Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

MUNICIPALITY OF YEREVAN: ARMENIA FALLS BEHIND IN MATTER OF WASTE RECYCLING

arminfo
Friday, July 1, 23:52

Armenia falls behind in the matter of waste recycling, Head of
Development and Investment Programs Department of the Municipality
of Yerevan Eduard Nersisyan said during a TV bridge with his Russian
colleagues.

“The problem of garbage is a priority on the Municipality’s agenda,
which focuses on creation of a waste recycling system in Armenia”,
he said.

According to Nersisyan, the first step for regulation of the garbage
issue was the adoption of new legislation.

“By means of the new law we are going to systematize the garbage
disposal payment, which is subsidized by the Municipality by 40% of
the whole amount because of irregular payments of citizens”, he said.

The Russian colleagues presented the Russian experience for waste
disposal and recycling and discussed the prospects of creation of
new structures regulating the given issue.

To recall, on June 21 the Armenian National Assembly also discussed
the amendments to the Law “On garbage disposal and sanitation service”.

In addition, a tender for creation of a waste recyscling system will
be announced in July. According to the preliminary data, a total
of 16 operators will take part in the tender, and most of them are
representatives of Western and Eastern Europe.

The agreement on cooperation and construction of a waste recycling
plant will be signed in late 2011. There are 250-300 thsd tons of solid
waste in Yerevan, 80% of which is at Nubarashen waste disposal site.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AND WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION TO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

/ARKA/
July 1, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 1. / ARKA /. The Armenian ministry of economy and
the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will sign a memorandum of
understanding in Yerevan on July 5 as part of an initiative to develop
tourism in the South Caucasus.

The press service of the ministry told ARKA that the document will be
signed by economy minister Tigran Davtyan and UNWTO Secretary-General
Taleb Rifai after a planned meeting with representatives of the
Armenian tourism industry. Rifai will be in Armenia from 3 to 6 July
together with the executive director of UNWTO Zoltan Somogyi.

“The main purpose of the memorandum is to build a framework
for cooperation in the South Caucasus. The initiative provides an
opportunity for the parties to promote the best international practices
in tourist centers and clusters, ” said the ministry in a statement.

During the visit UNWTO officials are scheduled to meet with Armenian
president, prime minister, as well as representatives of international
organizations stationed in Armenia.

The UN World Tourism Organization is the leading international
organization in the field of tourism. It has currently 154 member
countries. Armenia joined it in 1997.

From: Baghdasarian

SENSITIVE QUESTIONS WERE ADDRESSED TO FM NALBANDYAN IN GEORGIA

Tert.am
01.07.11

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has been asked sensitive
questions at a meeting with Georgian-Armenians in Tbilisi during his
two-day visit, an activist has said.

Henrikh Muradyan, the head of the Union of Georgian Armenians dismissed
a report by local Armenian daily Haykakan Zhamanak which said that
prior to the meeting there was a request to avoid sensitive issues
while posing questions to Nalbandyan.

“That report is such a lie that we are short of words to express our
resentment,” said he, adding that around 100 Georgian-Armenians from
across Georgia, including Samtskhe-Javakheti, attended the meeting.

“Several questions were raised during the course of the conversion,
including very sensitive ones, without any discrimination,” said
Muradyan.

From: Baghdasarian

NEW OSCE MG SUGGESTIONS UNRELATED TO AZERI OFFERS IN KAZAN, ANALYST SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 1, 2011 – 20:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – New offers to be submitted by OSCE MG co-chairs to
conflicting parties do not refer to Azerbaijan’s suggestions advanced
at Kazan meeting, CIS States Institute’s Yerevan subsidiary director
stated.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, political analyst
Alexander Markarov commented on French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe’s
statement suggesting additional offers to achieve agreement on Karabakh
issue will be submitted to conflicting parties.

“Were the offers coordinated by the co-chairs they would’ve been
included in June 24 negotiation package,” he remarked.

Markarov disagreed with the suggestion that France is attempting to
assume leadership among mediators in Karabakh issue talks. “Although
Russia was the locomotive in the negotiations, the country closely
contacted with the other mediators, always presenting a coordinated
position during talks,” the analyst stressed.

The summit between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kazan on June
24 completed without an agreement on basic principles of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. “The countries’ leaders registered mutual
understanding on a range of problems, the resolution of which boosts
creation of conditions for approving main principles. The meeting
participants considered the course of works carried out with the aim
of coordination of the project with basic principles,” according to
the statement. The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed
gratitude to the Russian, French and U.S. leaders, the OSCE Minsk
group co-chairs, for ‘their constant attention to Nagorno-Karabakh
problem’ and highly praised personal efforts of the Russian President
in support of agreements.

