Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

`Manana Grain’ to open grass meal plant in Armenia

news.am
December 01, 2012 | 22:23

Gurgen Nikoghosyan, the president of `Manana Grain’ Ltd. company, told
Armenian News-NEWS.am, that the company is going to open a grass meal
plant in Armenia in 2013. According to him, the performance of the
plant will be 1500 kg per hour, the processing capacity – 6000 kg of
grass per hour (the flour production by weight will be 25% grass). The
factory plans to process mainly cane, although it will be designed for
any type of grass.

Preferring not to reveal the amount of investments in the plant and
the estimated value of the future product, he said that he plans to
offer below the current market price for rough equivalents.

Note, that in 2011 the production of animal feed in Armenia was AMD
518 million worth, which is about seven times the amount in 2010. This
was due to the opening of a new feed plant in 2011, which is also
owned by `Manana Grain.’

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan refuses to make number of Armenian captives public

news.am
November 30, 2012 | 20:10

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijani side again evaded from the direct response on
providing the list of the Armenian captives, Armenian MOD Spokesperson
Artsrun Hovhannisyan told journalists on Friday after giving back an
Azeri shepherd.

According to him, the Armenian side due to the return of the Azeri
captive again raised the issue of the list of servicemen and hostages,
while some details were passed to the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC).

At the moment, Azerbaijan officially claims about having no Armenian
captives or hostages. To note over 1,000 people are lost without
trace.

From: Baghdasarian

HAK waiting for Narek Sargsyan’s response

03:11 pm | November 30, 2012 | Politics

In violation with the constitutional order, Yerevan’s chief architect
yesterday acted as a member of the Elders’ Council, giving his consent
to the development program of the Armenian capital and making
amendments in the general layout, “Armenian National Congress (HAK)
alliance of parties” faction of Yerevan’s Elders’ Council said in a
statement.

“He almost destroyed Republic Square and was about to remove
government buildings from the city center; he simply lacked
`professional convictions…’ We have repeatedly stated that the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) in the person of Yerevan
Mayor is wrecking the Council of Elders. Instead of prosecuting the
infamous architect for disfiguring our capital, he is allowed to make
provincial statements and make Yerevan unrecognizable.

We demand an explanation from [chief architect] Narek Sargsyan in the
Elders’ Council.”

From: Baghdasarian

Vlad Filat: Moldova gives importance to development of cooperation with Armenia

14:27 01/12/2012 » ECONOMY

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today received Moldovan Prime
Minister Vlad Filat who attended the EPP Eastern Partnership Summit in
Yerevan.

At the meeting, the Moldovan Prime Minister stated that Moldova is
interested in expansion of relations with Armenia and gives importance
to development of cooperation with Armenia within the CIS and Eastern
Partnership frameworks.

The interlocutors agreed that the level of bilateral economic
relations is insufficient. In this context, they noted that it is
important to resume the operation of the Armenian-Moldovan
intergovernmental commission and agreed to take exact steps in this
direction, to develop a new agenda to boost economic cooperation.

Tigran Sargsyan and Vlad Filat attached importance to the exchange of
experience on reforms and in this context discussed a range of issues
of mutual interest.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

The identities of dead pilots of Congo aircraft is already clarified

17:47, 1 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Il-76 cargo aircraft of Armenian
company `Rich Airways’ crashed 500 meters from the `Maya-Maya’ airport
of Brazzaville, Congo Republic on November 30 which transfers the
cargo of local company. All the members of the staff are dead in a
result 5 of which were Armenian citizens. On the request of Armenian
Ambassador in Egypt Russian Ambassador to Congo provided us with this
information. Armenpress was informed from the Armenian MFA spokesman
Tigran Balayan that Varazdat Balasanyan, the captain of the aircraft,
born October 10, 1949, Ara Tovmasyan, Tadevos Hovhannisyan, Andranik
Gevorgyan and Edgar Avetyan are the victims of the crash. Cargo
aircraft crashed because of the strong lightening, the plane wing drop
down and collided with houses. More than 30 people dead and 20 wounded
in a result. Cargo plane has crashed at Brazzaville Airport, in
Congo’s capital. Congo airport was closed just after the disaster.
Firefighters, rescuers and police are working at the place.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia is a good market for East Azarbaijan, says Iranian official

17:21 01/12/2012 » ECONOMY

Armenia is a good market for the agricultural production of East
Azarbaijan, head of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Agricultural Jihad
Organization, Masoud Mohammadian told Iran’s state-run news agency
IRNA in an interview.

Referring to bilateral cooperation in agriculture, the Iranian
official stated that Iran’s East Azarbaijan province and Armenia’s
Armavir region have signed an agreement on purchase of anti-hail
stations.

The investment climate of Armenia and Iran is favorable, Masoud
Mohammadian added.

We will remind that Governor-General of Iran’s East Azarbaijan
province Ahmad Alireza Beigi met Governor of Armenia’s Armavir region
Ashot Ghahramanyan in Tabriz recently.

`In consideration of the agricultural sector’s possibilities in
Armavir region and East Azarbaijan’s scientific and technical base, we
are interested in making investments in Armenia and expanding
bilateral cooperation in agriculture,’ Ahmad Alireza Beigi said during
the meeting.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION JOSE MANUEL BARROSO

01.12.2012

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the President of the European
Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

The President of Armenia and President of the European Commission
summarized results of the meeting at the press conference for the
representatives of the mass media.

