Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL GREEN WEEK BERLIN

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. Armenian companies will participate in
International Green Week agrarian and industrial fair to be held in
Berlin on January 18-27, the press service of Armenian Development
Agency (ADA) reported.

The ADB sponsors Armenian companies to take part in the exhibition
together with German International cooperation (GIZ) program for
promotion of economic development in the South Caucasus. The GIZ
program has been financing Armenia’s pavilion at the fair since 2009.

Products of seven Armenian companies will be presented at the fair –
Yerevan Brandy Factory, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory,
Yerevan Champagne Wines Factory, MAP, Wine-Brandy House Shahnazaryan,
Yerevan Beer and SIS Natural.

Ministers of agriculture of the World Food Conference member states
are expected to participate in the exhibition. The International
Greek Week Berlin was attended by 420,000 people in 2012. -0-

INSTABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA: SERZH SARGSYAN

15:52, 15 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Issues Syrian Armenians face are in
the center of attention of the Republic of Armenia. As Armenpress
reports, Serzh Sargsyan the President, Supreme Commander in Chief
of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia delivered a speech at
the enlarged session with the participation of legislative, executive
and judicial authorities hosted in the Ministry of Defense .

“The number of victims and wounded people has considerable increased
in recent times, Saint Gevorg Church in Aleppo was burned down,
numerous Armenian institutions have suffered. Currently over 6000
Syrian Armenians got shelter in Armenia, the majority of whom acquired
Armenian citizenship. Most of their concerning issues mostly of social
nature require urgent solutions. The steps undertaken by us are aimed
at settling the needs our Syrian brothers and sisters have both in
Homeland and Syria” President stated.

In the words of Serzh Sargsyan the instability in the Middle East is
a serious challenge for the Republic of Armenia and it is not merely
conditioned by the existence of Armenian Diaspora in the Middle East,
nevertheless it is an essential factor. The head of the Country
stated the interests of the Republic of Armenia and entire Armenians
do not vary.

“Our interests are intermingled, no matter in what corner of the world
an Armenian lives. Reportedly our actions should be coordinated and
complementary. We are powerful when Republic of Armenia, Artsakh and
Diaspora join forces, it has been experienced by old history. The
President also noted that the works launched with Diaspora should
become an integral part of the Security and Defense Agenda.

“Diaspora Armenian organizations, churches, the mobilization of press
are the most important factors of our arsenal. Diaspora has proved
it not once and I am sure if needed they will not hesitate to prove
it again” President underscored.

INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL TO KICK OFF IN WORLD BOOK CAPITAL YEREVAN

11:16, 15 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: World Book Capital Yerevan
is scheduled to host international poetry festival. Levon
Ananian,President of Writers’ Union of Armenia stated in the briefing
with Armenpress, centuries-old country Armenia rich with cultural
traditions needs to launch such a festival. Currently organizational
works are underway. In the words of Levon Ananyan, 40 most famous
writers from various countries namely Russia, Iran, Georgia, Germany,
France and the Arab countries are set to be hosted in the Motherland in
the frame of the program. “Poetry International Festival will enable
a chance to the poets of various nationalities get acquainted with
the World Book Capital.Besides an anthology is set to be published
in the conclusion of the festival” Ananyan noted.

International poetry festival first kicked off last year, October
16-19 in Artsakh. Then the festival was attended by the poets from the
two Republics and U.S., Russia, Germany, Lebanon, Serbia, Bulgaria,
Romania and Georgia. The event was the first in the region as to the
format. International poetry festival had modern tendencies and was
entitled “Writer, herald of the peace”.

Israeli Ambassador: “Azerbaijan and Israel share broad cooperation
prospects in four fields’ – PHOTO

[ 10 January 2013 13:26 ]

Baku. Anakhanim Hidayetova – APA. `Special relations have been
established between Azerbaijan and Israel over the last 20 years.
Israel highly estimates the relations with Azerbaijan’, Israeli
ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafael Harpaz said to journalists, APA
reports.

He said that the two countries have a lot in common and relations
would remain on the same level after the parliamentary elections in
Israel: `Azerbaijan and Israel are cooperating in many spheres and
share broad cooperation prospects in four fields. Israeli has
extensive experience in telecommunications, agriculture, water supply
and medical technology fields. The two countries should also expand
energy cooperation. Natural gas reserves have been discovered in
Israel and it is important for us to learn from the experience of
Azerbaijan in this field. Our private sector is also interested in
Azerbaijan.’

