Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 29 2012
Turkey and Armenia renew talks under Swiss mediation
29 November 2012 – 9:49am
Armenian paper Zhokhovurd says that Turkey and Armenia were secretly
having negotiations under Swiss Swiss mediation and US support.
Russia and the US are having negotiations in Switzerland to send
peacekeepers to the Nagorno-Karabakh area, a conflict zone that plays
the key role in the Armenian-Turkish peace process.
Turkmendowlethabarlary news agency, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Nov 29 2012
Turkmen, Armenian leaders’ sign joint communique
[Translated from Russian]
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow paid official visit to
Armenia on 29-30 November at the invitation of the president of
Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.
The heads of state in the atmosphere of mutual trust and complete
understanding discussed the state of and prospects for the developing
bilateral cooperation, exchanged opinions on urgent issues of
international and regional policy of mutual interest, as well as
expressed readiness for further deepening the Turkmen-Armenian
relations.
During the exchange of opinions on urgent international issues, the
presidents confirmed closeness or coincidence of positions of the two
countries on the most important issues of world policy, as well as
they stressed on mutual desire of Turkmenistan and Armenia to ensure
the strengthening peace, security and stability at the regional and
international levels. In this context the heads of state stressed the
necessity to coordinate efforts and interaction of the two countries
within the framework of international organizations, above all, the
UN.
The heads of state recognized as necessary further development of
cooperation in combating such as transborder threats like terrorism,
religious extremism, organized crime and illegal circulation of drugs
on bilateral basis and within the framework of regional and
international organizations.
The presidents stressed the necessity to give impetus to bilateral
relations, development of various forms of cooperation in promising
areas, and to strengthen the practice of bilateral political
consultations.
Having considered issues related to the trade and economic relations,
the presidents stressed the importance of interaction in this sphere
and priority level of strengthening and expanding economic partnership
between the two countries on the basis of principles of equal rights,
mutual benefit and with taking into account interests of each other.
[Passage omitted: the presidents confirmed significance of the work of
the Turkmen-Armenian commission on economic cooperation]
The presidents of the two countries dwelled on important priorities in
the Turkmen-Armenian interaction in the economic sphere and named
among them energy, transport, textile industry and trade.
[Passage omitted: remarks on humanitarian relations between the two countries]
The heads of the two states with satisfaction stressed that
constructive and fruitful negotiations held today, as well as
bilateral documents signed during the visit would support for further
strengthening traditionally friendly relations and mutually beneficial
partnership between Turkmenistan and Armenia.
[Passage omitted: the Turkmen leader invited Armenian leader to visit
Turkmenistan]
[Signed] The president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the
president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.
Bako Sahakyan visited newly constructed building in Stepanakert
17:56, 30 November, 2012
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: On 30 November Artsakh Republic
President Bako Sahakyan visited a newly constructed apartment building
located in the Toumanyan Street of the capital Stepanakert and got
acquainted to its conditions, reports Armenpress referring to NKR
presidential press office.
The Head of the State considered housing among key directions of the
republic’s socioeconomic development noting that the process would be
of a continuous nature and such comfortable apartments would be built
in different settlements of the republic.
Thereafter the President visited “Sur-Narek” Co Ltd production site of
construction materials and got acquainted to the activities being
carried out there. President Sahakyan considered important the
existence of such enterprises for boosting local industry.
The President was accompanied by prime-minister Ara Haroutyunyan and
other officials.
AREAL linear accelerator to be put into commission in May 2013
17:45 30.11.2012
Sona Hakobyan
`Radiolur’
CANDLE international research center will be established in Armenia in
line with the government decision adopted in 2008.
CANDLE (Center for the Advancement of Natural Discoveries using Light
Emission) is an ambitious attempt to create a state-of-the art,
next-generation facility with applications in a wide range of fields,
from basic physics, chemistry, and biology to applied research in drug
design, medical diagnostics, and environmental remediation.
CANDLE is an ambitious proposal to build a 3 GeV synchrotron light
source facility in Armenia. The goal of CANDLE is to develop a
third-generation light source as an international facility. Several
such light sources are being developed around the world, but none in
the Caucasus. Such a facility would have a broad research and
education program that would include work in the areas of physics,
chemistry, biology, geology, electronics, crystallography, and
medicine.
President of the State Scientific Committee of the Ministry of
Education and Science Samvel Harutyunyan told reporters today that the
first stage of construction of the AREAL linear accelerator has
already started. It is expected to be put into commission in May 2013.
AREAL project is considered as the first phase of CANDLE synchrotron
light source creation in Armenia.
SAS-Group to issue currency bonds worth $7 million
YEREVAN, November 30. / ARKA /. SAS-Group chain of supermarket said it
is going to place $7 million worth nominal coupon currency bonds. It
said Ameriabank has agreed to act as the underwriter of bonds.
