Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

OSCE KARABAKH GROUP URGES AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA TO PREVENT ESCALATION OF TENSIONS

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Nov 12 2014

World
November 12, 22:24 UTC+3 VIENNA This is said in a statement the
organization has published at its official website in the wake of
destruction of an Armenian military helicopter in Nagorny Karabakh

VIENNA, November 12. /TASS/. Co-chairpersons of the Minsk group for
peace settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, which includes
representatives of Russia, France and the U.S. and reports to the
European security organization OSCE, have called on Azerbaijan and
Armenia to take urgent steps for preventing an escalation of tensions
in the region.

This is said in a statement the organization has published at its
official website in the wake of destruction of an Armenian military
helicopter in Nagorny Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan with the
predominantly ethnic Armenian population and staying de facto under
Armenia’s control sing the early 1990’s.

“The Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian
Federation, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu
of France) express our very serious concern about the downing of
a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence. We
regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families,”
the statement says.

“The Co-Chairs are deeply worried by the events that prompted this
drastic incident, the first of its kind since the ceasefire agreement
was reached,” the ambassadors say. “We strongly appeal to the sides
to avoid steps that would escalate tension along the Line of Contact
and Armenia-Azerbaijan border.”

They go on to say that region cannot afford another round of violence
like the one that they witnessed this summer.

“Today’s events remind us of the volatility of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and the urgency to intensify efforts to find a lasting
settlement. We remain resolved to assist the sides in any way
possible,” the statement says.

“We remind the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their
responsibilities to respect the ceasefire and honour the commitments
they made in Sochi, Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution
to the conflict,” the ambassadors indicate. ”

“We also encourage them to adopt confidence-building measures now
that would increase transparency along the Line of Contact and the
Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and reduce the likelihood of events like
today’s incident,” they say.

From: Baghdasarian

MONTHLY INDEX SIGNALS SOME REACCELERATION OF ARMENIAN GROWTH IN SEPTEMBER, BUT RISKS TO REMITTANCES CLOUD OUTLOOK

IHS Global Insight
November 11, 2014

by Venla Sipila

The latest indicator of economic activity published by Armenia’s
National Statistical Service puts expansion in September at 5.1% year
on year (y/y), following growth of 4.2% y/y in August and 7.2% y/y in
July. Cumulative growth since the beginning of the year was reported
at 4.3%. The Statistical Service also reported that agricultural
output in September increased by an accelerated rate of 11.7% y/y,
and climbed by 6.9% during the January-September period. Meanwhile,
the volume of industrial output in September recovered to show growth
of 7.5% y/y, but the weakness seen earlier in the year, especially in
the first quarter, left the cumulative expansion over the first three
quarters of the year at just 1.7%. On the other hand, construction
activity in September collapsed by 13% y/y, resulting in a cumulative
fall of 2.4% over the year so far.

Furthermore, it was reported that the volume of domestic trade
turnover in September rose by 2.4% y/y, and increased by 5.2%
during January-September. Finally, other services in September held
on to their double-digit growth seen during the third quarter,
as the September increase of 10.8% y/y brought the cumulative
January-September gain to 6.8%. Meanwhile, as reported by Interfax,
the Armenian finance ministry has lowered its growth forecast for this
year to 3%, significantly down from the previous projection of 5.2%.

The key driver of the forecast downgrade was the negative impact on
Armenia from the Russian economic struggles. First Deputy Finance
Minister Pavel Safaryan noted that weaker inflows of workers’
remittances have a negative impact on domestic consumption in Armenia.

In 2013, the Armenian economy expanded by 3.5%, while the latest
quarterly national accounts data had put second-quarter growth
in 2014 at 2.3% y/y, following a gain of 3.1% the previous quarter
(seeArmenia: 4 September 2014:Armenian Q2 growth suppressed by weakness
of construction sector as outlook is uncertain).

Significance:IHS has in recent months observed an increasing risk of
lower economic growth in Armenia, mainly due to the weaker outlook
for important workers’ remittances from Russia, as also highlighted
by the finance ministry. Our latest GDP growth forecast for Armenia
in 2014 stand at around 4%, but downward risks to this outlook have
most recently increased. The construction sector still continues
performing very weakly. Even more importantly, the deteriorated
outlook for remittance inflows, by its negative impact on household
incomes, particularly clearly darkens the projections for domestic
trade and other services, which in recent data are among the best
performing sectors.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Facebook

November 11, 2014

AUA Receives $566,500 from ASHA to Establish an Innovation & Technology
Incubation Center

YEREVAN, Armenia – The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to
announce the receipt of a $566,500 grant from the American Schools and
Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) to create, furnish, and equip an Innovation &
Technology Incubation Center, which aims to empower students to create,
collaborate, and venture beyond the demands of their degree program
requirements.