Later on Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian noted that the
June 24 meeting was not a breakthrough, as Azerbaijan proved unready
to accept the final version of the basic principles suggested by the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. Instead, the Azerbaijani leader attempted
to impose 10 new proposals, thus precluding the possibility of any
agreement on the issue,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian

PHILADELPHIA ‘ANI’ ARS HONORS PAST, PROMOTES FUTURE
By Silva Santerian

Fri, Jul 1 2011

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Ani” Chapter hosted a Centennial
Celebration Luncheon on Sun., May 22, at Saint Gregory Armenian
Apostolic Church. The event, which welcomed nearly 200 ARS members,
family, and friends, was held in the newly completed and beautifully
adorned Founders Hall.

A scene from the Centennial Celebration Luncheon.

Photos of past members adorned the entrance to the luncheon, reminding
guests of the ungerouhis who served before. The luncheon was dedicated
to the blessed memory of Virginia Tourigian, a lifelong member of
the ARS.

Shnohik Karakelian, the chairperson of the ARS “Ani” Chapter, welcomed
the audience and remembered the past members of the chapter. Guests
stood as each ungerouhi and unger was remembered. Silva Kouyoumjian,
the chairperson of the Board of Regional Directors, and Caroline
Chamavonian, addressed the crowd as representatives of the Regional
ARS.

Among the guests were Der Nerces and Yr. Nectar Manoogian, as well as
Sister Hripsime Cheftalian of the Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Radnor,
Pa., and Mother General Keshishian of the Sisters of Immaculate
Conception in Rome.

The day was both a tribute to those who have passed as well as a
celebration of new members who were inducted into the chapter at the
luncheon. Current Ani Chapter ungerouhis passed lit candles decorated
with blue ribbons to the new members as they prepared to take their
oath. Fifteen new members became ungerouhis: Ashkhen Setrakian,
Karen Kludjian, Silva Santerian, Nora Babaian, Sossi Avrigian, Nora
Sarkahian, Mari Degirmenci, Verjeen Kazanjian, Haigoush Karakelian,
Nelly Handian, Diane Vosbikian, and Talene Aboshian. Unable to
attend that day were new members Kristen Martha, Dori Keshgegian,
and Zovig Parseghian.

Following a delicious buffet, guests were treated to a spectacular
dance performance by the AghTamar Dance Ensemble. Members of the
ensemble had traveled from New Jersey and wowed the crowd with their
captivating performance. The finale, which featured the entire group
unraveling the Armenian flag, launched all into a flurry of applause
and cheers.

The day was a celebration that honored the past while promoting the
future. The Armenian Relief Society works tirelessly to aid those who
need it most. The organization is exemplary in its relief efforts and,
with the inspiration of those ungerouhis who have passed coupled with
the wisdom and dedication of the current members, there is no doubt
that this wonderful organization will continue to thrive.

From: Baghdasarian

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE “IRAN AND THE CAUCASUS”
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
01.07.2011 16:56

A scientific conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the “Iran
and the Caucasus” periodical was held in Yerevan today. The event
brought together scholars and researchers from different countries
of the world. The periodical is issued twice a year.

According to Professor James Russell, head of the Armenian Studies
Chair at the Harvard University, the periodical provides an opportunity
to scholars to present new approaches.

“The periodical presents Armenia’s achievements. It was first issued,
when Armenia was in a hard transit period. I think the scientific
works it presents will contribute to the disclosure of Azerbaijani
lies and present the truth,”

“Iran neighbors Armenia and Azerbaijan, and has always been trying to
act as a mediator in the Karabakh settlement process, but all efforts
have failed,” Professor of Political Science at the London University,
Iranian diplomat Ali Granmaieh said in an interview with Radiolur. He
has arrived in Armenia to participate in the conference.

Azerbaijan does not agree to Iran’s mediating efforts, since it
considers that Karabakh is one of the provinces of Azerbaijan without
taking into consideration the opinion of the people living there,
he said.

The Iranian Embassy issued a statement recently, where it declared
the unacceptability of the possible deployment of NATO forces in the
liberated territories. Can Iran play any role in the settlement of
the Karabakh issue? Ali Granmaieh said “Iran has good relations with
Russia and the position of official Tehran does not differ from that of
Moscow. However, the same cannot be said about Iran-Turkey relations.”

Head of the Iranian Studies Chair at the Yerevan State University
Garnik Asatryan also attached importance to the role of Iran in the
Karabakh settlement process. “It’s only important for the interests
to overlap,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

SAFE MEAT: CONSUMERS’ PROTECTION UNION CALLS ON GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSMEN TO BUILD MODERN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

ArmeniaNow
01.07.11 | 14:06

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Consumer Rights Protection NGO expert Victor Abrahamyan considers it
very alarming that the slaughter of animals in Armenia customarily
takes place in ‘yard conditions’ and not at special slaughter-houses
as it was the case during Soviet times.