“From 6th of December to 10th of January 2013 we plan to place 700
thousand bonds with a par value of $10 each at 10.1% annual interest
rate and a two-year maturity period. Payments on coupons will be held
every six months “, Stepan Sahakyan, SAS CEO, said today.
Sahakyan said the raised funds will be used to expand the network of
supermarkets, but stressed that the company has no plans to open
supermarkets in the provinces.
Ameriabank investments director Arno Movsisyan said the face value of
the bonds makes them accessible to individuals. Movsisyan also
stressed that Ameriabank is the strategic partner of SAS-Group and may
consult it on the IPO.
`SAS-Group is making still the first steps which will allow it to
introduce the company to investors in the capital market and identify
the demand,” he said.
SAS-Group, one of the leaders in Armenia’s retail trade, was founded
in 1995 by brothers Arman and Artak Sargsyans. It owns seven
supermarkets SAS and two salon-shop SAS Home.
The company also signed exclusive franchising contracts with British
NEXT, DEBENHAMS and RIVER ISLAND brands, as well as with ALDO. On the
16th of October 2012 the Central Bank of Armenia assigned it the G+
rating.
Ameriabank “is a universal bank providing investment, corporate and
retail banking services in an integrated package of banking solutions.
It is owned by Troika Dialog – one of the largest investment banking
companies in Russia. -0-
LE PARLEMENT ARMENIEN RELEVE LE SALAIRE MINIMUM A 35 000 DRAMS (67,30~@)
Stephane
armenews.com
vendredi 30 novembre 2012
Le Parlement d’Armenie a passe en lecture finale un projet de loi qui
augmente le salaire minimum de 2500 drams (7 $) soit 35 000 drams. Le
projet de loi entrera en vigueur en janvier.
Le projet de loi a ete critique par des deputes de l’opposition qui
pretendent que le gouvernement a des ressources suffisantes afin
d’ordonner une plus grande augmentation.
Plus tôt, la secretaire du parti Armenie Prospère, Naira Zohrabyan,
a dieclare que le salaire minimum doit etre inferieur au minimum
vital qui est officiellement de 53000 drams.
Un autre depute d’Armenie Prospère, Mikael Mlekumian, a dit que le
gouvernement envisage une croissance de près de 7 %.
” Si ces chiffres sont corrects, donc le gouvernement doit etre assez
flexible pour relever le salaire minimum a 50000 drams ” a-t-il dit.
Cependant, seuls 9 deputes ont vote contre le projet de loi et 14 se
sont abstenus.
vendredi 30 novembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com
SPEAKER, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TRADE KEENNESS ON MORE ENTRENCHED BILATERAL TIES
National News Agency
Nov 27 2012
Lebanon
NNA – Both the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, and Armenian
President, Serzh Sargsyan–currently on a three-day state visit in
Lebanon–underlined Tuesday the necessity to bolster the bilateral
ties between the two fraternal countries, Lebanon and Armenia.
The current general situation in the Arab and Mideast region also
featured high in the pair’s two-pronged meeting held this noon at
Ain-el-Tineh, with both the Lebanese and Armenian Foreign Ministers
attending.
“Today, we receive a symbol representing a fraternal state and a
fraternal people, with whom we have the best humanitarian, moral,
and historic ties, based upon joint struggle against occupation and
colonization before enjoying the much-sought independence,” Berri said,
welcoming the visiting Armenian President during a lunch banquet he
hosted at his residence this afternoon.
“Lebanon has always been a second nation for the Armenians, who
have shown unmatched love and loyalty to this country. Armenia has
always sided with Lebanon’s resistance in facing Israel’s hostility;
it has also supported Lebanon in resuming the liberation of its lands
occupied by Israel, and implementing the international resolutions,
on top of which resolutions 425 and 1701,” he noted.
“The ambitions of our two peoples to build the best of relations were
epitomized by both the Lebanese and Armenian parliaments, trough
exchanging meetings and visits, and inking bilateral agreements to
develop parliamentary cooperation, in addition to the continuous
coordination on the level of stances before the international and
Asian parliamentary instances, in favor of our peoples’ interest as
well as of our position upholding justice and peace,” he said.
Furthermore, Berri maintained that the entire region–which he depicted
as “the museum of civilizations and the haven of the monotheistic
religions”–was jeopardized by schism and division in what he termed
as “micro geographical” way. He said that the situation was bogged
down with a drastic reality of ethnical, sectarian, and confessional
explosions.
“Your Excellency is called to take the initiatives which aim at
pushing forward towards open dialogues in the region, to bring forth
political agreements between belligerent parties over reproducing
the state and its institutions,” Berri addressed Sargsyan.
