Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN CARPET TO BECOME UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED COMING YEAR: INTERVIEW WITH HASMIK POGHOSYAN

11:00, 27 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: In the opinion of Armenian Minister
of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan the end of the year enables a good chance
to sum up the works implemented in the course of the passing year,
besides plan up the ones to be carried out in coming year. Armenian
cultural year was indeed memorable. Reportedly Armenia was recognized
world book capital, besides Armenia celebrated 500th anniversary of
first Armenian printed book. Armenpress had an interview with Minister
of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan on Armenian cultural year.

To Armenpress reporter question, what will be priorities for
coming 2013 year Minister was quoted as saying.” The necessity to
put into practice the law on libraries should be the main priority
of coming year. This is a law of great importance that will enable
those libraries possessing relevant funds and abilities to be united
around a net and receive state assistance. The next priority refers
to cultural education and aesthetic educational national projects,
adopted recently”.

The reporter wonders what national value the Ministry has targeted
for the next year and what kind of steps are being undertaken to call
into life the initiative. Minister Poghosyan stated before they have
targeted khachkar, book , and for coming year they have intentions to
make Armenian carpet universally recognized. In the words of the state
official permanent exhibition is scheduled to be opened in Armenia’s
History Museum next year. Paralelly carpet demonstration catalogue
was published. Carpet demonstration virtual museum was already created
and will be shown to the public in the near future. Besides a film on
Armenian carpets is scheduled to be shot and efforts are being exerted
to republish a Germany researcher album – scientific work on Armenian
carpet. In that connection a conference will be held with the Holy See.

LA TURQUIE NE S’OPPOSE PLUS A CE QU’ISRAËL TRAVAILLE AVEC L’OTAN
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 27 decembre 2012

La Turquie a leve ce lundi son veto sur une eventuelle participation
d’Israël aux activites non militaires de l’Otan en 2013, mais s’oppose
toujours a des exercices d’entraînement en commun. Les relations
entre les deux pays, un temps proches allies sur le plan diplomatique,
sont très tendues depuis la mort en mai 2010 de neuf Turcs, tues par
des soldats israeliens lors d’un assaut contre le navire Mavi Marmara.

Le bateau transportait des activistes decides a passer outre
l’embargo israelien sur la bande de Gaza, contrôlee par les islamistes
palestiniens du Hamas, pour y apporter une aide humanitaire. L’Etat
hebreu ne s’est pas excuse auprès d’Ankara, n’exprimant que des ”
regrets “, et la Turquie, membre de l’Otan, a refuse en mai dernier
qu’Israël participe a un sommet de l’alliance atlantique.

Israël participe au Dialogue mediterraneen, un programme de l’Otan
qui a permis a sept pays non membres de l’organisation de participer
a des sommets et des exercices d’entraînement. La Turquie a, en outre,
expulse l’ambassadeur d’Israël en septembre, après la publication d’un
rapport de l’Onu qui minimisait les responsabilites israeliennes dans
la mort des activistes du Mavi Marmara.

jeudi 27 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

CHARLES AZNAVOUR RENCONTRE LES ARMENIENS DE PEKIN
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 27 decembre 2012

Charles Aznavour a eu une reunion avec les Armeniens de Beijing en
marge de la ceremonie de clôture de l’Annee de la langue francaise
organise dans le cadre de la Francophonie.

Presents a l’evenement egalement on pouvait rencontrer les Grand
Maîtres Levon Aronian et Elina Danielian. Saluant ses invites,
l’ambassadeur armenien en Chine Armen Sargsyan a parle de la petite
communaute armenienne de Pekin.

Au cours de la reunion qui s’est tenue dans une ambiance chaleureuse
Charles Aznavour a presente quelques episodes de sa vie. Attachant
une importance pour le maintien de l’identite nationale armenienne,
il a exhorte les jeunes a ne pas s’ecarter de leurs racines.

