Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

KARABAGH
Le Service de Secours du Karabagh reçoit des moyens de transport modernes

Le Service de Secours de la République du Nagorno-Karabakh a reçu des
moyens de transport modernes.

Le président de la République du Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan a
participé à la cérémonie.

M. Sahakyan a exprimé sa gratitude à l’homme d’affaires russe
d’origine arménienne, le fondateur de la société Luding et
philanthrope Artur Varzhapetyan pour sa contribution et a noté que la
République le remercie fortement pour son activité patriotique.

dimanche 9 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAGH
Le gouvernement du Nagorno-Karabagh approuve le projet de budget 2013

Le gouvernement de la République du Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR) a approuvé
le projet de budget 2013. Le ministre des finances et de l’économie
Spartak Tevosyan a dit que le budget prévoit 70,29 milliards de drams
de recettes et 71,05 milliards de drams de dépenses. Le déficit
projeté est d’environ 756 millions de drams.

« Le projet de budget est conçu pour relever le niveau de vie de notre
population, renforcer les capacités de défense du pays et augmenter le
développement économique » a dit le ministre qui a précisé que le
gouvernement s’attend à ce que l’économie atteigne une croissance
l’année prochaine de 9 pour cent.

Il a dit qu’environ 25,4 % du budget est affecté en tant que dépenses
sociales, soit une plus grande proportion qu’en 2012. Il a indiqué que
le salaire minimum passera l’année prochaine à 35000 drams contre
32500 drams actuellement.

dimanche 9 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
L’aéroport de Zvartnots classé dans le top 5 des aéroports de la CEI

L’aéroport international d’Arménie Zvartnots est l’un des cinq
équipements de la CEI pour recevoir la Récompense du meilleur Aéroport
des Marchés émergeants a annoncé le porte-parole de l’aéroport Gevorg
Abrahamyan.

Les autres concurrents dans la CEI sont les aéroports de Domodedovo et
Sheremetyevo à Moscou, l’aéroport Pulkovo de St Peterbourg et
l’aéroport Manas à Bishkek au Kirgyzstan.

Le meilleur aéroport de la CEI sera déterminé par un vote en ligne. La
récompense sera remise au gagnant en 2013, a-t-il dit.

dimanche 9 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAÏDJAN-ECONOMIE
Le transit du pétrole azéri par Bakou-Tbilissi-Djeyhan en baisse de 13,1%

Le volume du pétrole azéri transitant par l’oléoduc
Bakou-Tbilissi-Djeyhan est en baisse. Au 1er décembre 18,5 millions de
tonnes avaient été transportés depuis le début de l’année en baisse de
13,1% sur la même période de 2011. C’est la société pétrolière azérie
Socar qui indique ces chiffres. Cette baisse de livraison s’explique
par la baisse de la demande de pétrole sur un marché affecté par la
crise mondiale. Depuis 1997, date des premières livraisons du pétrole
azérie au terminal de Novosibirsk c’est la première fois que Socar
enregistre une baisse.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 décembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2012

Elmar Mammadyarov: `The start of the withdrawal of the Armenian troops
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan will open tremendous
opportunities for the settlement of the conflict’

[ 08 December 2012 21:48 ]
Azerbaijani FM receives French delegation led by Director of the
Continental Europe Department at the French Foreign Ministry

Baku-APA. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received
French delegation led by Director of the Continental Europe Department
at the French Foreign Ministry Eric Fournier, APA reports quoting the
press service of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.

Elmar Mammadyarov shared impressions about the 19th OSCE Ministerial
Council held in Dublin on December 5-7.

The Minister noted that the further development of cooperation with
the EU is important for Azerbaijan.

The prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO were
discussed at the meeting.

Minister informed the French Ambassador about the regional projects.
He noted that these projects are important for the region and Europe.

Concerning security, Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan’s national
interests are the priority in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy and all the
forces have been mobilized to strengthen the independence.

Speaking about Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh,
the minister said that Armenian armed forces are still in the occupied
Azerbaijani lands and it is the main obstacle to resolving the
conflict.

“The start of the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan will open tremendous opportunities for the
settlement of the conflict”, – he said.

