Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FAREWELL DINNER FOR GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

news.am
June 25, 2012 | 19:58

YEREVAN. – From the name of Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian a farewell
dinner was organized for German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen
Schmidt for completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian thanked Ambassador Schmidt for his effective work,
the press service of the MFA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Ambassador Schmidt thanked Nalbandian for his support and announced
that he is sure Armenian – German relations will get deeper and
stronger.

The German Ambassador was awarded with the Armenian MFA medal.

From: Baghdasarian

CSTO HEAD BRIEFS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ON PREPARATION FOR COOPERATION 2012 EXERCISE

news.am
June 25, 2012 | 18:25

YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on Monday
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolay Bordyuzha.

The sides discussed the implementation of decisions adopted within the
frameworks of the CSTO session as well as issues regarding the upcoming
meeting, presidential press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Bordyuzha briefed the President about preparation for Cooperation
2012 joint military drills with the participation of CSTO Collective
Rapid Reaction Force, scheduled for September 3-8 in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

COINS DEDICATED TO YEREVAN AND REGIONS ARE PUT INTO CIRCULATION

ARMENPRESS
25 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia
issued commemorative coins with a nominal value of 50 AMD of 11 types
dedicated to 10 regions of Armenia and capital Yerevan. They are put
into circulation from June 25. Armenpress was informed about this
from Public relations department of Central Bank. In the centre of
the front part of the coin are imaged buildings which have historical
value for Regions, in the back part – the nominal value 50 AMD. Below
the images are the dates of the issuance of the coins.

The author of the sketches in front part is Eduard Kurghinyan, in
back part – Karapet Abrahamyan. The commemorative coins have been
issued in Finland.

The commemorative coins with nominal value of 50 AMD are legal
way of payment in the territory of Armenia and are subjected to
unconditional acceptance with their nominal value. The coins issued
in Armenia in 2003 are left in circulation without limitations and
change in conditions.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA IMPORTS GOLD FROM AUSTRIA

news.am
June 25, 2012 | 18:59

YEREVAN. – President of Austria Heinz Fischer and his spouse will
arrive in Armenia on Monday. An Armenian-Austrian business forum with
the participation of businessmen from both countries is on the agenda.

Bilateral trade relations are not so significant. According to Armenian
National Statistical Service, trade turnover last year made about
$50 million, which is just 0.9 percent of Armenia’s foreign trade
turnover. Moreover, it reduced by $10 million as compared to the
previous year.

Armenia – Austria trade balance is sharply negative: exports in 2011
amounted to $ 5 million, while import – $ 45 million

This year, trade turnover between the two states was not so active.

According to customs service statistics, trade with Austria is not so
diversified. Armenia mainly imports gold from Austria, which makes 70
percent of the imported volume, and exports mainly postal stamps (98%).

From: Baghdasarian

GHARIBYAN WINS GULIEV IN EUROPEAN JUNIOR WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP AND BECOMES A CHAMPION

13:13 . 25/06

European Junior Wrestling Championship came to a close in Zagreb,
Croatia.

Gevorg Gharibyan (55kg) held victories over the Hungarian, Belarusian
and French wrestlers. In the final he competed with Azerbaijani Sakit
Guliev and had a win over him, too.

Vaghinak Minasyan (84kg) was close to winning a medal, but in the
fight for the third place he fell behind Azerbaijani Fuad Aliev and
didn’t win the medal.

Thus, Gevorg Gharibyan became the only Armenian athlete to win a
medal in the Greco-Roman wrestling championship.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSSED BILATERAL RELATIONS

25.06.12, 17:36

Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor Araqelyan had a meeting with the
governor of Iranian Eastern Azarbaijan state Ahmad Alireza Beigi. As
IRNA informs two sides had a conversation about the visa regime
between two countries.

Two officials spoke about the issues of bilateral interest during the
meeting. Ambassador Araqelyan underlined that the governor’s visit
to Armenia would assist bilateral relations to become stronger.

G. Araqelyan also underlined that 24-hour work is held in order to
make Iranians’ visits to Armenia easier. Armenian Ambassador rated
role of Tabriz in the border cooperation between two countries.

From: Baghdasarian

IRAN FUNDS RECONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH

Panorama.am
25/06/2012

Iran has allocated funds for the reconstruction of St Sargis Church
of Khoy. Iranian news agency MEHR reported that Hosseyn Bahrein,
representative of Cultural Heritage Organization of Eastern Azarbaijan
province said 230 million Iranian Rial ($ 130 thousand) are allocated
for the accomplishment of the project.

