Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

YEREVAN HOSTS ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CONFERENCE

news.am
March 30, 2012 | 11:38

YEREVAN. – The fourth conference of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Armenian
National Committee (ANC) kicked off in Armenia’s capital Yerevan.

The event has brought together members from more than 25 ANC
committees, with close to sixty participants from numerous countries.

The discussants will examine ANC activities carried out ever since
its last conference in 2010, and its next two-year activity plan.

From: Baghdasarian

MATTHEW BRYZA: “SOME PEOPLE WERE DISPLEASED THAT MY WIFE IS FROM TURKEY”

APA
March 28 2012
Azerbaijan

“I miss Azerbaijan very much”

Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. “Azerbaijan is a dear country
for me. I miss Azerbaijan very much”, said former US ambassador to
Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza, APA bureau in Georgia reports. “I send my
best wishes to Azerbaijani people on the occasion of Novruz Holiday. I
love all of you. We saddened while leaving Azerbaijan”.

Bryza said he and his wife are living in Istanbul and he is working
in different business fields.

The former ambassador spoke about his failure to be nominated again
for the ambassador. “This is politics and is unavoidable in America
because of democracy. I was not surprised. All of these reflect the
freedom of speech. One organization was against me because my wife was
born in Istanbul, Turkey. President Obama appointed me to the post
of ambassador to Azerbaijan for a year despite the pressure by the
Senate members. I am grateful to him. This year was very interesting
and meaningful for me. My family liked Azerbaijan. I did much work
for Armenia too. But some people were displeased that my wife is
from Turkey and therefore some groups in the United States prevented
my appointment”.

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERT: SEISMIC RESISTANCE STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION NOT OBSERVED IN SEISMIC ZONES IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Wednesday, March 28, 16:30

Armenia is situated in a highly seismic zone and quakes are quite
frequent here. Therefore, the country must implement construction
projects meeting the seismic resistance standards, Gurgen Namalyan,
representative of the Armenian Emergency Situations Ministry
Center for Seismic Resistant Construction, said at the TV Bridge
Yerevan-Moscow-Astana-Kishinev on March 28.

“Unfortunately, seismic resistance standards of construction not
observed in seismic zones in Armenia. These standards require more
area between buildings with wide streets and playgrounds, which would
reduce risks in case of earthquakes,” Namalyan said.

He said that a very big number of buildings in Armenia do not meet
seismic resistance standards and the major task of the authorities,
in this context, to fortify those buildings, which will cost tangible
funds to the country’s budget. Nevertheless, he said, it is necessary
to continue the necessary measures to bring those buildings in line
with seismic resistance standards and cooperate with the countries
having relevant experience.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS PREFER TO ADOPT INFANT BOYS

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 28, 2012
GYUMRI

Gyumry, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. The child adoption process has reduced in
Shirak region. Shirak Regional Administration Council”s Family, Women
and Children Rights department head Lusine Ginosyan told Armenpress
journalist in Shirak region that in 2011 21 children, registered by
the department, were subject to adoption; whereas this year only 3
children are registered. These are mostly children with disabilities.

“”Armenian parents more prefer to adopt infant, healthy boys. We
have cases where the family adopted a child with disabilities””
stated Ginosyan.

“”The measures are taken to import a foster family institute to Shirak
region. Last year one family was registered as a foster. Though the
latter has not yet adopted a child.

But the lack of foster family is complemented by guardianship;
phenomenon most genuine to our nation, where the child is taken care
by his or her relatives, grows up in the family ,does not live in
a specialized institution .The number of those children are large””
Ginosyan added.

From: Baghdasarian

MONNAYAGE DE SOUVERAINETE A TUVALU
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 29 mars 2012

L’archipel de Tuvalu, dans l’ocean Pacifique. Credits : AFP/TORSTEN
BLACKWOOD Pas sûr que la diaspora armenienne soit très importante dans
l’Etat du Tuvalu, petit archipel au c~ur de l’ocean Pacifique grand
de 26 km² et peuple d’environ 11 000 habitants (selon les chiffres
de l’ONU en 2010). Pourtant, ce mois, les autorites du pays viennent
d’etablir des relations diplomatiques avec Erevan. Une decision qui
s’est accompagnee de la reconnaissance par l’archipel de la Republique
autoproclamee du Haut-Karabakh, une region de Transcaucasie source
de tensions entre l’Armenie et son voisin l’Azerbaïdjan. La suite
sur bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr

From: Baghdasarian

UN MEMBRE DE L’OPPOSITION NE SERA PAS AUTORISE A SE PRESENTER AUX ELECTIONS DU 6 MAI
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 29 mars 2012

Les responsables des elections dans une circonscription a Erevan ont
decide mercredi 28 mars 2012 de disqualifier un membre eminent de
l’opposition pour les elections du 6 mai. Le millionaire Khachatur
Sukiasian, qui est affilie au principal parti d’opposition, le Congrès
national armenien (HAK), a prevu de se presenter aux elections du 6
mai dans une circonscription du centre d’Erevan où il a longtemps ete
represente a l’Assemblee. Toutefois, la police armenienne a refuse de
certifier qu’il a reside en permanence dans le pays ces cinq dernières
annees pour etre autorise a participer aux elections.

Le magnat a fui, comme Ter-Petrossian, le pays en mars 2008 pour
echapper a l’arrestation a la suite des affrontements post-electoraux.

Il est retourne en Armenie en 2009 pour faire face a des accusations
criminelles. Son avocat Ara Zohrabian a souleve des objections a
la decision de la commission electorale de district, en disant que
la periode de 10 mois au cours de laquelle son client etait hors de
l’Armenie constitue moins d’un cinquième de l’ensemble de la periode
durant laquelle il etait en Armenie. La loi exige que le candidat
doit resider dans le pays pour une periode minimale de 5 ans. Il a
affirme que Sukiasian ferait appel dans un tribunal administratif.

Plus tôt, le HAK a denonce l’action de la police et a conteste en
incluant Sukiasian sur sa liste proportionnelle. Son frère cadet,
Saribek, avait egalement ete nomine dans la circonscription uninominale
N10.

Levon Zurabian a confirme au service de RFE / RL que l’opposition
soutiendra la candidature de Saribek Sukiasian.

From: Baghdasarian

SEOUL SUMMIT DISCUSSES NUCLEAR THREATS

Vestnik Kavkaza
March 28 2012
Armenia

The world summit on nuclear security has ended in Seoul. All states
developing nuclear technologies took part. North Korea and Iran were
not invited, which is a signal that the talks concerned them.

Experts have called the final statement unclear. It contains urges to
ban highly enriched nuclear fuel. Third world states were recommended
to export only light-water reactors.

The idea would prevent terrorists from using nuclear materials. Iran
enriches uranium to 19.75%, while light-water reactors enrich it to
2-5%. The Armenian nuclear power plant was also touched upon.

Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Russian Center for Socio-Political
Studies, told Vestnik Kavkaza that there was no direct relation
of talks to the Caucasus. Discussions concerned security of nuclear
materials. Armenia is a Caucasus state with a nuclear power plant. But
it is unclear where the nuclear fuel is disposed.

The expert noted that the power plant has reliable water-cooled energy
blocks VVER-440. But seismological security there is low.

Vladimir Yevseyev noted that the power plant’s automatic shutdown
system worked perfectly during the earthquake in Spitak. Yet, the
staff just ran out of the power plant, abandoning it. Staff from the
Kolsk power plant was moved there urgently. The problem is that the
reactor still produces about 15 MW when shut down. It may explosde
unless it is cooled.

Armenia has a nuclear power plant in Metsamor about 20-30 km south
of Yerevan and 16 km away from the Turkish border. It was built in
1976 and has only one energy block producing 407.5 MW.

Armenia is trying to convince the world that the power plant is
secure. National Geographic published an article stating that the
plant’s design and lifepsna make it the most dangerous nuclear facility
in the world.

Metsamor became a topical problem after the Fukushima disaster in
Japan. Armenia insists that adjustments made in the last 15 years
improve its security. However, the IAEA states that the power plant
does not meet international norms. Its VVER-440 C systems are similar
to the ones in Chernobyl. The Eu has not convinced Armenia to close
the facility. The European Union offered 59 million euro to shut it
down. It offers 200 million euro more to seal the place.

From: Baghdasarian

IFC PARTNERS WITH BYBLOS BANK ARMENIA

CPI Financial

March 28 2012

IFC has teamed up with Byblos Bank Armenia to expand mortgage lending
and develop a market for residential energy efficiency finance in
Armenia, a country without fossil energy resources, helping save
energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

IFC will provide a $10 million loan to Byblos Bank Armenia to offer
its clients access to housing finance. With advisory support from
the IFC Armenia Sustainable Energy Finance Project, the bank will use
part of the loan to offer its clients the first-ever energy efficiency
lending package in housing sector offered by local bank in Armenia,
which is in high demand in the country due to high energy costs.

IFC has regional expertise in helping financial institutions expand
their residential energy efficiency portfolios, and will provide
training for Byblos Bank Armenia credit officers and risk specialists
to educate them in assessing risks and processing energy efficiency
loan applications.

“While new homes can be designed from the ground up with energy
efficiency in mind, existing homes offer many opportunities for
improvement. By promoting energy efficiency and energy efficient
lending products, we can help homeowners in Armenia to reduce their
annual energy bills, conduct a more environment friendly lifestyle,
and improve the health, comfort, safety of their homes and. This
is the first funding of this nature in Armenia, hence it is equally
important to our customers as well as to Byblos Bank Armenia,” said
Ararat Ghukasyan, Chief Executive Officer of Byblos Bank Armenia.

Tomasz Telma, IFC Director for Europe and Central Asia, said, “Our
strategy in Armenia is to increase access to finance, including energy
efficiency finance, and to encourage sustainable economic growth,
support job creation, and diversify the country’s economic base. By
working with financial intermediaries, like Byblos Bank Armenia, we
can achieve significant development impact in a country which relies
heavily on imported fuel.”

Byblos Bank Armenia is committed to the development of Armenia. Its
lending strategy aims at offering innovative products and services
that contribute to building a solid economy and deliver on long-term
sustainability goals. The bank is establishing business partnerships
with local and international institutions to support its efforts and
cater to the needs of an ever-growing clientele.

Since Armenia became a member of IFC in 1995, IFC has invested
$168 million in 34 projects across the industry spectrum, including
financial markets, manufacturing, and mining. IFC Advisory Services
also provides advice through projects focusing on the financial sector,
sustainable energy, and regulatory simplification.

IFC Armenia Sustainable Energy Finance Project is being implemented
in partnership with the Austrian Ministry of Finance.

From: Baghdasarian

EVERYONE IS INTERESTED IN OSCE MG, DESPITE CRITICISM

Vestnik Kavkaza
March 28 2012
Russia

Foreign ministers of co-chair states of the OSCE Minsk Group call for
political will to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.

Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich called
the work of OSCE MG intensive and well-organized. He reminded about
the need for intensified talks stated by the trilateral meeting of
Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Sochi in January.

Andrey Areshev, Deputy Director General of the Fund for Strategic
Culture, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the OSCE MG is a good platform
for global players in South Caucasus. The expert noted that the
organization was especially efficient in the 1990s when Russia was
represented by Vladimir Kazimirov.

Everyone is interested in the OSCE Minsk Group, despite its criticism.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is hard to solve and has many layers.

There are controversies. On the one hand, they lay between the sides
of conflict. On the other hand, there are regional interests. Support
mainly comes from allies. Azerbaijan will purchase equipment worth
$2 billion from Israel.

Andrey Areshev stressed that the Minsk Group failed to achieve the
main goal to gain trust of the sides of conflict.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS PRINTED THE FIRST PAPER AND FOUNDED THE FIRST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE

ARMRADIO.AM
28.03.2012 16:41

Within the framework of the visit to Singapore Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with Singapore’s President Tony Tan
Keng Yam. The interlocutors discussed the cooperation between the two
countries in different spheres and the perspectives of intensification
of the political dialogue.

According to the President of Singapore, although the two countries
established diplomatic relations 20 years ago, the Armenian-Singaporean
ties have a history of more than 150 years: Armenians printed the
first newspaper in Singapore and founded the first Christian church.

Serzh Sargsyan said “Singapore is a successful example of rapidly
developed state for many countries, including Armenia.

The two Presidents spoke about the cooperation in the fields of
education, science, civil service, as well as the application of
Singapore’s experience in Armenia.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the parties
referred to the reinforcement of bilateral economic ties.

According to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, small countries do
not decide the orbit of international relations, but follow the
international rules. He is convinced that the size of the country
cannot be an obstacle for development.

The Armenian President met with representatives of the most influential
corporations and businesses of Singapore. The perspectives of making
investments in Armenia were discussed. The Singaporean businessmen
are particularly interested in cooperation with Armenia in the fields
of information technologies, telecommunication, healthcare, urban
development, construction of HPPs and water resource management.

Armenian businessmen will visit Singapore in the near future to turn
the intentions into more concrete programs.

From: Baghdasarian