The Innovation & Technology Incubation Center will coalesce existing
activity in entrepreneurship and innovation at AUA in a synergistic locale
where student team work, creativity, and innovative technologies come
together to foster new ventures and partnerships. It uses the
American-style entrepreneurial spirit of openness and sharing of
information to create potential for new enterprises that will contribute to
both the local and global economy and employ the young business leaders of
the future.

The facilities will include rooms dedicated for technology incubation,
computers, and other infrastructural equipment to support business
development activities. There will also be showrooms and shared-space
meeting rooms to encourage interaction, multidisciplinary collaboration,
and the exchange of ideas with internal as well as external stakeholders.
The goal is to foster closer linkages between academia and industry.

The 4-year project is estimated to be completed by September 30, 2018. AUA
President Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian says, “We are grateful to the U.S.
Government and its ASHA program for continued support of our university.
This grant will enable us to create a space, where students, faculty and
researchers from different programs will come together to innovate and
implement ideas, some of which hopefully will spin-off as start-ups in
technology, green engineering and business.”

AUA has been receiving support from ASHA for many years, with past projects
including the renovation and expansion of the university library and
cafeteria, as well as active projects such as the creation of integrated
technology classrooms, the replacement of university elevators, and the
creation of a Student Services/Student Excellence Center.

ASHA provides assistance to schools, libraries, and medical centers outside
the United States that serve as study and demonstration centers for
American ideas and practices. ASHA’s grants help these institutions train
future leaders in a wide variety of disciplines, support local and regional
infrastructure to foster development, and cultivate positive relationships
and mutual understanding among citizens of the United States and other
nations.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic
values.

From: Baghdasarian

A BOTANIST, “AS A RESULT OF DEEP PRUNING TREES GET DISEASED AND DON’T GROW WELL” (PHOTOS)

16:33 November 10, 2014

EcoLur

“As a result of deep pruning trees get diseased and don’t grow
well”, Eleonora Gabrielyan, President of Armenian Botanical Society,
Professor, called an alarm to EcoLur. “Trees don’t need deep pruning”.

Reminder: since November 1 tree pruning has begun in Yerevan.

Speaking about planes Eleonora Gabrielyan said, “Plane is our
indigenous species, it is used to the local climate, why do they spoil
those trees every time? In Kapan very good planes are grown, they can
be brought and planted instead of those flowers, and otherwise they
spend money in vain. Eleonora Gabrielyan presented this suggestion
to Yerevan Municipality.

From: Baghdasarian

NKR PRESIDENT FOLLOWS JOINT MILITARY DRILLS OF ARMENIA, ARTSAKH ARMED FORCES

13:27, 11 Nov 2014

On 11 November Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the
central control center of the “Unity-2014” joint operative-tactical
military exercises of the NKR and the Republic of Armenia armed forces,
NKR President’s Press Office reports.

Supreme Commander-in-Chief inspected the process of military exercises,
gave appropriate instructions and visited dislocation sites of a
number of military units partaking in the exercises.

The President underlined the significance of such large-scale military
drills from the viewpoints of continuously enhancing combat capacity
of the Armenian armed forces and maintaining stability and peace in
the region.

From: Baghdasarian

REVUE DE LA PRESSE AZERBAIDJANAISE DU 26 AU 31 OCTOBRE 2014

AZERBAIDJAN

Image de la France

Le president azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliev et son homologue
francais Francois Hollande se sont entretenus le 27 octobre au
Palais de l’Elysee a Paris, tient une bonne place dans la presse
azerbaïdjanaise. Selon la presse officielle, lors de l’entretien
bilateral entre les deux presidents, l’accent a ete mis sur le
developpement des relations bilaterales dans de nombreux domaines. Les
echanges de vues auraient egalement porte sur l’etat des negociations
au sujet du conflit armeno-azerbaïdjanais du Haut-Karabakh, sur un
règlement equitable conforme aux normes du droit international et aux
instruments adoptes jusqu’a ce jour. Le fait que le statu quo n’etait
plus tenable est egalement mentionne par les medias. Khalg gazeti ,
Azerbaycan , Bakinski Rabotchi.