He also noted good relations between the two countries in the
political sphere: `I think that Azerbaijan is playing a constructive
role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.’

Israeli Ambassador: “Azerbaijan and Israel share broad cooperation
prospects in four fields’ – PHOTO

Cihan News Agency (CNA) – Turkey
December 29, 2012 Saturday

Scholars from Turkish-speaking countries to write general Turkic history

BAKÜ (CIHAN)- The scholars will be invited from Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan to write a general history
of Turkic-speaking peoples in the near future, director of the
Institute of History of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences
Yagub Mahmudov said on the scientific council of the Institute today.

He stressed that scholars are planned to be invited from Moldova,
Georgia, Dagestan.

“Regardless of the results, we will begin writing a general
Turkish-Azerbaijani history,” he added. “The agreement was reached
with Turkey.”

He said that genocide is one of the main problems of the Turkic history.

Armenians committed genocide in Eastern Anatolia, South Azerbaijan and
Baku. More attention will be paid to examine these events, Mahmudov
said.
CIHAN

Xinhua General News Service, China
December 27, 2012 Thursday 1:16 AM EST

Armenia mulling new free economic zone for jewellery

YEREVAN Dec. 27

The Armenian government is considering setting up a new free economic
zone for jewellery.

Economy Minister Vahagn Lalayan said in a statement Thursday the
proposed zone would be located at Yerevan’s “Zvartnots” international
airport.

The establishment of such zones is aimed at attracting foreign
investment that will stimulate exports, create new jobs and ensure
sustainable economic development.

Organizations and firms operating in the free economic zones are
exempted from profit tax, VAT, customs fees, corporate tax and
property tax.

The Times of India (TOI)
December 26, 2012 Wednesday

A visit to city’s forgotten churches

KOLKATA

KOLKATA: A group of around 40 Kolkatans went around the city’s
heritage churches on Christmas morning. They travelled about 10km on a
chilly Tuesday, stopping at the heritage destinations and making a
quick tour of the places where Christmas would be celebrated even more
than a century back. Conducted jointly by NGOs Spark and Footsteps
Photowalks, the walk explored some of the oldest churches, steeped in
tradition and history.

The first destination for the walkers was the Portuguese Church. Built
in 1799, the Catholic church with two giant towers remained crowded on
Christmas morning. The Armenian Church at Burrabazar was the next
destination followed by The Magen David Synagogue.

Built in 1764 and designed in the early 18th century, the Armenian
Church is the oldest extant church in Kolkata. The interiors are
decorated with marble, and the overhead gallery contains mural
tablets. The altar has a cross, the gospels and 12 candlesticks
symbolizing Christ and his Apostles. There is a staircase leading to
an overhead gallery with walls full of mural tablets. Three oil
paintings, including one of the Last Supper, share space with the
murals.

“Heritage walks keep happening in Kolkata but this one was special
since it took the walkers to the old churches. While we celebrate
Christmas, few spare a thought for these buildings tucked away in some
forgotten corners of the city. Some are in poor shape. They are as
much a part of the city’s heritage as the roads and other prominent
buildings. There couldn’t have been a better way to observe
Christmas,” said Monica Khosla Bhargava, president of Spark.

Walkers also visited the St Andrew’s Church and St John’s Church. They
explored the church and the premises which has Job Charnock’s grave.
Perhaps the richest in history and heritage, St John’s had the walkers
marvelling at the architecture. Built on land donated by Maharaja Nabo
Kishen Bahadur, founder of the Shovabazar Raj family, Warren Hastings
had laid its foundation stone in 1784. Two marble plaques at the
entrance of St John’s Church mark the two historic events.

The church is a large square structure in the neoclassical
architectural style. A stone spire 174 ft tall is its most distinctive
feature. The spire holds a giant clock, which is wound every day.

“It was an exhilarating experience. I had no idea that the city had so
much architectural treasure hidden in its backyards. I wish I had
explored the churches earlier,” said V Kumar, who joined the walk.

Interfax, Russia
Dec 26 2012

Industrial output in Armenia grows record 10% in 2012

YEREVAN. Dec 26

Industrial output in Armenia will amount to 10% for this year, the
republic’s Economy Minister Tigran Davtian said during a Wednesday
press conference.

The country has not seen that much growth since it gained its
independence in 1991, Davtian said.

