Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA EXPORTS 19.5% MORE GOLD

Kyiv Post

July 31 2012
Ukraine

YEREVAN – Armenia increased gold exports (including plating) by 19.5%
to 1,120.9 kg in the first half of 2012 from 938 kg in the same period
of 2011, the country’s Customs Service reported.

The customs value of exported gold rose to $35.1 million in the first
half from $21.9 million a year earlier.

The Economics Ministry attributes the growth in sales to higher world
prices for the metal.

Armenia imported 607.9 kg of gold worth $32.3 million in the first
half, up from 591.3 kg worth $27 million a year earlier.

Armenia exports dore alloy with up to 92% gold content. The country
does not produce pure gold bullion.

LEBANESE IMPORT HITS NEW YORK CITY

Wall Street Journal

July 31 2012
NY

A popular Lebanese-Armenian restaurant has made its way to New York.

With locations in Beirut, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, Almayass recently
marked its territory in Gramercy.

“If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere,” co-owner
Alidz Alexandrian said. “It’s something that’s challenging for us
and exciting.”

Upon entering, it’s hard to miss the multicolored artisan glass pieces
hanging down on the wall. Ms. Alexandrian said they are designed by
her mother and imported from Lebanon.

Almayass, which seats 95 in its dining room and 30 in its lounge,
offers a tasty weekday lunch special for $22. Choose a starter, like
yogurt salad or moutabbal, a type of eggplant dip also known as baba
ghanouj. For the main dish, pick a type of kebab, such as chicken or
yogurt, both served with rice.

Outside the specials, try King’s Delight ($15), sliced, marinated filet
mignon served with garlic, tomato and parsley, or Mantee Traditional
($15), oven-baked boat-shape ravioli filled with seasoned fresh Angus
ground meat and served with fresh garlic yogurt sauce.

-Emily Glazer

Almayass; 24 E. 21st St. between Broadway and Park Avenue; serves
lunch Monday through Saturday between noon and 3 p.m.; 212-473-3100.

EDB ANALYSTS: IN CASE OF FALL IN METAL PRICES ARMENIA WILL BE DEPRIVED OF PRACTICALLY THE ONLY GROWTH FACTOR

Mediamax
July 30 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. In case of steady fall in metal prices, Armenia
will be deprived of practically the only growth factor.

Such a conclusion is contained in “CIS Macro Monitor” quarterly report
published by the Analytical Department of the Eurasian Development
Bank, Mediamax reports.

“The GDP growth in Armenia maintained its dynamics formed over the
second half of 2011 – it exceeded the level of the same period of
2011 by 4.9%. Industry and metallurgy in the first place (16.6%)
became its key driver. Simultaneously, inflation kept declining
reaching its maximum over the 6 years (0.5% annually). Significant
progress has been made in the sphere of state finances – the budget
deficit decreased to 0.2% GDP. At the same time, the EDB experts
note that in case of steady fall in metal prices the country will
be deprived of practically the only growth factor which will make
its economy vulnerable to the impact of negative external factors”,
the report reads.

LA TO ADD ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN AND FARSI TO CITY BALLOTS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: The City of Los Angeles will now
provide election services in Armenian, Russian and Farsi, and the three
languages could be on ballots by 2015. As Armenpress reports citing
Southern California Publicc Radio, councilman Paul Krekorian, who
is the first Armenian-American to be elected to the Los Angeles City
Council, recommended that election outreach and pollworker recruitment
be done in Armenian for the city’s 28,000 registered voters of Armenian
descent. An amendment added Russian and Farsi to those recommendations.

“We’re the city with the greatest diversity in this country. There
are 92 languages spoken by the parents of LAUSD students at home,”
Krekorian said. “The third most commonly spoken language by those
who are not perfectly fluent in English is Armenian, after Spanish
and Korean.”

The City Clerk already provides election services in eight languages
other than English: Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish,
Tagalog and Vietnamese, per a federal mandate. Local municipalities
can voluntarily add other languages at their discretion.

“This phenomenon is also practiced by some of our companion
jurisdictions like Glendale and Burbank,” said City Clerk June
Lagmay. “They are not under federal mandate, but they have voluntarily
added those languages as a service to their community”.

The City Clerk’s Office estimates it will cost about $109,000 to
provide outreach and recruitment in Armenian for the 2013 election.