The sides noted the need to organize the meetings of Armenian and
Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh for the settlement of
Karabakh problem.

Views were exchanged on other regional issues.

From: Baghdasarian

Fars News Agency, Iran
Dec 8 2012

Official: Export of Goods from Aras Free Trade Zone Increases by 43%

TEHRAN (FNA)- Some $105mln worth in goods have been exported from Aras
Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) since the beginning of the current Iranian year
(started March 20), showing a 43-percent rise as compared with last
year’s corresponding period, an Iranian official announced Saturday.

“Exports from Aras Free (Trade) Zone increased by 43 percent in
value and 50 percent in weight in the said period as compared with the
corresponding period in the last year,” AFTZ Managing-Director Sadeq
Najafi said.

“This volume of goods which weighed 120,000 tons was exported to
Georgia, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Turkey, Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and some European
countries,” he added.

Najafi said that the exported goods and products included trailers,
trucks, cotton, furniture, different kinds of kitchen cabinet sheets,
plastic rolls and bags, copper ingot, wooden pallets, metal stand,
gasoline, diesel fuel, polyethylene, steel rod, kitchen utensils,
raison, freezers, beds and motorcycles.

There are more than 100 manufacturing, industrial, and trading units
active in AFTZ and their products are exported to target countries
across the globe.

In a meeting with governor-general of Armenia’s Sionik province in
June, Najafi inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation
in investment, trade and environmental sectors.

“In this MoU, it was agreed that an Iranian-Armenian free trade zone
will be established for joint investment by Aras Free Trade Zone and
Sionik province,” Najafi said.

The two sides also agreed to create a joint border market at Nordouz
border which is located within the boundaries of Aras Free Trade Zone,
he added.

The AFTZ’s exports are mostly destined for Azerbaijan, Germany,
Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Iraq, Georgia and Nakhichevan.

`07125278

From: Baghdasarian

PR Newswire
December 7, 2012 Friday 6:12 AM EST

Karoun Dairies Wins Two Awards at the 2012 World Cheese Awards

Award Winning Handmade Cheeses Take Top Honors at the Guild of Fine Food

TURLOCK, Calif., Dec. 7, 2012

For over 20 years, The Guild of Fine Food has brought together the
very best examples of the cheesemakers’ art to create the World Cheese
Awards. The World Cheese Awards accepts only cheese entries, no cream,
butter or yogurt – the emphasis is firmly on cheese in all its
magnificence. This year, California cheese maker, Karoun Dairies Inc.
(karouncheese.com), was proudly awarded a Silver and Bronze medal.
Karoun won the Silver for their Mozzarella Ball and a Bronze for their
Goat Basket Feta.

This November a record-setting World Cheese Awards filled the NEC in
Birmingham (UK) with over 2500 cheese entries from 35 countries – the
largest and most respected cheese competition in the world. The
prestigious awards were judged by 220 experts from every corner of the
world including cheese graders, retailers, chefs and buyers.

“We are honored to have won two awards at the 2012 World Cheese Awards
and to receive world recognition by the prestigious Guild of Fine
Food,” stated Rostom Baghdassarian, company COO.

The Baghdassarian Family immigrated to the United States from Lebanon
in 1990 to pursue the American dream and a passion for the art and
science of yogurt and cheesemaking. From humble beginnings to being
recognized as one of America’s premier cheese companies is a source of
great pride. “As a family business that is living the American dream,
all of us at Karoun Dairies take great pride in creating and
manufacturing the most delicious, best quality, all natural cheeses on
the market,” said Rostom Baghdassarian, company COO. “Serving the
Mediterranean, Indian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic and natural markets
using old country methods and family recipes, we are proud to share
delicious new options for a healthy and flavorful approach to cooking
and eating.”

As is evident by these latest awards, Karoun continues to set a new
standard for Mediterranean handmade cheeses and all natural yogurt
products in the United States, with dairy products which are made
strictly using only milk from cows that are free from growth hormones,
BGH/rBST, and Real California Milk certified.

Through their proprietary brands, Karoun Dairies services various
ethnic markets in the U.S. Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, European,
Hispanic, Indian, Greek, Russian, Armenian and mainstream American.

