Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

IFHC DELEGATION VISITS ARMENIA

A delegation of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of
the CIS (IFHC) is on a visit to Armenia. The delegation is composed
of famous intellectuals, journalists, actors, and sportsmen such as
Mikhail Shvydkoy, Irina Rodnina, Levon Oganezov, Dmitry Kharatian,
Nikolay Svanidze, Yevgeni Petrosian, Yelena Stepanenko, and others.

The delegation members will go the Matenadaran today at 1:00 pm to
become acquainted with ancient manuscripts of the famous repository.

Then a meeting of the delegation with Armenian Minister of Culture Ms.

Hasmik Poghosian will take place at the Session Hall of the
Matenadaran. The meeting participants will discuss the new
opportunities and prospects of cultural cooperation in the CIS, as
well the program of declaring the city of Gyumri the CIS Cultural
Capital 2013.

The CIS Council for Humanitarian Cooperation (CHC) was established
based on the agreement signed on 26 August 2005. The Head of the
Armenian Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan represents Armenia in
the CHC.

On January 23 the delegation members headed by Minister of Culture H.

Poghosian went to Gyumri and met with regional and city officials in
charge of the program. The program was launched.

From: Baghdasarian

MESSSAGE FROM CANON PATRICK THOMAS

Canon Chancellor of St David’s Cathedral
Church in Wales

24 January 2013

The Church in Wales Bishops have now agreed to recognise April 24th
as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day.

Information about both the Genocide and the Armenian Church will be
placed on the Church in Wales website (with suitable links to relevant
websites, a brief bibliography and other resources).

This will include a suitable Armenian prayer (in English and Welsh
to be used in Church in Wales churches on April 24th.

We thank Canon Patrick for the wonderful outcome of his work assisted
by our Primate and the Cardiff Mission Parish.

From: Baghdasarian

Hagel Reassures Jewish Leaders On Iran Position

Nominee for defense secretary says he’s on board with Obama’s posture
on Iran, need to maintain Israel’s military edge.

By JTA

January 23, 2013 “Jerusalem Post” — WASHINGTON – In a meeting with
Jewish leaders, Chuck Hagel, US President Obama’s defense secretary
nominee, affirmed his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a
nuclear weapon and to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge.

“[Sen. Hagel] discussed his commitment to the US-Israel relationship,
including his determination to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear
weapon, to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge, and to
sustaining the Obama administration’s unprecedented security
cooperation with Israel,” a statement Tuesday from Hagel’s office
said. “He appreciated the opportunity to have a constructive, informed
and wide-ranging discussion.”

A four-sentence statement Monday issued by the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations described the
January 18 meeting as “an important opportunity for a serious and
thorough discussion of key issues of importance to all of us.”

The statement, which also noted the presence at the meeting of US Vice
President Joe Biden as well as the leaders of the Anti-Defamation
League, the American Jewish Committee and the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee, did not further elaborate.

The meeting came days after after Hagel, a former Republican senator
from Nebraska, conferred with top Jewish Democrats and apologized for
a 2006 comment in which he described the “Jewish lobby” as
“intimidating” and reassured them that despite his past skepticism of
some sanctions on Iran and wariness of a military strike to keep it
from obtaining a nuclear weapon, he was now on board with President
Obama’s postures on those issues.

Hagel, in those conversations with Jewish Democrats, also said he was
a strong supporter of the US-Israel relationship although and
elaborated on the context of his past criticisms of Israel.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

© The Jerusalem Post

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT AWARDED FAMILY STAKE IN GOLD FIELDS

21:58, January 24, 2013

Novruz Allahverdiyev, 40, lives in a mud house in the village of
Chovdar, a small Soviet-era mining town in rural Azerbaijan. He is one
of 800,000 displaced persons from the war with Armenia that battered
his native Nagorno Karabakh region in the early nineties.He and 60
other families found shelter and a place to farm in the mountainous
western region of Dashkesan. Like many of the displaced, Allahverdiyev
is patriotic and the walls of his poor home are plastered with
pages from an aging calendar featuring portraits of Ilham Aliyev,
the president of Azerbaijan and his late father.

Allahverdiyev has faith the president will solve the latest problem
his family and his community face. A British mining company has taken
over some of his land and blocked one of two streams his village
relies on for water. He believes the president will make sure he is
paid for his losses.