ARS OF WESTERN US CONCLUDES 92ND REGIONAL CONVENTION

asbarez
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

A scene from the convention

Assistance to Armenians in Syria Kicked Off

PADADENA-The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Western U.S.A., 92nd
Annual Regional Convention was held on July 27-29, 2012, at the new
Pasadena Armenian Center in Pasadena, California.

This convention was characterized by the level of concern for the
plight of the Armenian community in Syria, upon the ARS Central
Executive Board (CEB) Representative Annie Kechichian’s report of
the latest developments about the situation.

The convention decided to form a special committee to raise funds for
the Armenians in Syria, and asked for volunteers from the convention
delegates. The committee will ask the communities of the Western
U.S.A. to open up their hearts to make their contributions.

The opening of the meeting with the delagates

The Convention kicked off the fundraising for the Armenians in Syria,
showing its commitment by both words and exemplary actions. Dr. Nyree
Derderian, the past Chairperson of the Regional Executive, conducted
the impromptu fundraising, announcing the donations as they were
passed on from the floor of the convention. The delegates, guests and
observers presented their personal and chapter contributions for the
fund supporting the Armenian community in Syria, collecting payments
and pledges amounting to $18,050.

Four members of the Regional Executive had completed their 2-year
terms: Nyree Derderian, Kristine Keshishian, Carmen Libaridian and
Seta Hagopian-Soghomonian. The Convention elected Lena Bozoyan,
Christina Khanjian, Carmen Libaridian, and Karine Barikian-Setian.

ARS CEB Chairperson. Vicky Marashlian congratulated the convention for
its smooth performance and the newly elected board members. The ARF
Central Committee representative, Dr. Viken Yacoubian, congratulated
the newly elected board members, wished the whole ARS family success
in their endeavors, promising support and assistance to collectively
achieve the goals of our people.

Following the end of the Convention, the 2012-2013 Regional Executive
board elected its officers as follows:

Lena Bozoyan, Chairperson; Carmen Libaridian, Vice-Chairperson;
Armenouhi (Mimi) Tomassian, Secretary; Liza Santikian, Treasurer;
Christina Khanjian, Accountant; and Zharmen Mirzakhanyan, Judy
Jingirian, Angele Ohannessian, and Karine Barikian-Setian Advisors.

Support the Armenian community in Syria by donating by credit card
or PayPal at , through a chapter, or sending
your check to ARS of Western U.S.A., Regional Executive, 517 W.

Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2812.

The ARS of Western USA, established in 1984 and with regional
headquarters in Glendale, CA, has 27 chapters and more than 1,500
members in five western states. The ARS-WUSA operates a Social Services
Division, a Child, Youth, and Family Guidance Center, and funds
numerous youth programs, scholarships, and relief efforts. For further
information, please visit or call 818.500.1343.

CENTRE CULTUREL DE L’AZERBAIDJAN : LE CCAF DENONCE LE PROJET DE LOI

Publie le : 02-08-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cette information publiee sur le site du CCAF (Conseil de
Coordination des organisations Armeniennes de France) le 1er août 2012.

CCAF

Centre culturel de l’Azerbaïdjan : le CCAF denonce le projet de loi
du gouvernement Ayrault

01-08-2012

Jean-Marc Ayrault et Laurent Fabius ont presente mercredi 25 juillet
en Conseil des ministres un projet de loi gouvernemental qui aura
notamment pour consequence de permettre a la dictature azerbaïdjanaise
d’ouvrir un centre culturel a Paris. Le CCAF s’etonne que ce projet
en souffrance depuis trois ans revete un tel caractère d’urgence pour
le gouvernement francais recemment nomme qu’il ait juge necessaire
de le mettre si vite a l’ordre du jour de ses projets. N’y a-t-il
pas d’autres priorites en France ?

Le CCAF rappelle que l’Azerbaïdjan, dirige d’une main de fer par
la dynastie Aliev, fait partie des Etats les plus denonces par les
organisations de defense des droits de l’homme pour ses pratiques
liberticides, racistes et antidemocratiques. Dans la foulee de la
guerre armenophobe menee contre le Haut-Karabagh, Bakou multiplie
les menaces non seulement contre cette Republique mais egalement
contre les Armeniens du monde entier, que le president Aliev n’a pas
hesite a designer comme les ennemis de son pays dans une allocution
scandaleuse publiee le 16 avril dernier.