About Karoun Dairies, Inc.: Founded in 1992, Karoun is a family-run
business reflecting fulfillment of the American dream. The company
has continued to grow from creating hand braided String Cheese for
local ethnic and specialty grocery stores, to producing a wide variety
of Mediterranean specialty cheeses and yogurt products with nationwide
mainstream distribution. All Karoun cheeses are natural and handmade
using only milk from cows that are free from growth hormones,
BGH/rBST, and are Real California Milk certified. All Karoun’s yogurt
products (yogurt, kefir cheese (labne) and sour cream) are all natural
and OU Kosher certified. Please visit karouncheese.com.

For product samples, press materials, or further information, please
contact Leigh-Anne Anderson, Christie
Communications,, at 805-969-3744,
[email protected]

SOURCE Karoun Dairies, Inc.

From: Baghdasarian

Haykakan Zhamanak: Stepan Demirchyan undergoes another surgery

10:53 08/12/2012 » DAILY PRESS

People’s Party of Armenia chairman, MP Stepan Demirchyan underwent
another surgery two days ago in the German city of Munich, Haykakan
Zhamanak reports. The surgery was successful, according to his
relatives, but it is not yet known when the PPA leader will return to
Armenia. Earlier, he underwent surgery in Yerevan on September 8,
writes the paper.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Issues discusses possible
toughening of rules for foreign citizens’ employment

ARMINFO
Saturday, December 8, 15:52

The Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Issues is discussing
possible toughening of the rules for foreign citizens’ employment,
Nana Heruni, Founder and Managing Director of Recruitment Company
“Tanger”, Chair of Private Employment Agencies Sectorial Union of the
Republican Employers Union of Armenia, told ArmInfo, when commenting
on the results of the recent roundtable on foreigners’ employment in
Armenia and labor migration of Armenian citizens.

She said that at the roundtable the Ministry suggested toughening the
rules for employment of foreign citizens. In particular, besides
temporary residence permit and a social card, the foreign citizens are
to receive a labor permit in Armenia. Heruni said that this procedure
will take the foreigners a month and even more given the bureaucratic
apparatus of Armenia. According to the new rules, if a foreign citizen
applies for a job, the employer should apply to the State Employment
Service, which should offer a citizen of Armenia to the employer (from
the citizens registered at the Employment Service). The employer will
have the right to employ a foreign citizen if there is no relevant
specialist among the Armenian citizens.

Heruni thinks that the new rules will complicate the access to the
labor market for our compatriots wishing to return to Motherland. Such
toughening is practiced in large cities and in European countries that
experience an uncontrollable inflow of migrants.

Instead of toughening the employment rules, Heruni suggests
facilitating the procedure of receiving the labor permit by unifying

it with the procedure of receiving the residence permit. “Thus, a
foreign citizen will not spend time and efforts on acquisition of one
more document, and the employer, in turn, will not have to wait for
legalization of the foreign specialists’ status”, she said.

From: Baghdasarian

Political expert: If Gagik Tsarukyan runs for president, he will be a
serious competitor for incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan

arminfo
Saturday, December 8, 13:31

If Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan runs
for president, he will be a serious competitor for the incumbent
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of
the Caucasus Institute, said at today’s press conference.

He thinks that either Tsarukyan will advance his own nominee, or the
PAP will nominate another candidate, as non-participation in the
elections will have a negative effect on the PAP’s image given the
electorate’s serious support, and the May parliamentary elections are
direct evidence of that.

In the meantime, the fact that the PAP has not announced any intention
to participate in the elections so far demonstrates certain
behind-the-scenes processes between the authorities and the PAP. “It
is obvious that the conditions offered to Tsarukyan do not satisfy him
if the latter continues the intrigue”, said Iskandaryan.

As regards the possible behavior of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), Iskandaryan supposes that the ANC will support Tsarukyan’s
candidacy if the latter runs for president. The expert is sure that if
the ANC participates in the elections simultaneously with the PAP, the
ANC and the PAP will have small chances to receive serious results;
consequently, it is more profitable for the ANC to support the PAP or
to run only in case the PAP leaves the arena.

From: Baghdasarian