Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 30. / ARKA /. A strategy designed jointly by Armenia’s
ministry of agriculture and OXFAM Armenia for the agricultural
development in 2015-2025 will enhance the food security of the country,
a deputy minister of agriculture Armen Harutyunyan said today.

Speaking at the presentation of the draft strategy today he said its
goal is to create favorable conditions for agricultural producers,
to help modernize this sector and raise the level of food security.

According to him, the paper presents the current state of agricultural
challenges, a common vision of the sector, as well as new approaches
regarding development of agricultural cooperatives and consolidation
of farms.

He said the draft strategy pays a special attention to reducing
the risks in this sector, introduction of related insurance and
better lending terms. He said the draft strategy that also rules out
gender-based discrimination in agriculture, will be sent soon to the
consideration by relevant state agencies.

Head of Oxfam Armenia Margarita Hakobyan said the draft strategy was
developed as part of the European Union’s program on improving the
food security in the South Caucasus region. It is a four-year program
that started in 2013 embracing Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.-0-

From: Baghdasarian

LECTURE IN LEBANON ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

13:14, 30 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On March 26, lecture on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
was held at Issam Fares Institute of the American University of
Beirut on the initiative of Lebanese Armenian Heritage Club. Prominent
journalist, The Independent’s Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk
was a key speaker at the event.

In his welcoming remarks, lecturer at the American University of
Beirut Khajak Gokchyan mentioned that the Armenian Genocide was a
heinous crime, committed against civilization and humanity against
millennia-old people and its culture.

Robert Fisk qualified massacres of Armenians as the first genocide of
the 20th century, mentioning that German soldiers who served in the
Turkish Army witnessed the events, whose witnesses are essential for
the Armenians. Fisk stressed the fact that the Armenian people gained
a victory through preservation of memory. He spoke about his visit
to Turkey and historic Armenian provinces, mentioning that all the
Turks are well aware of what occurred with Armenians in 1915, despite
Turkish state’s denial policy. Robert Fisk noted that exchange of
thoughts and discussion with the Turkish intelligentsia are not enough,
the one is to talk and explain what occurred to the ordinary people.

On March 27, an event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide was organized at “Yerjo Samvelyan” hall of National
Primacy of Beirut on the initiative of Armenian Relief Cross of
Lebanon.

In his opening remarks, Head of Regional Department of Lebanon
Assistance Cross Talin Klbashian reflected on path and mission of
Armenian Relief Society.

Chairperson of Lebanese Centennial Central Body Seda Khtshyan presented
activity of Lebanon Assistance Cross and details of the Armenian
Genocide. She expressed deep gratitude to all the Armenian mothers who
suffered but had considerable role in education of younger generation
and preservation of the language. Summarizing his speech, she noted
that the Armenians continue their just fight through peace-loving
and creative effort.

Member of the Lebanese Parliament Ghassan E. Moukheiber mentioned that
Armenians had their input in flourishing and prosperity of Lebanon. He
indicated that if Armenians fell victims to the Turks, then the
Lebanese people were starving at hands of the same perpetrators of
genocide losing 40 percent of its population. He expressed his support
to the Armenian people and stressed that today the Lebanese support
the Armenian people. Moukheiber added that genocide is crime against
humanity and if it is not prevented then it can be recurred in future.

Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon bishop Shahe Panosyan
delivered message, mentioning that Armenian mother and Armenian woman
played existential role in survival armenian people. During the event
documentary movie was screened on the history and horrors the Armenian
people endured, and activity of Lebanon Assistance Cross. Tripoli
“Fayha” choir conducted by Pargev Taslakian performed songs at
the event.

On March 27, an exhibition of Lucy Poshoghlian, dedicated to the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was organized at “Le Gray”
Hotel in sponsorship with the Embassy of Armenia in Lebanon. With
participation of editors of three Lebanese Armenian newspapers a
discussion entitled “Genocide topic on pages of our media: yesterday,
today and tomorrow” was held on the initiative ofLocal Department of
the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Lebanon and Lebanese Centennial
Central Body. Questions regarding valuable publications on the Armenian
issue, publications on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide were raised to the editors. Head of Local Department of
Tekeyan Cultural Association Ani Torosyan anchored the event.

Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Ashot Kocharian, members of
Parliament, Ministers, politicians and public figures, diplomats,
clergymen, journalists and students attended the event.

From: Baghdasarian

GABRIEL GHAZARYAN AND IRINA RODNINA DISCUSSED ISSUES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION OF FIGURE SKATING SCHOOL

15:57, 30 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 30 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Sport and Youth
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Gabriel Ghazaryan has received
skating figure Olympic world and European champion, Russian public
figure, State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina on March 30. The Department
of Public Relations and Information of the Ministry of Sport and Youth
Affairs informed “Armenpress”, that the Minister greeting the guests,
has expressed his admiration for his athletic glorious victories,
the success in the international sports arenas, as well as in the
public and state effective operation.

Gabriel Ghazaryan presented those activities, which is carried out
by the Ministry in the direction of the physical education and sports
development, popularization and promotion. According to him, despite
the fact that Armenia is Southern country, the interest in figure
skating traditionally remains very high.

From: Baghdasarian

ANGERED PILOTS TO GATHER OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT EVERY DAY (VIDEO)

14:49 | March 30,2015 | Social

Pilots with disabilities will gather in front of the government
building every day to remind the executive about their existence.

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan had promised the group to resolve
the issue before March.

“March is ending and we are here to remind them that we are alive,”
Maxim Hakobyan said to A1+.

About 60 pilots haven’t received pension since 2006 when the
Armenian Airlines went bankrupt. The pilots are sure that the company
deliberately went bankrupt in order not to pay the money. They say
they will fight to the end.

From: Baghdasarian

NIKOL PASHINYAN TALKS TO GYUMRI OFFICIALS OVER WEEKEND INCIDENT IN GYUMRI

12:18 | March 30,2015 | Politics

Armenian lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan has talked to Prosecutor of the
Shirak province Raffi Aslanyan, Head of the Investigative Department
of the province Smavel Simonyan and Chief of the Shirak Police Vardan
Nadaryan over the March 28 events in Gyumri.

“In the name of my voters and myself, I expressed our anxiety and
frustration in connection with the Saturday disorders and stabbing in
Gyumri. I said I shall keep the incident in the center of my attention
and called for its urgent and complete disclosure. I also urged the
officials to assess the actions of the local police,” Pashinyan wrote
on his Facebook account.

“The officials assured me that they are taking every effort to identify
the perpetrators and give a full legal assessment to the incident. I
hope they will keep their promise although none of the participants
of the incident has been identified yet,” said the lawmaker.

Hrach Mirzoyan, a member of the Founding Parliament group, was
hospitalized on Saturday after being stabbed during a rally in
Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri organized by the group.

Doctors said the injuries were not life-threatening. Also, a group
of young men pelted eggs at the rally participant in the city’s
Theater Square.

From: Baghdasarian

SPIELBERG’S SHOAH FOUNDATION TO DIGITIZE MEMOIRS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EYEWITNESSES

17:51, 30 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 30 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The memoirs of about 250 survivors of
the Armenian Genocide will be digitized based on a memorandum signed
with the Shoah Foundation of the University of Southern California.

This is whatDirector of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk
Demoyansaid during a March 30 press conference.

“Established by famous film director Steven Spielberg in California,
the Shoah Foundation has the memoirs of 50,000 Holocaust survivors
that are recorded, digitized and kept under special conditions. Based
on the signed memorandum, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute will
have the opportunity to take care of the needs for research and use
the Foundation’s recordings,” Hayk Demoyan mentioned.

From: Baghdasarian

SEVEN PARTIES TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT IN KARABAKH IN MAY

STEPANAKERT, March 30. /ARKA/. Seven political parties will be
running for the parliament in the elections scheduled for May 3
in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), the Karabakh central electoral
commission reports.

At its regular meeting the commission registered the following party
lists – Free Homeland (48 nominees), National Revival (14 nominees),
Democratic Party of Artsakh (34 nominees), Communistic Party of
Nagorno-Karabakh (14 nominees), Peace and Development (six nominees),
ARF Dashnaktsutiun (34 nominees) and Movement-88 (14 nominees),
according to the report.