Villagers in Chovdar now have only one water source since the
mine blocked the other stream Such faith may be misplaced. What
Allahverdiyev doesn’t know is that the -president and his family own a
share of the new mine threatening to swallow his town. The UK company
is actually a front for the first family who stand to add to their
already enormous wealth, estimated to be in the billions of dollars,
through the mining operation.

The New Mine

According to an October 2011 press release , the Azeri Ministry of
Environment believes there are 44 tons of gold and 164 tons of silver
under Chovdar, worth more than US$2.5 billion at current prices.

AIMROC (Azerbaijan International Mineral Resources Operating Company
Ltd), a consortium of one UK and three offshore companies, has begun
building the infrastructure needed to exploit that mineral wealth and
full-scale mining is scheduled to start later this year. Chovdar is
one of >six goldfieldsthe government awarded AIMROC and the first to
start mining operations.

But while Chovdar locals blame the “ingilis”, the Azerbaijani name
for Englishmen, the truth about the cause of their troubles is quite
different. AIMROC owns a 70 percent stake in the six mines and the
Azerbaijani government the remaining 30 percent.

Chovdar in western Azerbaijan AIMROC is a joint venture of four
companies: Londex Resources S.A, Willy and Meyris S.A., Fargate Mining
Corporation, and Globex Ä°nternational LLP. All are shell companies
and it is not clear if any are backed by mining companies. According
to Azerbaijani officials, all were set up specifically for the deal. A
fifth company, MINDECO, is the official project supervisor but has
no ownership. MINDECO (Mitsui Mineral Development Engineering Co Ltd)
is a mining engineering company owned by Japanese giant Mitsui Mining
and Smelting Co. according to its website.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITED MARTAKERT REGION OF ARTSAKH

On 24 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the
town of Martakert where he held a working consultation dedicated to
the development of agriculture in the region. Central Information
Department of the Office of Artsakh Republic President informs
about this.

In his speech B. Sahakyan noted that the Martakert region possesses
the most favorable conditions in Artsakh for agricultural development.

A huge fertile land and water potential exists here, mining industry
is developing at a rapid pace which being a quite laborious sphere
opens promising markets for agricultural production. All these factors,
according to Sahakyan constitute serious incentive for the development
of the sphere.

President Sahakyan emphasized that for proper utilization of the
existing prerequisites there was a need for systematic and painstaking
work, adding that the republic authorities would continue keeping
the region’s development in the spotlight.

Bako Sahakyan gave concrete instructions to the heads of concerned
structures for appropriate implementation of the planned activities.

NKR prime-minister Ara Haroutunyan, heads of regional administration
departments and communities partook at the consultation.

24.01.13, 18:44

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR LECTURED IN GREEK NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY

19:42, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANNUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ambassador Gagik Ghalachyan
visited National Defence Academy of Greece on January 21 and delivered
a lecture on “Challenges of the security of Armenian external policy”
for senior officers of the academy.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of Armenian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Armenian Ambassador presented the directions
of the external policy of Armenia, current level of Armenian-Greek
relations, military cooperation of the two states as well as answered
the questions of the audience.

Head of the Academy, General-Major Georgios Spiropulos issued a
gratitude speech and highlighted his personal involvement in the
military cooperation between Armenia and Greece.

Ambassador Ghalachyan got acquainted with the activity of the academy.

From: Baghdasarian

NATIONAL MEETING OF DENTISTS

Story from Lragir.am News:

17:31 24/01/2013

The dentists of Armenia are going to meet on January 26 at the hall of
the American University of Armenia. Ahead of this meeting the dentists
have drafted amendments to the recently amended law on license fees
and amendments to the law on dental services.

Note that the recent amendments approved by the parliament boost
taxes on dentists.

The proposed amendments, according to the dentists, will help boost
budget revenues because it is based on a comprehensive professional
study and economic calculations.

The dentists note in their statement that they are against amendments
to the RA Law on License Fees and demand consideration of amendments
they propose.

From: Baghdasarian

DUBAI-BASED INVESTMENT COMPANY, RASIA, AWARDED $3 BILLION RAILWAY AND HIGH SPEED ROAD PROJECTS IN ARMENIA

Rasia, China Communications Construction Company, and South Caucasus
Railway to cooperate with the Republic of Armenia
PR Newswire

Read more:
YEREVAN, Armenia, Jan. 24, 2013

YEREVAN, Armenia, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Pursuant to an
instruction by the President of the Republic of Armenia, Minister
Gagik Beglaryan of the Ministry of Transport and Communication of
the Republic of Armenia announced the launch of the Southern Armenia
Railway and Southern Armenia High Speed Road Projects, a strategic
infrastructure investment for Armenia valued at approximately US$3
billion.

