Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURAL GDP IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2012 GROWS BY 8 PERCENT TO 727.5 BILLION DRAMS

YEREVAN, December 3. / ARKA /. Armenia’s agricultural GDP in
January-October 2012 amounted to 727.5 billion drams in current prices,
an increase of 8.2 percent if compared to the same period of time in
2011, the National Statistical Service of Armenia (ArmStat) said.

According to ArmStat numbers, the combined agricultural GDP and
fisheries’ outcome in the first ten months rose by 8.4 percent from
a year before to 739.8 billion drams.

According to the report, livestock production in 2012 October amounted
to about 32.8 billion drams, having increased by 3.3% compared with
October 2011, the plant production increased by 0.1 percent to about
85.4 billion drams, and the output of fisheries surged by 34.6 percent
to 1.5 billion drams.

According to the official numbers, sales of meat including poultry
(in live weight) in October rose by 2.5% compared to the same period
in 2011 to 18,900 tons. The largest meat sales were reported by
Gegharkunik, Shirak and Lori provinces- 3,300, 3,100 and 2,200 tons
respectively.

Milk production in October 2012 amounted to 37,500, an increase of
3.9 percent compared to October 2011. The largest milk producer was
Gegharkunik region – 7,100 tons.

At the same time, production of eggs in October 2012 compared to the
same period in 2011 increased by 6.8% to 40.8 million pieces. Most
of the eggs were produced in Armavir region – 11.4 million (up .1%).

The fish farms produced 797 tons of output in 2012 October, an
increase of 34.6% compared to October 2011. However, compared to
September the figure decreased by 12.3%. ($ 1 – 405.32 drams). -0-

KARABAKH’S FINAL STATUS MUST BE DETERMINED BY ITS CITIZENS, MEPS SAY

December 3, 2012 – 21:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The statement adopted at an Armenia-EU
interparliamentary cooperation sitting at Brussels stresses that there
is no alternative to peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the committee chair Samvel Farmanyan said.

“Expressing concern at a lack of progress in conflict settlement talks,
the document emphasized a need to abandon the status quo in favor of
a safe future,” Mr. Farmanyan said, noting the clause as important
in the light of Azerbaijan’s intensified military rhetoric.

According to the document, the final status of Nagorno Karabakh must
be determined through free will of Artsakh citizens. The statement
also urges to pull snipers form the line of contact, as demanded by
OSCE Minsk Group and international organizations.

The document also stressed Armenia’s support for a March 2011 statement
adopted by Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders, calling to form
a mechanism for investigation of incidents and ceasefire violations
at contact line.

ARMENIA WILL SURPASS GEORGIA IN TAX ADMINISTRATION – STATE REVENUE COMMITTEE OFFICIAL

news.am
December 03, 2012 | 16:06

YEREVAN. – Over the course of the next four years, Armenia will match
and outdo Georgia and the other neighboring countries in the quality
of tax administration, State Revenue Committee (SRC) Deputy Chairman
Armen Alaverdyan stated during Monday’s discussions at the National
Assembly (NA).

To note, on behalf of the Government, Alaverdyan represents at NA the
Tax Administration Modernization Project (TAMP) loan agreement, which
is signed with the International Development Association (IDA). The
$12 million loan will be allocated to apply information technology
in Armenia’s tax system.

Armen Alaverdyan noted that if TAMP is implemented in Armenia, the
country’s tax administration will surpass, in at least four years,
the similar systems that are used in the neighboring countries. He
informed that Armenia already possesses an advanced information module,
which has received the highest international praise, and the system
will become completely electronic in four years.

“The challenges are the same in all countries: collection of data
and minimal impact on business activity,” the SRC Deputy Chairman said.

NEW EXHIBITION OF ALEXANDER SPENDIARIAN HOUSE MUSEUM

17:52, 3 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan visited Alexander Spendiarian House Museum and got acquainted
with the renovation works carried out there. As reports Armenpress the
director of the house museum Marine Otanyan presented to Mr. Sargsyan
the new exhibits and expressed gratitude for the state support. “The
renovation of the house museum is financed by the state program. A new
exhibition dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Alexander Spendiarian
and to 40th anniversary of house museum after him has been opened”
Otaryan said.

