeeper Federico Marchetti expressed his
disappointment at the Azzurri’s inability to finish their World Cup
qualification campaign with a victory after needing a Mario Balotelli
equaliser to draw 2-2 with Armenia on Tuesday night.

The Lazio custodian committed an error on corner kick that allowed
the visitors to take the lead for the second time at Napoli’s San
Paolo stadium and admitted that the Azzurri could have approached
the first half in a better fashion.

“The start was certainly a struggle. Armenia pressed us high and we
were unable to play our game, especially with mistakes at the back,”
Marchetti told Rai Sport.

“It’s a shame, as in the second half we reacted and created many
scoring opportunities, so overall the draw is a tight result for us.

“Of course when we concede goals there is always something to work on.

The goals were avoidable and we’ll work on that, but the defence
involves the whole team and not just those at the back.

“We certainly need to grow, as the opening 20 minutes showed. Our
approach was a little soft. We showed character to react and the
second half was a completely different game.”