Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Armenia’s Consumers Association slams gas price hike

May 21, 2013 – 18:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Head of Armenia’s Consumers Association NGO A.
Poghosyan addressed a letter to Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan
over the gas price rise.

`The quality and the prices of utilities have always been in the focus
of our attention. We are concerned about the price formation,
considering it highly unfair.

According to the principles of Armenian public services pricing
policy, the gas price rise and USD exchange rate, decrease in the
volume of consumption, and the investments made may be cited as the
reasons behind the price upsurge.

We urge relevant state institutions (Public Services Regulatory
Commission, National Assembly and RA government) for gas price
review,’ the Association’s letter reads.

From: Baghdasarian

Fueling Fear: Armenians fear ripple effect of increased gas tariffs

NEWS | 22.05.13 | 15:53

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The expected hike in the natural gas tariff continues to be a painful
topic among political and social strata, deeply concerned not only by
the prospect of chain-effect inflation to follow, but also a new wave
of emigration. Many believe that by raising the gas price Russia is
punishing Armenia for not joining the Customs Union.

Democratic party leader Aram Sargsyan believes if Armenia wanted cheap
gas, it should have entered the Customs Union, because now Russia’s
message is – you prefer the European Union, then let them provide you
with everything you need.

Republican MP Vardan Ayvazyan counters that Armenia does not approach
it as Customs Union versus European Union, but cooperates with both.

`The Association Agreement with the European Union cannot be viewed as
an obstacle to the development of Armenian-Russian relations, and no
pressure is possible either from European structures or Moscow,’ he
claims.

Armenian Revolutionary Party MP Artsvik Minasyan warns that raising
the gas tariff would mean Armenia with no Armenians left. He condemns
the authorities talking about energy independence, yet not taking any
steps to establish that independence.

Minasyan believes that among CIS countries Armenia’s use of gas is
only 2 percent, which suggests that GazProm’s decision to raise the
tariff is the consequence of improper actions. He recommends starting
to think about Iranian gas and alternative sources of energy.

The Republican Union of Employers shares the opinion that Iranian gas
could be an alternative. President of the Union Gagik Makaryan says
Iranian gas is cheaper and raises a question: in that case why isn’t
it used? He assures that Yerevan Thermoelectric plant is quite
satisfied with Iranian gas, while, he says, the 30 percent promised
state subsidy is not a solution, because the state budget cannot
afford it.

`It is not right to take businesses by such surprise. It leads to
growing discontent among people; today small and medium businesses are
on a very low profit level and are moving to a deadlock. If Russia is
keeping us under pressure, our leadership has to take proper
measures,’ he says. `We keep hearing that our country is in
negotiations with Russia, but nobody ever says what was decided as a
result of those negotiations. If Russia has set almost the highest
price, where have we slipped?’

The gas tariff raise means a heavy blow against greenhouse entities.
Head of the Association of Greenhouses Poghos Gevorgyan says people in
that sphere feel at a loss whether to keep working the greenhouses, or
suspend their businesses.

`ArmRusGasProm company also sets a coefficient depending on weather
conditions, but in the warm season that coefficient does not decrease
and consumers have to pay for gas by the winter tariff, which is
higher. Besides, there are fines for delayed payments, and it becomes
a big issue for farmers,’ he says.

From: Baghdasarian

Pre-parliament: Authorities doom the people to poverty and suffering

ARMINFO
Wednesday, May 22, 13:08

The authorities use groundless pretexts not to recompense the damage
caused by hailstorm to 10 villages in Armavir region, Armenia, says
Pre-parliament oppositional public initiative in a statement
disseminated Wednesday.

The authors of the statement slam the authorities for inaction and
negligence towards the people’s problems. The authorities doom the
people to poverty and sufferings and make them leave the country, the
statement reads. Pre-parliament welcomes the civil disobedience by
the residents of the above villages. The oppositionists are sure that
it is necessary to liquidate the reasons of the damage alongside with
the consequences.

“Only through a united front we will be able to liquidate the reason
of all the problems and sufferings of the people – Armenia’s new
status of colony and the government system that has become its tool.
Therefore, we should fight to create a state of new quality,” say the
authors of the statement.

From: Baghdasarian

Expert: no breakthrough in Karabakh settlement after OSCE MG visits

May 22, 2013 – 11:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Current regional visits of the OSCE Minsk Group
haven’t yielded any results; the conflict will remain at a standstill,
unless the Nagorno Karabakh Republic becomes involved in the
settlement negotiations, a political analyst said.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Alexander Tsinker
didn’t rule out a possible meeting between the presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. `There’s no alternative to peace talks,’ the expert
said. `It’s either negotiations or a war,’ he concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia is still energy insecure

11:01, May 22, 2013

On May 22, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia hosted the conference `The
Future of Energy in Armenia: A Conference on Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency in Armenia’.

The conference explored opportunities for Armenia to further diversify
energy sources and improve energy efficiency. The performance of the
energy sector and the quality of services have improved as a result of
the Armenian Government’s legal and regulatory reforms, new
institutional developments, and privatization as supported by the U.S.
Government and other donors. However, Armenia is still energy insecure
and remains one of the most energy-import dependent countries in the
region. The primary challenges to Armenia’s energy security are
reliance on oil and natural gas import, and the resultant
vulnerability to price fluctuations of these imports, ensuring the
continued safe operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant, and the
limited development of alternative and renewable sources of energy.
Inefficient energy usage intensifies the impact of rising energy
prices on the economy, especially for low income and vulnerable
households. Resolution of these issues will further promote
sustainability and contribute to development of Armenia’s energy
sector.

U.S. Ambassador John A. Heffern and Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources Armen Movsisian gave opening remarks, and panelists included
Areg Galstyan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Vahan
Sargsyan, Director of Energy Strategy Center of the Scientific
Research Institute of Energy, representatives from the Public Service
Regulatory Commission, the Water Resource Management Agency of the
Ministry of Nature Protection, NGOs, the private sector and donor
organizations.

In October, 2012, the U.S. Embassy and the Government of Armenia
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Sector Cooperation.
U.S. Government-funded projects continue to enhance the Government of
Armenia’s capacity to diversify energy sources, develop renewable
energy and improve energy efficiency. This conference was a part of
the implementation of the U.S. – Armenian Memorandum of Understanding
on energy sector designed to foster dialogue on issues related to
energy efficiency and renewable energy between the government, the
private sector, NGOs, and the donor community.

From: Baghdasarian

Expert: OSCE MG regional visit meant to show its existence

May 22, 2013 – 12:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A political analyst Alexander Skakov believes the
regional visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, as well as their
meeting with Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers was meant to
demonstrate the former’s existence.

As the expert told PanARMENIAN.Net no breakthrough in Karabakh
conflict settlement is to be expected, especially now, ahead of
presidential polls in Azerbaijan.

`No work is being done on conflict settlement principles, no one is
pressuring conflicting sides. Everyone is in limbo, trying to guess
the outcome of the Syria war, or a possibility of a strike on Iran as
well as the latters’ effect on the situation in South Caucasus,’ the
expert said.

`Further prolongation of the status quo or a new war in Karabakh will
equally suit the world powers. No one will benefit from a peace,
except the people who live on that land,’ the Russian expert said.

From: Baghdasarian

Economie
Controverse sur le prix du gaz en Arménie

L’Arménie a accordé, sous la pression de Moscou, que le géant russe
Gazprom contrôle un « pipeline » fournissant du gaz naturel provenant
de l’Iran , a déclaré un député pro-gouvernemental arménien mardi 21
mai 2013. Des détracteurs du gouvernement ont accusé Erevan de se
plier à la pression russe. Le gouvernement a nié avoir subi une telle
pression.

Vartan Ayvazian, le président d’un comité du parlement arménien des
affaires économiques qui est affilié au Parti républicain d’Arménie
(HHK), a laissé entendre que le contrôle de Gazprom sur le gazoduc a
limité les livraisons de gaz iranien aux consommateurs arméniens.

Le gazoduc iranien était destiné à réduire la forte dépendance de
l’Arménie à la Russie pour l’énergie. Toutefois, le volume des
importations de gaz iranien est resté assez modeste depuis qu’il a
commencé en 2009. Selon les données officielles, l’Arménie a importé
500 millions de mètres cubes de gaz en provenance d’Iran l’année
dernière, comparativement à près de 2 milliards de mètres cubes
fournis par Gazprom.

Le gouvernement a dû faire face à de nouvelles questions sur les
petites quantités de fournitures de gaz iranien après avoir annoncé la
semaine dernière une forte hausse du prix du gaz russe pour l’Arménie.
Certains de ses détracteurs ont suggéré que le gaz iranien pourrait
être moins cher.

Le ministre de l’Energie, Armen Movsisian, a rejeté ces critiques
lundi. Il a dit que l’Iran vend du gaz naturel à la Turquie et
d’autres pays pour 370 $ par millier de mètres cubes. Le prix fixé par
Gazprom serait de 270 $ par mille mètres cubes.

mercredi 22 mai 2013,
Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Kantari – Beirut
Email: [email protected]

Conference on `Armenian Trans-nationalism and the Modern Age of
Communications’ at Haigazian University

Beirut, 21/5/2013 – Organized by the Armenian Diaspora Research Center
at Haigazian University, the conference titled `Armenian
Trans-nationalism
and the Modern Age of Communications’ took place from May 16 to May
17, 2013.
A group of 17 specialists composed of scholars, media anchors, and
young bloggers, coming from Armenia, Lebanon, the US, and Europe, had
their interesting presentations on the classical and modern means of
communication, as
well as inter-communication in the Armenian Diaspora, thoroughly
examining
and assessing their efficacy and impact, and discussing the prevailing
constraints and challenges.

Following the official opening on May 15, 2013, in the presence of the
Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Ashod Kocharian, the President of
the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East,
Rev. Megrdich Karageozian, Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, and
University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, the conference included
four sessions comprising 14 presentations over two consecutive days.
After the introductory lecture of President Haidostian on `Armenian
Networking: Issues, Language, and Future’, the audience listened to
Vatche Proudian on `the Archives of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF): Achievements and Future Strategy’, Dr. Vahe Tashjian
on `Armenian Collective Memory and Networking: The case of
`Houshamadyan’ website, Hilda Tchoboian on `the Establishment and
Vision of the European-Armenian Political Community’, Vaghinak
Vartanyan on `The role of the Diaspora Ministry Internet-Based
Projects and the Armenia-Diaspora Relations’, Father Varant
Kortmossian on `The Communications Network of the Great See of the
Cilician Catholicossate’, Artoun Hamalian on `The AGBU Educational
Network and its Virtual College Project’, Dr. Antranik Dakessian on `
A Unique Communications Network in the 1940-1980s: Simon Simonian and
the Armenian Textbooks’, Harout Sassounian on `The Effective
Humanitarian Aid of the US-based United Armenian Fund to Armenia
without any Modern Communications Means’, Arthur Bakhdamian on
`Armenian TV: Going in Circles’, Dr. Armen Urneshlian on `The
Communicative Power of Culture: the Case of the Kohar Ensemble’, a
group of young students and fresh graduates of Haigazian University,
Bedros Torossian, Vahakn Keshishian, Yeghig Tashjian and Raffi
Chilingirian on `Armenian Youth Blogs and Other Social Media’, Lorig
Sabounjian-Dzadourian on `The Experience of the Lebanon Chapter of the
Executive Body of the Hayasdan all Armenian Fund’, and Dr. Mher
Hovhannissian on `The Core Issues of Armenology on the Internet’.
Presentations and sessions were moderated by Vera Yacoubian, Dr. Levon
Avedanian, Katia Peltekian and Shaghig Kandaharian-Hudaverdian.
Deliberations and conclusions followed each of the sessions, whereby
participants underlined the vital role of communications and
networking, in areas covering a vast array of Armenian issues, such as
the Armenian Cause, Education, Religion, Youth, Welfare, and Culture.
It is worth noting that the Diaspora Center’s conference topic next
year will be `The Armenians of Lebanon’, and preliminary preparations
have already started.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

ORDINATION OF DEACONS AT THE HOLY SEE OF CILICIA ON PENTECOST DAY

On Sunday 19 June 2013, on Pentecost Day, during the Holy Liturgy, six sub
deacons, from the graduating class of the seminary, were elevated to the
rank of deacon. The sub deacons came to the altar on their knees to receive
the rank.

After the liturgy, the new deacons, led by Archbishop Gorun Babyan the
celebrant of the day and accompanied by the clergy and seminarians, met with
His Holiness Aram I to receive his blessings.

##
Photos:

From: Baghdasarian

Ouest-France
mercredi 15 mai 2013
chantepie Edition

La mémoire des Arméniens

« Je suis vieux, et toi, tu es un enfant. Mais, regarde, le sang est
aussi vivant chez toi que chez moi. C’est ça, l’amour de la vie. »
Ainsi parle grand-père Garabet, figure tutélaire qui incarne toute la
sagesse et la mémoire des Arméniens de Varujan Vosganian.
Le Livre des chuchotements s’ouvre sur une rue arménienne de Focsani,
à l’est de la Roumanie. Dans l’odeur du café fraîchement torréfié, un
enfant écoute passionnément les récits des adultes réunis sous
l’abricotier. C’est une chronique pleine de couleurs, de senteurs, de
poésie, mais aussi qui rappelle la dure réalité qu’ont vécue plusieurs
générations d’Arméniens ballottés par les exils. Avec le talent d’un
conteur oriental, Varujan Vosganian reconstitue la vie de ses parents,
aïeux et voisins arméniens, dans ce qui constitue l’un des textes
roumains les plus forts publiés après la chute du communisme.

From: Baghdasarian