According to her, today the house museum appears with a new exhibition
which corresponds to the modern standards and in which the investment
of renowned Armenian music composer, conductor, founder of Armenian
national symphonic music and one of the patriarchs of Armenian
classical music Alexander Spendiarian has been highlighted.

Renovation works of the house museum launched in 2011 the budget of
which was about 18 million AMD and the construction works cost reached
30 million AMD. In 1967, the Alexander Spendiarian House Museum was
established in the house where the composer lived during the last
years of his life. The museum has recreated the genuine atmosphere of
the composer’s study and presents the composer’s personal belongings,
numerous documents and other belongings.

PRICES OF NON-FOOD GOODS IN ARMENIA RISE BY 0.5 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER

YEREVAN, December 3. / ARKA /. Non-food goods’ prices in November 2012
increased by 0.5% when compared to October, according to the figures
released today by the National Statistical Service of Armenia, which
said the growth was driven by rise in the prices of culture goods
( 0.5%), rugs (0.8%), consumer electronics (0.8%), footwear (1.1%),
fuels (1.2%), clothing and textiles (1.3%) and medicines (2.2%).

It also said prices of gold articles grew by 0.1%, those of furniture
by 0.2 percent, the prices of building materials rose by 0.2%, the
prices of home utensils by 0.3%, and prices of personal goods by 0.3%.

Simultaneously prices for cosmetics and gardening goods dropped by 0.5%
and 0.4% respectively, while the prices of detergents remain unchanged.

In all surveyed cities non-food prices increased from 0.1 to 1.9%. The
highest growth was recorded in Etchmiadzin. In the capital, non-food
goods’ prices increased by 0.4%. -0-

EU-ARMENIA PCC CONDEMNS THE DECISION OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN

Factinfo
Tue, 12/04/2012 – 12:30

The Final conclusion adopted at the regular 13th session of the
EU-Armenia PCC that took place on November 28-29 in Brussels is quite
positive. In comparison with the previous similar PCC statements
concerning the formulations regarding the regulations of the Karabakh
conflict and Turkish-Armenian relations were more restricted and
specified and first time contained reference to the Armenian Genocide.

Besides that, there are reservations regarding the Stepanakert airport
and Ramil Safarov’s case.

It was mentioned by the multi-party delegation members headed by the
Committee Co-chair, NA RPA fraction member Samvel Farmanyan while
briefing the Brussels session results at the session of 3 December. As
the negotiators evaluate, these positive reservations are the result
of the organized work of the Armenian members of the Committee
regardless the political views of the NA MP’s and contradicting
positions regarding the internal life, as well as certain success in
overcoming the Azerbaijani lobbyist efforts.

The PCC in its statement and recommendations regarding regional
stability issues particularly ‘condemns the decision of the President
of Azerbaijan, which granted a pardon by the EU member country
courts to the convicted murderer Ramil Safarov, expresses its deep
concern over his subsequent glorification after his extradition to
Azerbaijan; regards this gesture as not only contrary to the spirit
of international law but as contributing to further tensions in the
region, exacerbating feelings of injustice; condemns any provocation
that would add further tension to an already tense and fragile
situation’.

It is also mentioned that the Committee ‘is deeply concerned that such
acts could jeopardize reconciliation attempts and further undermine the
future development of peaceful people-to-people contact in the region,
which is a significant way to achieve lasting and sustainable peace.

The Committee ‘welcomes all statements contributing to the peaceful
settlement of the conflict and reminds that regarding the planned
opening of an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh, the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs have received renewed assurances from all sides that,
in accordance with international law, they reject any threat or use
of force against civil aircraft and will refrain from politicizing
the issue’.

Let us note that the full text of the adopted document is available
on the webpage of ‘Pastinfo.am’ –

NOTHING HAS BEEN LEFT FROM ETCHMIADZIN TOWN, CHAIRMAN OF ARCHITECTS’ UNION SAYS

04.12.12

Issue on distortion of architectural appearance of old Armenian towns
existed during the Soviet years as well but there were towns which
were immune in this respect.

“We had immune towns – Ashtarak, Gyumri and Goris – but recently they
have started being distorted as well,” chairman of Armenian Union
of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan said, stressing that nothing has been
left from Etchmiadzin town as well.

He said many of Gyumri’s old buildings that were not much harmed
during the earthquake have not been restored while the newly built
buildings distort the general appearance of the city.

“Not to allow construction will mean not to allow making investments
in the city but allowing mean that the owner will build it at his
own taste,” the architect said.

Among the towns that have more or less preserved their appearance
are Goris and Ashtarak. “Tourists coming here are not interested in
the newly built buildings,” Minasyan added.

IRAN CAPTURES INTRUDING US DRONE OVER PERSIAN GULF WATERS

13:38 ~U 04.12.12

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has captured a US
ScanEagle drone over the Persian Gulf waters upon its intrusion into
the Iranian airspace, Press TV reports.

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi made the announcement on
Tuesday, adding that the Iranian armed forces enjoy full intelligence
command over foreign movements in the Persian Gulf region.

Referring to the captured ScanEagle drone, the Iranian commander
pointed out, “Such drones are usually launched from large aircraft
carriers.”

The ScanEagle drone, which has a 10ft (3m) wingspan, is a
long-endurance aircraft built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing.

Commander Fadavi further said that the IRGC Navy is fully monitoring
all the movements of the foreign forces in the Persian Gulf and the
strategic Strait of Hormuz to counter any potential threats against
the country.

Earlier in December 2011, the Iranian military also grounded a US
RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft while it was flying over the Iranian
city of Kashmar, some 140 miles (225km) from the Afghan border.

The US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft was downed with minimal damage
by the Iranian Army’s electronic warfare unit. The drone was one of
America’s most advanced spy aircraft.

Last month, Iran repelled a US drone that had entered the country’s
airspace above the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic in the
Persian Gulf.

Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Aerospace
Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said that
the drone had been driven away by Iranian forces as it attempted to
gather intelligence around Kharg Island in southern Iran.

Hajizadeh also warned that the country’s armed forces would respond
with stronger action if US drones attempted to violate Iran’s
airspace again.

GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVED SEYRAN OHANYAN INVITATION TO VISIT ARMENIA

13:00, 4 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Hovhannes Manukyan, Armenian
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia had a meeting
with Irakli Alasania, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. As
Information and Public Relations department informed Armenpress,
congratulating Mr. Alasania on the occasion of appointment to that
responsible post, Ambassador Manukyan expressed hope the partnership
relations between the two countries will pursue the same existing
high level.

Georgian Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the close
cooperation. Top official stated Armenian-Georgian bilateral relations
are one of the most important directions in the defense sphere.

Moreover Georgian Defense head expressed willingness to continue
close cooperation with the Armenian side in accordance with the
partnership spirit already formed between the sides. In the course of
the meeting the sides expressed unanimous opinion to further develop
current cooperation.

The interlocutors discussed issues refer to cooperation between
Armenian and Georgian Defense headquarters and issues of mutual
interest. Ambassador Manukyan handed Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan congratulatory letter and invitation to visit Armenia. Irakli
Alasania accepted the invitation with gratitude.

Elections proved non-democratic – statement

tert.am
21:24 – 02.12.12

The parliament by-elections in Yerevan’s Constituency No 1 proved the
non-transparent and non-democratic nature of the process, say the
proxies of an opposition candidate.

In a statement evaluating the polls, the campaign headquarters of
Stepan Safaryan, the secretary general of the opposition Heritage
party, complains particularly of the evaporating stamp inks from the
voters’ passports and the crowding of people outside the polling
stations.

The low voter turnout was also mentioned as a disadvantage.

`The massive wrongdoings observed during the campaign continued and
finished in the polling station, reaffirming the non-free,
non-transparent and non-democratic nature of the elections. We will
consider the grounds of challeniging the election outcomes after
having a full picture,’ reads the statement.

The headquarters appreciates all voters who headed to the polls
without pressure and intimidation, extending a special gratitude to
those who cast their ballots in the Heritage candidate’s favor.