L’ensemble de la presse locale reprend le communique de presse de
l’Elysee. Les journaux azerbaïdjanais font etat des retours positifs
de la partie armenienne concernant ce sommet et annoncent que la
prochaine rencontre armeno-azerbaidjanaise au niveau des chefs d’Etat
aura lieu en septembre 2015 a New York. Dans un article intitule, >, le
journal Eskpress reprend la declaration de Fikrat Sadykhov, professeur
a l’Universite occidentale, selon laquelle, ce sommet a ete positif,
car il a permis a Bakou d’afficher a nouveau sa determination a trouver
un règlement pacifique au conflit. Bizim Yol publie les propos du
politologue Zardusht Alizade, selon lesquels c’est la Russie qui
contrôle ce conflit et aucun changement n’est possible sans son appui.

Les journaux d’opposition mentionnent que le President Aliyev aurait
promis a son homologue francais d’etudier le dossier de Leyla Yunus.

Ekspress, Yeni Musavat et Ekho reviennent encore sur le Sommet de
Paris. 30.10.2014

.

Azadlig et Yeni Musavat reprennent une publication du journal Le
Monde la rencontre du president Aliyev avec le president Sarkissyan.

31.10.2014

Le journal Azadlyg du 28 octobre publie la lettre de Reporters sans
Frontières au President Hollande a l’occasion de la visite du President
Aliyev a Paris, s’intitulant : >

Relations internationales

La presse officielle du 27 octobre couvre la tenue de la conference
internationale qui s’est tenue a Bakou sur >, ainsi que l’entretien
du president Ilham Aliyev avec Dean Spielmann, president de la Cour
europeenne des droits de l’homme, au cours duquel Spielmann a souligne
l’importance de cette conference. Le president Aliyev a insiste
sur la cooperation de son pays avec tous les organismes competents
du Conseil de l’Europe, notamment pendant sa presidence du Comite
des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe. Bizim yol consacre sa Une a
l’altercation entre le president de la Cour europeenne des droits de
l’homme et Ramiz Rzayev, president de la Cour Supreme d’Azerbaïdjan,
alors que ce dernier accusait la Cour europeenne de doubles standards
quant au traitement des dossiers relatifs aux refugies azerbaïdjanais.

La presse officielle et independante couvre la tenue du Premier Forum
mondial de la Jeunesse a Bakou. Les ministres et les vice-ministres
d’une soixantaine des pays y ont participe. L’objectif principal de ce
Forum etait de reflechir a de nouvelles orientations de la politique
de la jeunesse et de favoriser les echanges entre les delegations des
differents pays participants. M. Ahmad Alhendawi, envoye special du
Secretaire general des Nations-Unis pour la politique de la jeunesse,
a prononce un discours d’ouverture. Bakinski rabotchi mentionne un
message du president Ilham Aliyev adresse aux participants de ce
forum ainsi que les propos prononces par le ministre azerbaïdjanais
de la Jeunesse et du Sport, Azad Rahimov, selon lesquels il existe
plusieurs programmes relatifs a la jeunesse en Azerbaïdjan et que le
pays accorde une grande importance au developpement du capital humain.

29.10.2014

Azadlig du 25-26 octobre reprend la declaration de Nils Mujniekes,
commissaire des droits de l’homme du Conseil de l’Europe, selon
laquelle l’Azerbaïdjan doit mettre fin aux poursuites judiciaires
contre les defenseurs des droits de l’homme. Le commissaire a visite
dans la prison de Kurdakhani Anar Mammadli, Leyla Yunus, Rasoul
Jafarov et Intiqam Aliyev.

Politique interieure

La periode de la detention provisoire de Leyla Yunus, directrice de
l’institut pour la Paix et la Democratie, a ete prolongee jusqu’au
28 fevrier 2015, et celle d’Intiqam Aliyev, defenseur des droits de
l’homme, jusqu’au 8 fevrier 2015. Bizim yol. 25.10.25014

La presse d’opposition rend compte de l’arrestation de Khalid Garayev,
journaliste d’Azadlig et collaborateur de l’emission > (Heure de l’Azerbaïdjan ), membre du parti du Front populaire.

Il est accuse de hooliganisme. 31.10.2014

Relations armeno-azerbaidjanaises

À Khankendi, un faux > sur deux otages civils
azerbaïdjanais, Dilgam Askerov et Shahbaz Gouliyev, a ete entame,
informent Bizim yol, Ekspress, 525-ci gazet. Ils sont accuses
d’avoir passe illegalement les frontières et mene des activites de
renseignement au profit de l’Azerbaïdjan.

Bizim Yol note que le procès a commence le 27 octobre et y voit
l’intervention directe de Moscou destinee a porter prejudice aux
travaux prevus durant le sommet de Paris.