During a presentation, signing ceremony and public announcement
attended by senior government officials, ambassadors, investment
and sovereign funds, and corporate executives from Armenia, China,
Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran, a tripartite Memorandum of
Understanding on regional cooperation towards the development of the
Southern Armenia Railway was signed between Rasia FZE, South Caucasus
Railway CJSC, and the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the
Republic of Armenia.

The Southern Armenia Railway is anticipated to be a 316km long
electrified single track railway, which will connect Gavar, near
Lake Sevan, to the southern border of Armenia by Meghri and will be
integrated with the existing central railway system of the Republic
of Armenia, operated by South Caucasus Railway CJSC and the operating
railway system of Iran. The Southern Armenia High Speed Road, to be
constructed in Armenia’s southern province of Syunik, is anticipated
to be a 110km long expressway connecting the town of Sisian to the
southern border of Armenia by Meghri.

Both projects will form a part of the International North-South
Transport Corridor, which will play a pivotal role in improving
regional connectivity and driving economic growth along the Corridor,
and will create the shortest transportation route from the ports of
the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf. When the projects are
completed, transport costs and times for the region are expected to
improve substantially, fostering greater regional trade and economic
growth while dramatically strengthening the Armenian economy. The
implementation of these projects is envisaged by the electoral program
of the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan and
is among the top strategic priorities for the Republic of Armenia.

In 2012, the Republic of Armenia signed with Dubai-based investment
company, Rasia FZE, two concession agreements for the vitally important
transport projects in order to develop them on a Public-Private
Partnership basis. The concession terms provide specific periods for
completing feasibility studies, engineering designs, project financing
and construction and are followed by a 30-year operating period,
renewable by Rasia for an additional 20 years. Among other strengths,
the concession terms confer upon Rasia the right to freely establish
freight rates and tolls while providing protection from competing
projects. Chairman and CEO of Rasia, Mr.

Joseph Borkowski said, “As the key missing link in the International
North-South Transport Corridor, the projects have attracted significant
regional interest from both strategic and financial partners waiting
to participate in their development.” Rasia is already implementing
a consortium-based strategy for the feasibility, design, financing,
development and operation of the projects.

Rasia has successfully negotiated and recently signed framework and
commercial agreements with China Communications Construction Company
Ltd, one of the world leading companies involved in railway, high
speed road, tunnel, bridge, and port construction, to become the
lead member of the development consortium. Feasibility study works
commenced on December 31, 2012.

The territory along the North-South Transport Corridor is endowed with
significant natural resources, which has already attracted a number
of foreign companies who have made major investments in the region. Mr.

Borkowski indicated that, “Rasia and its consortium members will aim
to boost potential local and international transit freight volumes by
investing in the development of mineral and agricultural projects along
the Corridor. We have already held early stage discussions with China
state-owned enterprises regarding potential joint venture investments
in mineral and agricultural projects which will have the effect of
enhancing the economic appeal of the railway and road projects. There
will be additional effort to seek the involvement of nations, and
companies, benefiting from the Corridor including Russia, Iran, India
and the countries of Europe, Central Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation
Council (“GCC”) in order to enhance regional trade relations.”

Rasia also entered into a cooperation agreement with Hayah Resources,
a global natural resources investment group backed by ultra-high net
worth families in the GCC and Chaired by UAE businessman H.E. Rashid
Al Malik; this investment group will focus on mineral investments
along the Corridor and the development of the railway and high speed
road projects.

The implementation of the projects is already marked by strong
regional cooperation. Three separate Memoranda of Understanding were
previously signed between the respective Ministries in the Republic of
Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the construction
of a direct railway connection between Armenia and Iran. Rasia has
recently entered into negotiations with the Ministries for signing a
new tripartite Memorandum of Understanding unifying the efforts for
developing direct railway communication between Armenia and Iran.

During the announcement presentation, Mr. Viktor Rebets, General
Director, South Caucasus Railway CJSC elaborated on the work already
completed in Armenia in support of a North-South Transport Corridor.