“The experience of the Lebanese civil war has proved that no one
can neither be eliminated nor marginalized, and that dialogue and
understanding are the solution,” he said.
Accordingly, Berri upped calls to abide by the Taif Agreement and
partake in the all-party national dialogue which shall have in
crosshairs arms as a means to defend the nation only.
For his part, Sargsyan heaped praise on the Armenian-Lebanese ties
and friendship, stressing that Armenia and Lebanon are linked by well
entrenched and deep-rooted cultural and historic relations.
Turning to Syria, the Armenian President did not fail to voice concerns
over the destiny of the Syrian people. “Continuous armed rows and
terrorist operations are absolutely inadmissible,” he underscored.
“I am sure that the emerging situation is the result of some regional
countries’ escaping from resolving their own matters at the expense
of the Syrian blood,” he noted.
“Armenia has always called for stopping bloodshed and urged the
Syrians to work to solve the crisis in a peaceful way,” he said.
Today’s lunch banquet was attended by Prime Minister Najib Mikati,
Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, Lebanese Army
Commander General Jean Qahwaji, Internal Security Forces Chief Major
General Ashraf Rifi, Papal Ambassador to Lebanon Gabriele Caccia,
heads and representatives of the Armenian parties in Lebanon, and a
panel of Deputies, Ministers, and judicial figures.
Earlier today, Sargasyan visited Armenian Patriarch Aram I at the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias and held a meeting with
students at Haigazian University in Beirut.
ISRAEL’S SYMPATHY IS FOR RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, FORMER AMBASSADOR STATES
Mediamax
Nov 29 2012
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former Ambassador to Armenia and Georgia Baruch
Ben Neria stated today that “the Armenian Genocide is a very tragic
and sensitive issue but at the same time Israel’s sympathy is for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide”.
In his interview to Mediamax, he expressed his consent with the
opinion of the current Israeli Ambassador Shmuel Meirom according to
which the issue already was brought to the political field.
At the same time, he noted that serious debates on the topic are going
on in Israel. Baruch Ben Neria recalled that the issue of the Genocide
recognition had repeatedly raised in the Knesset of the country.
Touching upon Armenia-Israel relations, the retired diplomat noted
that those relations are very important for the both countries.
“Israel is interested in developing relations with South Caucasus
states including Armenia. But it depends on Armenia not to the less
extent than us. Armenia decides on its own how to develop relations
with other states. As is known, tango requires two partners”, said
former Ambassador of Israel to Armenia and Georgia.
COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARMENIA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE CONTINUATION OF THE RIGGED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
ARMINFO
Thursday, November 29, 15:53
The Feb 18 presidential elections in Armenia are the continuation
of the May 6 rigged parliamentary elections, Rouben Tovmasyan, First
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia,
said at today’s press conference.
He said that the same fraud technologies will be applied at
the presidential elections. Tovmasyan severely criticized the
socio-economic policy of the Armenian authorities. “Today the Armenian
authorities have raised anti-Communist hysteria instead of developing
the state”, he said.
He pointed out that the forthcoming presidential elections will not
change the situation in the country. Moreover, he forecasted an abrupt
decline in the material state of the citizens, large-scale migration,
as well as growth in the gas prices after the Feb elections. Tovmasyan
said that only the socialist system is capable to restore Armenia.
Tovmasyan said that the Communist Party has not yet decided whether
it is going to nominate a candidate or not. The relevant decision
will be taken in early December.
PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND RUSSIA SHOULD DISCUSS ARMENIAN NAIRIT CHEMICAL GIANT’S ISSUE- RYJKOV
YEREVAN, November 29. /ARKA/. The issue related to Armenia’s Nairit
synthetic rubber plant must be discussed on the highest level,
Nikolay Ryjkov said.
Nikolay Ryjkov is a co-chairman of interparliamentary cooperation
commission between Armenia’s National Assembly and the Federal Assembly
of the Russian Federation, as well as a member of the Federation
Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly.
“I think the presidents will discuss these issues. At least, I think
these issues deserve to be discussed on the highest level,” he said
Thursday at a news conference following the commission meeting.
It is necessary to fully use the potential of the plant, he added.
“Of course, it makes no sense to lose such plant. At its best period
Nairit had contacts for different deliveries with 700 plants. Of
course, chemical production development was negatively influenced as
the plant closed,” Ryjkov noted.
Nairit plant was closed in 1989 for ecological reasons, but resumed
partial operation in 1992-93. In 2006 some 90 % of its shares were sold
to a British-registered Rainoville Property Limited at $40 million. The
Armenian government has a 10 percent stake in the Soviet-built company,
which has repeatedly changed owners over the past two decades. Minister
Movsisyan would say that the plant’s reconstruction may cost up to
$400-500 million.-0-