***
Statement by President Serzh Sarsgyan on the results of the meeting
with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso at
the press conference for the representatives of the mass media

Mr. President,

I am glad to host you in Yerevan for the first time. I recall warmly
our meeting in Brussels in March and greatly appreciate the
established dialogue between us. Your visit to Armenia is an important
impetus for the development of Armenia-EU relations.

Aspiration to have a state structured based on the European values –
freedom, democracy, the rule of law, has been ever-present in the
hearts of the Armenian people. We view our interaction with the
European structures as an important factor of Armenia’s institutional
maturing and successful implementation of reforms.

It is no accident that I have reiterated our determination to continue
to deepen and develop our cooperation with the European Union. Our
goal is before the November 2013 Summit in Vilnius to conclude works
on the Association Agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Zone negotiations, elevating thus our relations to a new level.

We have noted with satisfaction that negotiations on the EU entry visa
facilitation for the citizens of Armenia have been concluded. It will
be signed soon and we expect that it will enter into force in
mid-2013. After that, we will be ready to move on to the negotiations
regarding the next, more complex stage – abolishment of visa
requirement. From January 2013, citizens of EU will be visiting
Armenia without obtaining entry visas. This process has one objective
– to facilitate contacts between our societies, increase the number of
reciprocal visits, and provide new opportunities for the students,
scientists, and creative people.

At the meeting, I have expressed our conviction that it is necessary
to deepen cooperation in the framework of the Eastern Partnership
program. Closed borders, threats to use force, xenophobia and racism
have no place in the 21st century. Moreover, we must declare zero
tolerance towards these evils on the territory of our partnership. All
our statements and actions become deficient if against this background
one of the partner states calls the entire nation of another partner
state an enemy, offering a repulsive and classical example of
xenophobia.

We cannot pretend that it is normal when Turkey, a member of G-20,
which was created for the economic advancement and a country which
aspires to become a member of the European Union, is unilaterally and
illegally keeps border closed with Armenia, a member of the Eastern
Partnership. It runs contrary not only to the simple logic of the
Partnership but violates the main principles and norms of
international law. In Europe, borders must not be used as dividing
lines.

I presented to Mr. Barroso our visions of the resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem. It is gratifying that we share with the
European Union full understanding regarding the resolution of the
conflict. Armenia has mentioned on many occasions that Nagorno
Karabakh is part of the European family, living with the same values;
in this regard, we attach importance to the direct contacts of the
representatives of the European Union with Nagorno Karabakh,
particularly their regular visits.

In the framework of our dialogue, we have discussed issues of mutual
interest related to the human rights in the open and constructive
atmosphere. I assured Mr. Barroso that we are committed to conduct
presidential elections in February 2013 in line with the highest
international standards.

I expressed gratitude to President Barroso for his assistance to the
program of reformation in Armenia and readiness to increase that
assistance based on the `More for More’ approach. We have also
discussed the preparation works for the donor conference to be held
next year.

Dear Mr. Barroso,

In conclusion, I would like to express thanks for your persistent
efforts aimed at the deepening of Armenia-EU relations, strengthening
the Eastern Partnership, and establishment of peace and stability in
our region.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Folk Group “Gurdjieff” Wins Edison Award

Mariam Mughdusyan

12:51, December 1, 2012
Armenia’s Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble has won the 2012 Edison
Awards prize for best folk album.

Levon Eskenian, founder of the Ensemble, and members Emmanuel
Hovhannisyan and Norayr Gaboyan, travelled to the Dutch city of
Eindhoven for the awards ceremony on November 28.

Upon accepting the award Eskenian said, `Winning this award is a great
honor for us. It has given us a huge creative boost. It was also a
great opportunity for the ensemble to once again perform on the
international stage.’

The Edison music award is an annual Dutch music prize, awarded for
outstanding achievements in the music industry. It is one of the
oldest music awards in the world, having been presented since 1960.

The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble was founded in 2008 by the
Armenian musician Levon Eskenian with the aim of creating
ethnographically authentic arrangements of the G.I. Gurdjieff/Thomas
de Hartmann piano music.

The ensemble consists of leading Eastern folk instrumentalists in
Armenia playing duduk, blul/nay, saz, tar, kiamancha, oud, kanon,
santur, dap/daf, tombak and dhol.

From: Baghdasarian

CIS Heads of States to discuss more than 20 documents in Ashgabat

15:51, 1 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The next meeting of the Council of
the Heads of CIS States, which was expected to be held in early
November, will be held in Ashgabat on December 5. Armenpress reports
referring to CIS press service that some 20 draft documents relating
to regional cooperation in the economic and humanitarian fields and
security are planned to be discussed at the Council of the CIS Heads
of State who will discuss some issues related to multilateral
cooperation in different spheres. Turkmenistan is hosting the forum as
the Chairman country of the CIS in 2012. Information and Analytical
Department of the Executive Committee noted that the project on
‘decision on the preparation for celebration of the 70th anniversary
of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War ‘ (1941-1945) is the most
important document to be discussed.

Presidency of CIS will go to Belarus in 2013.

From: Baghdasarian

President Serzh Sargsyan issued condolence message to Congo President

16:21, 1 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenian Republic Serzh
Sargsyan issued a condolence message on November 1 to the President of
Congo Republic Denis Sassou Nguesso on the occasion of aircraft crash
which took place on November 30 in a result of which dozens of
innocent people died and were wounded. Armenpress was informed from
Armenian presidential press service.

From: Baghdasarian