Mr. Rebets stated “During the period between 2008 and 2012, our
investment program exceeded 90 billion drams (US$225 million) which
was allocated by Russian Railways OJSC. A massive reconstruction
program of railway infrastructure was implemented using these funds
including track and station facilities, systems of electrification
and power supply, communication, centralization and blocking.”

During this time, as a part of the infrastructure modernization
program, more than 300 km of track, 160 technological objects,
33 artificial structures, 130 km of contact network, and 140 km of
power lines were repaired. In 2012, 3 major railway bridges that were
built in 1898 were commissioned including the Zamanlinsky bridge,
the Satanikamurj bridge, and the bridge on the Kober-Tumanian span.

Infrastructure improvements over the past 4 years have now allowed
for the increase of substantial traffic volumes. Expansion of the
railway network of Armenia and increased mining activity in Armenia are
creating new jobs, economic growth, and increases in traffic volume.

South Caucasus Railway also has the capacity to operate the new
Southern Armenia Railway section for Rasia. The company has created a
strong base for the maintenance and repair of locomotives and rolling
stock, introduced modern technologies for transportation process
management, and improved the qualifications of technical staff.

Construction of the Southern section of the railway in Armenia and
connection to the railway network of Iran will form a new international
transport corridor linking the countries of the Black Sea region with
the Persian Gulf countries and India.

About the Parties

Rasia FZE (“Rasia”) and Rasia Group, Rasia Management LLC, Southern
Armenia Railway Pte Ltd., and Southern Armenia High Speed Road Pte
Ltd. are members of the “Rasia” group of investment and investment
management companies based in Dubai, UAE, the Cayman Islands, Armenia
and Singapore. Rasia is involved in direct principal investments and
investment management primarily in mining and strategic infrastructure.

China Communications Construction Company Ltd (“CCCC”) is one of the
world’s largest construction companies and international general
contractors based in the People’s Republic of China, specializing
in planning and design, project development, equipment procurement,
trade, construction and facilities management. CCCC is one of the
leading companies involved in railway, high speed road, tunnel,
bridge, and port construction worldwide.

South Caucasus Railway CJSC (“SCR”) is a 100% subsidiary of Russian
Railways OJSC and provides concession management of the existing
railway system in Armenia. Armenian Railways CJSC was referred to
the concession management of SCR according to a Concession Agreement
signed on February 13, 2008. The term of the concession management
is 30 years with possible extension for another 10 years. Currently
South Caucasian Railway CJSC is a member of the International Union
of Railways (UIC), the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT),
and the Organization for Railways Cooperation (ORC) with the status
of associated enterprise.

For further information please contact by email:

[email protected]

Public Relations Rasia FZE Emirates Towers Level 41 Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 31303

SOURCE Rasia

From: Baghdasarian

RALPH YIRIKIAN: BUSINESS SHOULD NOT STAND APART FROM SOCIETY

16:46 24/01/2013 ” ECONOMY

Today VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian and Director of
Synopsys Armenia Hovik Musayelyan held a joint press conference
at VivaCell-MTS Headquarters. The press conference summed up the
joint programs of VivaCell-MTS in the sphere of Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT) in Armenia in 2012, as well as
presented the vision and future plans for 2013, company’s press
service reported.

The development of the ICT sphere, discovering and encouraging young
talents, training of competitive specialists and improvement of the
quality of management – these are the major directions of activities
in the frames of cooperation between VivaCell-MTS and Synopsis Armenia.

For the implementation of long-term targeted projects in the sphere
of ICT in 2012 alone, VivaCell-MTS allocated more than AMD 75 million.

VivaCell-MTS stays committed to doing everything possible to guarantee
Armenia’s progress in ICT sector by financing several programs on a
continuous basis.

VivaCell-MTS firmly believes that the ICT sector is a key for the
economic development of the country, and that self-sustaining and
long-term development of this sphere will help to secure a high
ranking for Armenia in the world. An important step in that direction
is the Global Award of the President of the Republic of Armenia for
Outstanding Contribution to Humanity through IT (GIT Award), which
has been sponsored by VivaCell-MTS for the past three years. GIT Award
annually honors a person, who has made extraordinary contributions to
humanity through advancing the world of IT. The award is an opportunity
to give momentum to developing ICT sector in Armenia and is very
important for strengthening Armenia’s positive image internationally,
at the same time attracting talented youth to ICT sector in Armenia.