The full lists will be released by the commission by April 1.

The system of proportional representation is used for electing some
twenty-two deputies and the majoritarian system for the remaining
eleven deputies in the 33-seat parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

SERZH SARGSYAN AND SERGEY NARYSHKIN DISCUSS ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

18:08, 30 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 30 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. President Serzh Sargsyan received today
Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation Sergey Naryshkin who is on a working visit to Armenia. As
the Public Relations and Mass Media Department of the Structure to
the Office of the President of the Republic of Armenia reports to
“Armenpress”, the interlocutors discussed a broad range of issues
relating to the Armenian-Russian federal strategic partnership and
the agenda of bilateral relations including all spheres of cooperation.

The sides emphasized that inter-parliamentary relations, which are
also efficient within the parliamentary assemblies of international
organizations, play an important role in the strengthening of federal
partnership between Russia and Armenia.

Serzh Sargsyan emphasized that the inter-parliamentary relations
between Armenia and Russia have become stable and dynamic thanks to
the longstanding activities of the inter-parliamentary committee on
cooperation between the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. According to the
President of the Republic of Armenia, the issues discussed during
the Committee’s sessions concern various spheres of cooperation and
assist in the creation of legislative grounds to ensure the harmonious
development of the interstate cooperation between Russia and Armenia.

Serzh Sargsyan and Sergey Naryshkin also touched upon the development
of Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations in the context of
new integration processes. The sides emphasized that by acceding to
the Eurasian Economic Union, Russia and Armenia raised the level of
the mutually beneficial partnership to a qualitatively new level and
that they need to do everything they can to fully take advantage of
that Union for the welfare of both friendly nations.

During the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on the current
regional and international issues and challenges, including issues
related to stability and security in the South Caucasus.

From: Baghdasarian

LA CCIFA DE LYON ADHERE A FEDECLAIRA

Commerce

A l’occasion de son 10e anniversaire, la FEDECLAIRA (Federation des
Clubs d’Affaires internationaux en Rhône-Alpes) a convie ses membres
a un dîner-croisière qui s’est deroule a Lyon le 17 mars.

Parmi 250 participants representant une quinzaine de pays comme la
France, Allemagne, Italie, Bresil, Angleterre, Etats Unis, Russie
et d’autres, l’Armenie a ete representee par une delegation conduite
par la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie Franco-Armenienne (CCIFA)
en Rhône-Alpes.

Au cours de cette soiree de dimension internationale, la CCIFA
a officiellement signe la charte d’adhesion a cette organisation
faisant ainsi de la Chambre franco-armenienne un membre qui rejoint
un reseau d’affaires de plus de 900 entreprises membres. Par cette
adhesion la CCIFA souligne son attachement au developpement de
l’economie armenienne.

Forte de 8 membres, la delegation armenienne etait pour l’occasion
presidee par la Vice-presidente de la CCIFA en Rhône-Alpes, Assia
Suchier-Kirakossian, et honoree par la presence du Vice Consul
d’Armenie a Lyon, Vaner Harutyunyan, ainsi que differents entrepreneurs
au service du rayonnement economique de l’Armenie.

lundi 30 mars 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA SHOULD REMIND GERMANY ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS

12:50, 30 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Genocide issue is
intended to be discussed at the Germany’s Bundestag on April 24. The
Professor of the Department of the Armenian History of the Yerevan
State University, the researcher of the German archives on the
Armenian Genocide Ashot Hayruni considers the initiative to be very
important, emphasizing that a significant number of the MPs at the
German Parliament is for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Responding to the question of Armenpress, Ashot Hayruni stated that
Armenia should pay a considerable attention to the implementation of
the provisions of the Armenian Genocide resolution, adopted by the
Germany’s Bundestag in 2005. “In this regard Armenia should develop
an Armenian Genocide condemnation work strategy and remind Germany
all the time that after the adoption of the resolution 10 years have
passed and no provision of it has been implemented. The Armenian side
should take this resolution as a base for the implementation of the
works, so that the Armenian Genocide is fully recognized in Germany”,
– said Hayruni.

From: Baghdasarian