“It is heartening that the real sector of the economy is developing at
advanced rates. We have not had such growth in all of the post-Soviet
period,” he said, adding that this high growth rate will persist into
next year, without providing specific forecasts.

Industrial output topped 1 trillion dram in January-November this
year, with growth of 9.1% compared with the same period of last year.

Davtian noted that GDP growth this year is expected at 7% instead of
the planned 4.2%.

The official exchange rate for December 26: 403.13 dram/$1.

Mehr News Agency (MNA), Iran
December 25, 2012 Tuesday

Iranian traditions and Christian New Year: a union

TABRIZ, Dec. 25 (MNA) – Although the Christmas and New Year are
religious ceremonies specific to the Christian, the Iran’s Armenian
rituals in celebrating the occasion have been interestingly integrated
into Iranian old traditions. Marina Danghian, university lecturer and
resident in Tabriz, speaks about the Iran’s Armenians’ rituals for
Christmas and New Year. “Iran’s Armenians perform a mixture of
Iranian-Armenian and Christian rituals in these days.” She says.
Frittata “House cleaning and cooking and eating fish, rice, and Kuku
(Iranian food similar to the Italian ) in Iranian New Year’s Day.
Christians receive gifts from Santa Clause and decorate pine trees.
They are pretty much the same,” she adds. “In the New Year’s Eve all
Armenians congregate with their families at their homes, churches, or
other public places, and welcome the New Year with special festivals,”
says Mrs. Danghian. She pointed out that Armenian Christians let the
previous year, with all its happy and sad moments, be bygone, and pray
God for peace and harmony. MS/EA MNA END

WPS Agency, Russia
December 25, 2012 Tuesday

VEXING AZERBAIJAN

BY: Yuri Roks
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 273, December 25, 2012, p. 2

PRIME MINISTER OF GEORGIA BIDZINA IVANISHVILI WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN;
Georgian PM Ivanishvili is about to visit Azerbaijan.

Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili will visit Azerbaijan, tomorrow.
Bilateral relations and regional issues will be discussed at the
meetings with Azerbaijani leaders. It was only recently that
Ivanishvili was quite critical of the railroad
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars whose construction is supposed to be
over in spring 2013.

Georgian ex-foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili and economic expert
Giya Khukhashvili once wanted to know, “Who can give us guarantees
that once the railroad is built and running, Georgian ports on the
Black Sea coast won’t be left idle?” Official Tbilisi never deigned to
answer then.

According to Zurabishvili, Georgian negotiators had been so inadequate
that they had failed to consider all consequences and implications of
the project. Specifically, that the consignments currently going to
Azerbaijan via Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi to be reloaded to
freight trains of the Georgian Railroad might as easily start using
Turkish ports and Turkish railroad. Ditto consignments out of
Azerbaijan. “It might cost Georgia a good deal of money,” she warned.

Zurabishvili said as well that it was Azerbaijan and not Georgia that
really needed the railroad. “Well then, it is up to Azerbaijan to
finance its construction. But the Georgian part of the railroad is
being built with the money Azerbaijan loaned to Georgia.”

Armenia, Georgia’s other neighbor was the third “weak link”
Zurabishvili mentioned. “It’s not very logical to strengthen the
relations with one neighbor but spoil them with another… considering
that the railroad will stiffen its economic blockade,” said
Zurabishvili.

It was Ivanishvili who repeated some of these arguments on eve of the
visit to Azerbaijan and said that he intended to discuss them in Baku.

His words were heard in Azerbaijan. Official reaction was quite
diplomatic. Chief of the Azerbaijani Transportation Ministry’s PR
department said, “The project was approved by the heads of
Azerbaijani, Turkey, and Georgia. Central Asian and European states
need this project… Azerbaijan is convinced that this project has
colossal strategic importance for the regional economy. Moreover, it
will eventually become an element of the regional security framework.
Azerbaijan has always honored its obligations within the framework of
international agreements… and expects the same attitude from its
partners.”

Azerbaijani media outlets were less diplomatic. Newspapers quoted an
anonymous source within the government as saying that Tbilisi had
better stop it or Azerbaijan might boost the gas price and withdraw
its investments from the Georgian economy.

Before becoming the premier, Ivanishvili used to be a successful
businessman. He could not help knowing therefore approximately how
Azerbaijan would react to his words. Still, Ivanishvili went ahead and
made the statement all the same. Does it mean that he has an ace up
his sleeve?

WPS’2012

[Translated from Russian]