“Cela donne la force aux Armeniens dans les differents pays du monde
a resister a la moindre difficulte” a declare Charles Aznavour.

jeudi 27 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

MAN RAPES UNDERAGE ACQUAINTANCE OF SOCIAL NETWORK IN ARMENIA

December 26, 2012 | 00:25

YEREVAN. – A 24-year-old G. K. is accused in having sexual relations
with an underage through Odnoklassniki social network and raping
her after getting advantage of her helpless situation. Besides,
he threatened the girl to publish cruel things about her in case
she refuses to give him money, so he grabbed jewelry amounting AMD
1.7 million.

The court found him guilty in Article 138: Rape, done against a minor,
Article 178: Swindling and Article 182: Extortion. Summing up the
articles, he is sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. He appealed
the verdict at the Court of Appeals, which left it unchanged. The
case may be appealed at the Supreme Court.

ALEXANDER MARKAROV: ARMENIA NEEDS TO CONDUCT POLICY IN MOST BENEFICIAL DIRECTIONS

Panorama.am
25/12/2012

Armenia takes into account possible threats and beneficial conditions
in its foreign policy, cooperating with both European structures
and those formed in the post-Soviet area. Armenia has determined its
political course long ago,” political scientist Alexander Markarov
told reporters in Yerevan, commenting on the issue of making choice
between the European Union and the Eurasian Union.

According to him, Armenia needs to conduct policy that is beneficial
for the country and is not based on this or that ideological
stereotype.

“It’s a long time we are not part of the world where everything is
divided into white and black. There are much more tints. Black and
white colors also have their tints. In this respect, it is necessary
to cooperate in the directions that are most beneficial for Armenia.

Such beneficial conditions could be found in both directions,”
said Markarov.

Commenting on the issue of whether development of close relations
between Armenia and Russia could hinder the European integration
process, Markarov said that at the moment there is no question
of Armenia’s joining the Customs Union, the Eurasian Union or the
European Union.

“The cooperation format is the question. As long as there are
no antagonistic contradictions between these formats, we can find
formats to cooperate with both European structures and those in the
post-Soviet area,” the expert concluded.

PUBLIC FIGURE OFFERS TO SET UP RELIGIOUS POLICE IN ARMENIA

December 25, 2012 – 18:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A boost in sect inflow was posted in Armenia,
further exacerbated by favorable conditions in the country, the
co-chair of United Youth League said.

Daniel Petrosyan urged for resignation of head of the Department for
Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs Vardan Asatryan if he fails
to take retaliatory measures.

The second co-chair of United Youth League Sevak Hovhannisyan,
in turn, offered to set up religious police to explain religious
motivated crimes.

“Though Armenian police turned down the offer, deeming themselves
capable of tackling the problem, no relevant measures have so far
been taken in the direction,” Mr. Hovhannisyan said, stressing the
need for new amendments to the criminal code.

BISHARYAN CLAIMS THAT THE RESULTS OF THE GALLUP POLLS ARE “PREDETERMINED”

DECEMBER 24, 2012 16:55

According to the latest Gallup poll, only 2 percent of the citizens
would vote for Artur Baghdasaryan, the leader of the Rule of Law Party
(RLP), in the upcoming presidential election, if he was nominated. And
since Heghine Bisharyan, a deputy leader of the RLP, always boasts
about the high rating of their party leader and claims that their
leader is loved and valued by the people, inquired of
her whether they didn’t have a fear after the Gallup poll that Artur
Baghdasaryan’s rating had fallen dramatically. “I don’t treat the
Gallup polls very seriously, because I know quite well what approaches
those sociologists have. We have always seen that their results were
either predetermined or incorrect,” Ms. Bisharyan said.

In response to our question whether the index of the incumbent
president, the candidate of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
was also predetermined and incorrect, Ms. Bisharyan said: “I am not
talking about that. Today Serzh Sargsyan is the only winning candidate
among the candidates participating in the presidential election;
this is a whole different thing, we have to take this into account.”