“Yard slaughter is fraught with the danger of spreading various
infections,” Abrahamyan stressed at a press conference on Friday,
adding that animal slaughter is mainly carried out without professional
supervision, in unsanitary conditions.

The expert says that slaughterhouses need to be established so that
the slaughter of animals be not only safe, but also profitable, since,
as he put it, “in slaughterhouses only animals’ mooing and bellowing
is lost.”

“During slaughter in yard conditions the slaughtered animal’s
intestines are thrown to dogs, while useful things can be made of
it, such as insulin from animal pancreas, and in [house conditions]
it is not used,” said Abrahamyan.

The Consumers Rights Protection NGO, aiming to improve the meat and
meat products safety situation in Armenia, has launched a multimedia
campaign as part of the “Support for the Development of Slaughterhouses
in Armenia” program, which is being implemented with the assistance
of the Ministry of Agriculture and the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization and with the funding of the Greek government.

Abrahamyan urged businesspeople to build slaughterhouses, saying that
it will cost 30,000-50,000 to build a slaughterhouse, while under
the program a businessman will get equipment for the facility free
of charge.

Besides the problem of the absence of slaughterhouses, specialists
single out the issue of unhygienic transportation and sale of meat
and meat products and a faulty application of the legislation in
this regard. Selling meat without refrigeration for the first time
is penalized with a fine of up to 50,000 drams (about $135), while a
repeat offense entails a fine of up to 300,000 drams (more than $800).

From: Baghdasarian

TOP BLACK SEA LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR GREEN ECONOMY

Source: Xinhua
July 01, 2011

Parliamentary leaders from countries along Black Sea coasts met in
the Ukrainian capital Thursday to discuss ways to propel the region’s
transition to green economy via legislative support.

The use of genetically modified organisms, the role of parliaments
in scientific, technological progress, and common sanitary standards
are also on the agenda of the event, known as the 44th meeting of
the Parliamentary Assembly of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).

Addressing the meeting’s opening session, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker
and PABSEC ‘s rotating chair Volodymyr Lytvyn said he hopes the event
would help consolidate the dynamics of inter-parliamentary cooperation
in the region.

Participants are expected to elect the organization’s vice president
and the secretariat at the meeting that would run through Saturday,
when Ukraine will hand over the PABSEC chairmanship to Albania.

PABSEC comprises the parliaments of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey
and Ukraine.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MINISTER, US OFFICIAL DISCUSS MILITARY TIES, KARABAKH

Mediamax
June 27 2011
Armenia

Yerevan, 27 June: Armenian Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan discussed
today Armenian-American military cooperation issues with US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander, who has arrived
in Yerevan.

The sides noted with pleasure that Armenian-American military
cooperation successfully develops both in bilateral format and within
the framework of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Noting importance of Armenia’s participation in international
peacekeeping operations, Celeste Wallander highly appreciated the
mission of Armenian peacekeepers in Afghanistan, as well as Armenia’s
readiness to participate in Afghan security forces’ training and
retraining works.

She assured that the USA will continue supporting Armenia’s efforts
on peacekeeping, military education and defence reforms.

Seyran Ohanyan thanked Celeste Wallander for the expert assistance,
rendered by the USA for Armenia’s Strategic Defence Review.

During the meeting they also exchanged opinions concerning issues
of regional security and the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. The Armenian
minister of defence noted that Armenia, which supports settlement of
the Karabakh issue peacefully, strictly observes the cease-fire.

Seyran Ohanyan expressed concern also concerning the fact that the
Azerbaijani side does not demonstrate the same readiness as to the
issue of observing the cease-fire, as a result of which cases of
cease-fire violation are regularly registered.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA DENIES SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN STATE BID

Mediamax
June 29 2011
Armenia

Yerevan, 29 June: Palestine expects that Armenia will be the first
to recognize its independence.

Mediamax reports referring to AFP that senior representative of the
Palestinian Administration Nabil Shaath, who visited Yerevan recently,
said this.

“We have information that at least 24 countries have decided to
recognize us before September,” senior Palestinian official Nabil
Shaath told reporters, adding that Armenia may become the first
among them.

A diplomatic source of Mediamax strongly refuted the statement of
the Palestinian representative today.

“There was no agreement on recognition of the Palestinian state’s
independence by Armenia reached during Nabil Shaath’s visit to
Yerevan,” the source emphasized.

From: Baghdasarian