Compte tenu de ce contexte particulièrement lourd, qui a valu nombre
d’avertissements internationaux a Bakou, le dernier en date ayant
ete emis par l’ONU qui a condamne sa politique de surarmement,
la precipitation de la France a reveiller ce vieux projet de
centre culturel (ou de propagande ?) et a le presenter parmi les
premières lois de cette nouvelle mandature, ne peut que soulever
l’incomprehension, si ce n’est l’indignation. Rappelons qu’en matière
de culture le gouvernement azerbaïdjanais s’est surtout illustre par la
destruction des 3000 Croix de pierre du cimetière medieval du Djoulfa,
au Nakhitchvan. Un tresor multicentenaire sciemment detruit en 2005
par sa soldatesque, et aujourd’hui a jamais disparu.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : CCAF

ZVARTNOTS A RECU DE NOUVEAUX EQUIPEMENTS
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 2 aout 2012

L’aeroport de Zvartnots a recu des nouveaux equipements techniques
dont deux tapis roulants dans le secteur dela livraison des bagages a
annonce la Commission des Recettes de l’Etat d’Armenie. ” Grâce a cet
equipement technique le processus de servir les passagers est devenu
plus rapide de 50 % et deux nouveaux scanners vont permettre aux agents
des douanes de surveiller les passagers via le système d’inspection
Rapiscan “a declare le Chef de la Douane a Zvartnots Samvel Safaryan.

Les douanes de l’aeroport a recemment recu sept ordinateurs
complementaires et a etendu les lignes des douanes “vertes” et
“rouges”.

De plus, selon Samvel Safaryan la sucursalle bancaire qui s’est ouverte
dans l’aeroport permettra aux clients de faire des paiements en cas
de surcharge de bagages.

Le nouvel equipement permettra de faciliter l’enregistrement des
bagages.

Tous les services des douanes sont disponibles 24 heures sur 24 dans
le secteur des livraison des bagages.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES REFUSE TO GIVE CAPTIVE’S LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

APA, Azerbaijan
Aug 1 2012

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. The representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) refused to give the letters of
Azerbaijani captive held in Armenia to his family, the captive Firuz
Farajov’s family told APA.

Today ICRC representatives met with Farajov’s family and told them
that they brought a letter, but refused to give it.

APA was told at the ICRC Office that the committee has appropriate
working principles and procedures. The procedure of delivering the
letter to the family has not been completed yet.

ICRC representatives visited Azerbaijani soldier Firuz Farajov, who is
held captive in Armenia, on July 31 and gave a “Red Cross” letter to
him from his family and received two “Red Cross” letters from him.

The soldier of the Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Armed Forces Farajov
Firuz Mirza, born in 1992, was captured by the Armenian armed forces
while losing his way in Tovuz region of Azerbaijan near the contact
line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT AZERBAIJANI CAPTIVE IN ARMENIA

APA
Aug 1 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. The representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Azerbaijani captive in
Armenia.

Spokeswoman for the ICRC Office in Azerbaijan Shahla Gahramanova
told APA that ICRC representatives gave a “Red Cross” letter to the
soldier from his family and received two “Red Cross” letters from him.

The soldier of the Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Armed Forces Farajov
Firuz Mirza, born in 1992, was captured by the Armenian armed forces
while losing his way in Tovuz region of Azerbaijan near the contact
line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

Armenian family, which members are Armenian citizens and passed into
Azerbaijani territory in January, 2010, are held in Azerbaijan now.

GEORGIA AND ARMENIA COMPETE FOR BRAND “CRADLE OF WINE”

Vestnik Kavkaza
Aug 1 2012
Russia

The Wine-makers’ Union of Armenia intends to upturn the EU decision
on registration of the brand ‘Georgia is the Cradle of Wine’. At the
moment representatives of the Union are studying the procedure for
sending an appeal.

The chairman of the Wine-makers Union, Avag Arutyunyan, stated that
not only Georgia, but also other countries of the region, first of
all Armenia, can lay claim to the status of “Cradle of Wine.”

According to the head of the academic Institute of Archeology and
Ethnography, Pavel Avetisyan, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and even a part
of Azerbaijan can be considered to be the cradle of wine – in these
countries corresponding archeological materials have been found,
Day.Az Reports.