Ambassade de France a Bakou

mardi 11 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

> : > a l’occasion de la remise de
la Medaille d’Or du ministère de la Diaspora, vendredi 14 decembre par
Viguen Tchitetchian, l’Ambassadeur d’Armenie en France. La ceremonie
se deroulant l’Hôtel de Ville a 18h30 en presence de très nombreux
invites.

Ci-dessous l’article du > :

>. S’il semble avoir accueilli la nouvelle avec
detachement, Krikor Amirzayan n’a pas autant pas boude son plaisir
en apprenant que la medaille d’or de la diaspora venait de lui
etre accordee par le president armenien Serge Sarkissian. Huit mois
après Henri Siranyan, la communaute valentinoise voit donc l’un des
siens une nouvelle fois recompense pour ses , aux côtes du regrette
Charles Dziranian, et, aujourd’hui l’Acfoa (Anciens combattants
francais d’origine armenienne), le collectif >
et, surtout, sa chère >, qui vient de feter son vingtième
anniversaire. Avec toujours pour fil conducteur la promotion et la
defense de la memoire de l’Armenie.

Inlassable communicant

Cet engagement certes proteiforme, mais neanmoins constant, Krikor
Amirzayan le cultive egalement dans les colonnes d’une foule de
publications. De chroniques en commentaires, d’echos en caricatures,
une quarantaine de journaux et magazines d’Armenie et de diaspora,
sans oublier le site >, accueillent ainsi la plume et
les dessins sans concessions de ce boulimique d’infos, inlassable
communicant, incollable sur l’actualite armenienne comme sur son
histoire, et auteur de deux recueils de caricatures .

From: Baghdasarian

DES MILITANTS ARMENIENS DENONCENT DES DETENTIONS >

ARMENIE

Les militants civils qui ont ete brièvement detenus par la police lors
d’une manifestation mercredi soir a Erevan ont decrit les actions de
la police comme >.

Neuf militants portant des masques > ont ete emmenes au
poste de police pour avoir participe a une soi-disant demonstration
anonyme en soutien au leader de l’opposition radicale emprisonne
Shant Harutiunian et de ses partisans.

Dvin Isanian, l’un des activistes qui a ete maintenu dans les locaux de
la police pendant deux heures avant d’etre libere, a declare au service
armenien de RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am) qu’ils ont uniquement participe
a un flash mob qui n’a pas trouble l’ordre public de quelque manière
. “Je leur ai demande de presenter une demande legitime, après quoi
je me suis dirige de moi-meme vers [le poste de police]. Mais ils
ont commence a me glisser dans un vehicule … Comme je refusais de
monter dans la voiture, ils m’ont mis des menottes et m’ont force a
monter dans la voiture >> a declare le militant.

D’autres militants detenus ont egalement declare que les policiers
ont utilise la force contre eux, sans expliquer les raisons de leur
detention. Ils ont affirme qu’ils etaient detenus essentiellement
pour avoir porte des masques.

Lors de la manifestation le colonel Valeri Osipian, qui etait en
charge du maintien de l’ordre public, a ete entendu comme donnant
des ordres a des officiers de police afin d’arreter les personnes
masquees. Mais plus tard, le service de presse de la police a declare
que les militants ont ete arretes pour avoir
From: Baghdasarian

HRAPARAK: OPPOSITION RALLIES ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE

12:55 11/11/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Citing its sources, Hraparak writes about a serious disagreement
over the political tactics between Prosperous Armenia Party leader
Gagik Tsarukyan and Armenian National Congress (ANC) leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

According to the newspaper, when Tsarukyan informed Ter-Petrosyan that
no rallies would be held until February, the latter did not like the
idea. Yet the problem is related not only to reaching an agreement with
the authorities, but also to the fact that rallies are quite expensive.

“An ANC member told us that the cost of transporting a rally
participant from a province to the capital city is 10,000-12,000
drams, which is an astronomical sum in case of many people,” the
newspaper says.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN PROMET DES SOLUTIONS AUX PROBLÈMES SOULEVES DES CONDUCTEURS HANDICAPES

ARMENIE

Le Premier ministre armenien Hovik Abrahamyan a recu un groupe de
conducteurs handicapes.

Selon le service de presse du gouvernement, le chef du gouvernement a
ecoute leurs preoccupations et a promis de discuter et d’essayer de
trouver des solutions appropriees aux problèmes qu’ils ont souleve
dans le cadre de la loi.

Les conducteurs exigent que leur ancien employeur paie des
compensations pour les maladies professionnelles acquises au cours de
leur travail. Ils disent que l’encours de la dette de compensation
depuis 2006 est de 570 millions de drams (1,4 millions de dollars
environ).

lundi 10 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian