Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS OFFER TRADERS CONCESSIONS

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 4 2015

4 February 2015 – 4:49pm

The Armenian parliament has postponed implementation of a compulsory
inventory count in the law on turnover tax today. 75 MPs voted for
the project, 1 against, 40 abstained. Prosperous Armenia, Heritage
and Orinats Yerkir abstained, Dashnaktsutyun and the ruling Republican
Party voted for it.

A thousand small and medium-scale businessmen held a protest against
the law in late January, resulting in the second postponement of
its implementation (the first postponement until February 1, 2015,
was provoked by protests in September 2014).

Naira Zograbyan of the Prosperous Armenia Party declared the
postponement of the law’s implementation today. Traders say they cannot
make counts of all their inventories because large distributors often
sell goods without facture invoices. Moreover, such counts would
make the turnover exceed the minimum limit of 58.3 million drams,
forcing traders to pay VAT.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN RESTAURANT MAYRIG SERVES FAMILY RECIPES

Khaleej Times, UAE
Feb 4 2015

David Light (Senior Reporter) / 4 February 2015

There’s more to Armenia than Kim Kardashian. Find out what at Mayrig.

It’s the sizeable country between Georgia and Iran that evokes a
curiosity for travellers by maintaining a mysterious aura. Such is
the understated nature of Armenia; the only aspect of the country’s
culture people can usually recall is, unfortunately, Los Angeles
native Kim Kardashian whose father was of Armenian heritage.

However, Armenia has traditionally been a prosperous nation with a
rich history and culture. Combined with its welcoming population it
remains high on the list of places to visit. Though, if you’re not
able to make the time to skip over at the moment, the only place
to find authentic Armenian hospitality here in Dubai is at Mayrig,
along Emaar Boulevard, Downtown.

Founded by Aline Kamakian and Serge Maacaron, grandchildren of
Manouchag who was celebrated in the family for her cooking and whose
recipes are still used at the restaurant, Mayrig started out in Beirut,
Lebanon. The Dubai branch opened a couple of years ago with the same
faithfulness to tradition at its heart.

During our time there we were presented with a tasting platter that was
satisfying and very well done. Sat outside to also enjoy the shisha
facilities, Mayrig is a charming establishment. The faux old-world
decorations are not too over-the-top, making it as authentic as you
can get in Dubai.

Yet, it is the food that is the draw. Mayrig has new additions to its
menu, available from this month. Fresh seafood dishes, more traditional
Armenian favourites and desserts will join what the restaurant already
has to offer.

New menu items include appetisers such as Imam Bayaldi, made with
eggplant, tomato and chickpeas, and seafood items such as the chunky
gratinated fish in a spicy tahini sauce.

The Armenian delicacy Banirov Maamoul, a melted cheese stuffed cookie
topped with syrup, is also a new favourite.

Menu staples include the Hommos Sojouk, which is delicious and the
Mayrig Selection of kebbe, lentils, potatoes and raw meat. The Mante
is something you just have to try. These miniature meat dumplings
covered in yogurt are unusual, yet brilliant in their uniqueness.

One thing: if you’re a fan of nutmeg as flavouring, this is your kind
of place. Lots of the dishes contain the spice and it is wonderful.

All in all, the fact that Mayrig is the only Armenian restaurant in
Dubai is reason enough to check it out.

From: Baghdasarian

CARREFEUR INCLINED TO WORK WITH DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS – AMBASSADOR

15:05 * 04.02.15

France’s ambassador to Armenia said Wednesday that he expects the
supermarket chain Carrefeur to finally launch its business in Armenia
in 2015.

Jean-Francoise Chartier said that the French brand is more inclined
to work with domestic manufacturers in countries where it operates
its own chain.

“After setting up its business in this or that country, Carrefeur is
more inclined to work with domestic manufacturers. And this approach
will naturally have its impact on the supply and demand,” he said, when
asked to comment on certain export restrictions which Armenia may face
due to higher customs tariffs imposed by the Eurasian Economic Union.

The ambassador said the company is planning to introduce specific
agricultural produce into the Armenian market. “They are ready-made,
not just semi-processed products, such as a certain assortment of
wines and melted cheese, which are beyond the domain of competition
as they have their own consumers,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian

INAUGURATION DE LA MATERNELLE TEBROTZASSERE

Le film d’Arto Pehlivanian

Arto Pehlivanian propose le film qu’il a tourne le 24 janvier dernier
a l’occasion de l’inauguration d’un Khatchkar et de l’ecole maternelle
Tebrotzassère au Raincy.

mercredi 4 fevrier 2015, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AND SWEDEN PLAN TO OPEN EMBASSIES

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and Martin Ehnberg, Sweden’s
Charge D’Affaires to Armenia, have discussed establishing embassies
in one another’s countries, according to the press office of the
government.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that the existence of these diplomatic
missions and fruitful work will give renewed impetus to bilateral
cooperation.

The sides also discussed a number of issues related to the
implementation of joint programs.

04.02.15, 13:32

From: Baghdasarian

PETROS MAKEYAN: AUTHORITIES TOOK REVENGE ON ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN (VIDEO)

12:40 | February 4,2015 | Politics

Lernik Alexanyan, a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK), cannot understand the logic of last week’s automobile march
launched by the Founding Parliament, a successor of the Pre-Parliament
pressure group.

He believes that the police in Karabakh did not exercise violence
against the participants of the automobile march ‘with special aim.’

“You can always blame the authorities. I am against violence, but we
should not draw conclusions until we know the details. I also cannot
understand the Founding Parliament’s intention to go to Artsakh with
that slogan – “100th Anniversary Without this Regime” he said.

The weekend events near Berdzor, did not surprise the chairman of
the Democratic Fatherland Party, Petros Makeyan. It is already a year
hazardous processes have been occurring in Armenia, he says.

“The authorities took revenge on Zhirayr Sefilyan for the motto he
chose and drove another wedge into the relations between Armenia and
Karabakh. We are witnessing the continuation of separatist politics
which began during the years of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency,”
he said.

On January 31, members of the Founding Parliament, a radical opposition
initiative seeking a regime change in Armenia, tried to enter Karabakh
in order to carry out a protest demonstration there.

Near Berdzor, they were stopped by local police who forcefully
blocked access to the territory of Karabakh. Some of the participants,
including Zhirayr Sefilyan, a former commander of the Shushi special
detachment, political analyst Igor Muradyan and other freedom fighters
were beaten.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PROTESTS AGAINST ARMENIAN CONTROL CHAMBER CHAIRMAN’S BEHAVIOR

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, February 4, 15:41

The parliamentary opposition protests against the behavior of the
Armenian Control Chamber Chairman Ishkhan Zakaryan, who refused to
personally present the Control Chamber’s report to the Parliament
and has sent the deputy chairman to the session.

At the National Assembly’s session, Head of the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) Faction Levon Zurabyan pointed out that following the
scandalous disclosures by the Control Chamber in 2012-213, Ishkhan
Zakaryan no longer attends the Parliament to present the Control
Chamber’s report despite the numerous demands of the parliamentarians.

Zurabyan also asked Seyran Avagyan, Deputy Chairman of the Control
Chamber, to leave the Parliament because according to the legislation,
the report is to be presented by the Chairman, not the Deputy
Chairman. Zurabyan also noted that if Zakaryan cannot personally attend
the session today, the parliamentarians “will patiently wait for him”.

Speaker of the Parliament Galust Sahakyan, in turn, said that he does
not want to boycott Avagyan’s speech. He added that like any other
official, Ishkhan Zakaryan has the right to go on vacation.

For his part, ANC parliamentarian Gagik Jhangiryan read out an extract
from the law, which says that it is the chairman of the Control Chamber
that shall present the report to the Parliament. “If the Parliament
ignores its own law, what do we demand from other structures? Ishkhan
Zakaryan should have presented the results of last year’s report, as
well as the results of numerous cases of abuse. What do we do now? Who
will answer the numerous questions of the Parliament?” said Jhangiryan.

Speaker Sahakyan said that Avagyan will also be able to give exhaustive
answers to all the questions of the MPs.

To note, since 2012 Zakaryan’s work style has changed. Previously he
regularly imported the media of the disclosures by the Control Chamber
and each of such reports was full of scandalous data. After 2012 he
gave up that work style and some experts say that either he does not
simply want to cast a shadow on the RPA’s election campaign with his
loud disclosures or he has been warned not to make such statements.

If Zakaryan kept that effort, the Government of Armenia and all the
ministries and officials would be qualified as thieves.

From: Baghdasarian

NOT MOURNING, BUT DEMAND

Wednesday, 04 February 2015 10:57

Action for the Remembrance of the Holocaust Victims

Events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
have started at the Artsakh State University On January 27, the
International Day of Remembering the Holocaust Victims, the ArSU
students and lecturers organized a protest action against the crimes
against humanity, gathering in the University courtyard with slogans
condemning Genocides.

The speakers expressed confidence that if the Armenian Genocide of
1915 had been recognized and condemned in due time, further Genocides
wouldn’t have taken place.

, said the ArSU Prorector on the activities with students
Vitya Yaramishyan.

From: Baghdasarian

CARS DAMAGED DURING BERDZOR INCIDENT TO BE DISPLAYED THURSDAY

17:07 | February 4,2015 | Politics

Member of the Founding Parliament movement who were involved in
the weekend incident near Berdzor will give an outdoor conference
on February 5. During the meeting, they will also display the cars
damaged during the incident.

On January 31, members of the Founding Parliament, a radical opposition
initiative seeking a regime change in Armenia, tried to enter Karabakh
in order to carry out a protest demonstration there.

Near Berdzor, they were stopped by local police who forcefully
blocked access to the territory of Karabakh. Some of the participants,
including Zhirayr Sefilyan, a former commander of the Shushi special
detachment, political analyst Igor Muradyan and other freedom fighters
were beaten. The police also damaged the cars in which the group
was travelling.

From: Baghdasarian

HOLLANDE TO BE IN ARMENIA ON APRIL 24 – AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, February 4. /ARKA/. France president Francois Hollande
will come to Armenia on april 24 to commemorate the 1915 genocide of
Armenians, French ambassador to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier said,
as cited by Novosti-Armenia.

Asked to comment on Turkish president’s decision to celebrate the
victory at Gallipoli on that day, the ambassador said he is not
commenting on other countries’ celebration decisions.

“Every country makes its own decision who to send and where. Francois
Hollande will come to Armenia. It is not clear yet who will go to
Turkey”, Charpentier said.

Earlier, the Turkish press reported that president Erdogan invited
his Armenian colleague to Turkey to celebrate the anniversary of
the victory in the Battle of Gallipoli on April 23-24. Sargsyan
said in his response the president pursues a sole aim of diverting
the attention of the global community from the Armenian genocide
centennial commemoration.

There are currently no diplomatic relations established between Turkey
and Armenia: official Ankara closed the border in 1993. The uneasy
relationship between the countries is caused particularly by Ankara’s
support to Azerbaijan on Karabakh problem and Turkey’s overreaction
to international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Empire.

The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.

According to Armenian and many other historians, up to 1.5 million
Armenians were killed starting in 1915 in a systematic campaign by
the government of Turkey. Turkey has been denying it for decades.

The Armenian genocide was recognized by tens of countries. The first
was Uruguay that did so in 1965. Other nations are Russia, France,
Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina,
42 U.S. states. It was recognized also by the Vatican, the European
Parliament, the World Council of Churches and other international
organizations. -0–

From: Baghdasarian