Arpine SIMONYAN

ARMENIA MUST BE FLEXIBLE IN EU AND EURASIAN UNION ISSUES, EXPERT SAYS

tert.am
25.12.12

Political analyst Alexander Markarov thinks in relations with the
European Union and Eurasian Union Armenia should conduct a flexible
policy and find a beneficial variant.

Speaking to reporters today, and asked what Armenia should choose –
European Union or Eurasian Union – Alexander Markarov said Armenia
realizes the regional situation and the importance of rapprochement
with Europe.

“Naturally, it is necessary to implement a policy beneficial for
Armenia. It is necessary to find beneficial variant. Armenia should
not be either with the European or Eurasian unions, but first of all
with itself,” he said.

Referring to the idea of Eurasian Union authored by Russia, the
political analyst said the ancient-long relations between Armenia
and Russia are being reinforced and it is an important factor not
only for Armenia but Russia as well.

Alexander Markarov said during the past 17 years 170 different
agreements, memorandums were signed between Armenia and Russia relating
to different spheres.

“During the past three years high level meetings were conducted. Two
state visits on presidential level were made. Armenia also gives
a serious role to the security cooperation with Russia,” he said,
adding that Armenia has also become a reliable partner for the CSTO.

HEAD OF RUSSIAN FSB BORDER DEPARTMENT IN ARMENIA PLEASED WITH BORDERGUARDS FINANCING

YEREVAN, December 25. /ARKA/. Viktor Vlasov, the chief of the border
department of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Armenia
expressed his contentment on Tuesday with borderguards financing
level coming from Russia and Armenia.

He said 80.1% of funds were provided by Russia and 19.9%– by Armenia
in 2010, 81.2% and 18.8% respectively in 2011, and 82.7% and 17.3%
in 2012.

“As of now Armenian and Russian governments are emphasizing financial
maintenance of the Russian borderguards in Armenia. The Russian side
is fully fulfilling all its commitment,” Vlasov said.

Armenia’s financing is growing year over year based on the inflation
rate, according to him.

” I can’t speak about the lack of funds, as the money we get is enough
for dealing with our issues. The only thing that would be great is
to get more funds for technical re-equipment,” he added.

Armenia-Turkey ( 330 km) and Armenia-Iran (45 km) border guard system
has been maintained since the USSR times. The Armenian authorities
consider the presence of the Russian borderguards and the Russian
military base as an important component for the national security.

The border department of the Russian Federal Security Service
in Armenia consists of four border divisions: in Gyumri, Armavir,
Artashat and Meghri, and a separate check point in Yerevan Zvartnots
International Airport. There are nearly 4,500 Russian borderguards
in Armenia. Their maintenance is coordinated by the governments of
the both states almost equally. -0-

NEW MEDICAL CENTERS TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ARMENIA’S REGIONS

tert.am
26.12.12

Next year Armenia’s Ministry of Health will focus on the construction
and renovation of regional medical centers, Minister of Health Derenik
Dumanyan told journalists on Wednesday.

Specifically, the construction of a new medical center is to get
under way in Meghri, and the Kapan medical center will be renovated.

“The medical centers in Alaverdi, Abovyan and Berd will be modernized
as well. A new multifield hospital for 190 patients will be constructed
in Vanadzor. However, the construction of modern medical centers in
Armenia’s regions will not resolve the current problems.

The ministry is implementing measures to prevent patients from coming
to Yerevan for medical examination and treatment,” Mr Dumanyan said.

>From August 1, 2012, the medical personnel are paid as much for
one normal delivery in Armenia’s regions as in Yerevan’s maternity
hospitals.

“An additional 115 million drams was allocated to regional maternity
hospitals. We proposed that Armenia’s government revise the financing
of free medical services in favor of Armenia’s regions. We are also
taking measures to increase the financing of regional outpatient
clinics by 10%,” the minister said.

Mr Dumanyan also pointed out the mismanagement of medical personnel –
259 vacancies in Armenia’s regions.