Future of a country depends on education system, especially for a
country such as Armenia, where education is essential in boosting
country’s competitive advantage. Therefore, VivaCell-MTS is involved
in initiatives that encourage creative thinking and innovative skills.

For the third year in a row VivaCell-MTS has undertaken the general
sponsorship of the Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of
Armenia, initiated and organized by Synopsys Armenia. The Olympiad aims
at stimulating further development of microelectronics in Armenia,
discovering young, talented resources, increasing interest towards
microelectronics among young specialists. During the past seven years
the Olympiad has grown in size and geographic diversity to become an
international event, attracting 418 participants from 14 countries
in 2012.

VivaCell-MTS has also made solid investment in upgrading the
quality of management in the sphere of ICT. VivaCell-MTS believes
that effective management is one of the key factors to our country’s
future growth. For the second year already, the Company extended hands
to support the “Best IT Managers” Annual Award under the patronage of
the Prime Minister of Armenia; the annual award aimed at increasing
the professional qualifications of the Armenian managers working
in the sphere of ICT by providing them an opportunity to take a
post-graduate course in the most prestigious universities of the world.

A competitive ICT sector cannot exist without a high quality
workforce. In 2011 VivaCell-MTS has partnered with Synopsys Armenia
to start a successful cooperation program with “European Regional
Educational Academy” Foundation (ERA) to promote education in
Micro-electronic circuitry and systems of the communication means in
Armenia. The first educational lab was established due to VivaCell-MTS
financial investments and educational packages of electronic automated
design software provided by Synopsys. With the purpose in mind to
continuously invest locally in professional development of young
generation, VivaCell-MTS has sponsored the opening of the second
classroom at European Regional Academy in November 2012.

“Business should not stand apart from the society. It should consider
itself as part of the society, as a corporate citizen with clear
rights and responsibilities, which are not limited just to paying
taxes honestly. VivaCell-MTS believes that business should support
the long-term development of the society, by contributing to the
spheres of the economy which have potential for the country’s economic
development, and ultimately, support the human development. It’s not
a secret that the development of applied science has no alternative
in Armenia, a country with scarce and non-renewable natural resources.

Successful operation obliges sharing with the society, supporting
the youth in its endeavors, in its striving for better future in
the Homeland. Most importantly, each of us, individually, and as
a commercial entity, can and should contribute to the reduction
of work migration and to the brain drain, our number one enemy,
” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian told.

“Synopsys firmly believes that the key to sustainable results is the
continuous cooperation between government, business and academia”,
said Director of Synopsys Armenia Hovik Musayelyan. “For several
years now VivaCell-MTS has been our dedicated partner, providing
a financial assistance to our joint long-term projects aimed at
development of ICT. We highly appreciate this partnership not only
because it directly supports the growing knowledge-based economy, but
also because it promotes the culture of corporate social responsibility
in our country.”

The joint strategy of VivaCell-MTS and Synopsis Armenia aimed at
the development of the economy through discovering and improving
scientific potential and capacity will continue in 2013 also.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA MAY INCREASE EXPORTS OF BRANDY AND MEAT PRODUCTS TO RUSSIA

YEREVAN, January 23. / ARKA /. Armenia may increase exports of brandy
and meat products to Russia to ensure not only sustainable, but also
accelerated economic growth, according to Vladimir Lepekhin, director
of EurAsEC Institute.

“Russia is a huge market for Armenia. Food industry is a very
promising direction, and if it is promoted through joint efforts
and investments Armenia would ensure not only sustainable, but also
accelerated economic growth, ” he said during a teleconference between
Yerevan and Moscow on Eurasian project for the South Caucasus.

According to him, Russia has the potential to set priorities and open
the market for certain food products.

“I see at least two key areas, in terms of agricultural production.

It’s alcohol market and meat products, because Armenia produces
high-quality meat products, “he said.

Lepekhin added that another promising and lucrative area of economic
cooperation between the two countries is tourism, in particular
agro-tourism.

Armenia’s trade turnover with Russia in January-November 2012 amounted
to $.12 billion, an increase of 22.1% compared to January-November
2011.

The teleconference was timed with a the five-day training course
for local journalists designed to improve their skills organized by
Russian RIA Novosti news agency and North-South think-tank with the
support of Novosti-Armenia news agency. -0-

From: Baghdasarian