The Iranian official stressed St Sargis is one of Armenian traditional
architectural monuments, the reconstruction of which will be completed
by July.

From: Baghdasarian

WILL SERZH SARGSYAN BE GIVEN TIME?
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:04:50 – 26/06/2012

The West seems to debrief Serzh Sargsyan by means of the report of
the International Crisis Group what it expected from him ahead of the
presidential election. The report entitled “Armenia: An Opportunity
for Statesmanship” is indeed a unique episode of constructive and
productive activity of the ICG has chosen the targets more precisely,
unlike the majority of reports of this group on the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

At the same time, the existence of this report reflects the West’s
doubts about Serzh Sargsyan’s sincerity to assume responsibility for
more dynamic change therefore the necessity to convey expectations
and outputs clearly and specifically occurred, making them available
to the public at large. The impression is that the West shares the
agenda of relations with Serzh Sargsyan through the ICG report trying
to deprive him of the possibility to mark time, maneuver, at the
same time offering the public to be more pro-active in controlling
Sargsyan-West agenda.

Most probably, certain disagreement has occurred in the West-Sargsyan
relationship. It is possible that Serzh Sargsyan promised a large-scale
process of reforms to receive a confirmation of approval of the
results of the parliamentary elections. However, as the parliamentary
elections ended, Sargsyan avoids responsibility, postponing everything
until after the presidential elections and thus receiving another
confirmation of approval of the outcome of the presidential election
as well.

“I will take the necessary steps after the presidential elections,”
Serzh Sargsyan perhaps tells his western partners. “No, you committed
to those steps after the parliamentary elections, that’s why we
recognized the absolute majority. So you must do it before the
presidential election,” the West answers to Serzh Sargsyan.

No doubt Sargsyan will not surrender and will try to persuade the
West. In addition, it is not ruled out that he will succeed because
Russia is there. This circumstance will constantly keep the West
from ultimatums and breakup with Armenia because this would boost
the influence of Russia on official Yerevan.

Moreover, Chatham House published a report on Armenia which stressed
the dependence on Moscow and sovereignty of Armenia.

On the other hand, it is obvious that Armenia has limited opportunity
for maneuver because Russia’s opportunities to maneuver on the
world map are also limited, and Russia has to make a compromise in
the relation with the West, especially regarding significant issues
for Moscow.

Most probably, the West proceeds from the circumstance of limited
maneuver when it spells out the agenda of relationship with Serzh
Sargsyan through the expert organization, clearly knowing that
Sargsyan does not have a resource to change or avoid this agenda for
a long time.

The point is that this agenda makes available to the public the
accountability of not only Serzh Sargsyan but also the western
partners, and the West opens this agenda knowing that it can fulfill
its part of obligations.

From: Baghdasarian

PECULIAR TYPE SPAIN OLIVES ARE GROWING IN MEGHRY

ARMENPRESS
25 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: The single olive garden occupying 7
hectares located in Meghry, Araksashen, annually yields at least 10
tones harvest. Lehvaz villager 50- year- old Karo Karapetyan ,
founded a garden in the place of the former dried garden by Askolana
and Seveliano 2 type olive trees brought from Spain, Armenpress
reports.

It took four years to the farmer to succeed it. ‘~R First I planted
7590 trees, unfortunately all were frostbitten. I tried again in 2003,
this time they became the victim of the hail. It was only in 2010 I
got the first harvest ‘~RKaro Karapetyn told the visitors.

In the words of the interlocutor annually he gathers 2-30 kg harvest.

One type of the olives is very saturated. Studies have found that the
pulp of that type contains up to 70 percent olive oil, in the nucleus
it amounts to 27-33 percent.

Although the harvest is ecologically pure, Karapetyan faces a problem
of selling it. ‘~RCurrently I sell it one kg by 1200 AMD. In Armenia
there is a task to sell it’~R Karapetyan noted.

The olive harvest starts in the mid September in Araksashen , whereas
in Spain it takes place two months later.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AND CHINA TO DEEPEN RELATIONS IN JUDICIAL SYSTEM

ARMENPRESS
25 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: The delegation of Supreme People’s Court
of People’s Republic of China paid a reciprocal visit to Armenia. The
delegates had a meeting with the judges of the Court of Cassation on
June 26, Armenpress reports.

The Chairman of Armenian Cassation Court Arman Mkrtumyan stated
it is already the second meeting with China’s judicial system
representatives. ‘~R In recent years Armenia and China have established
stable, reliable relations pertaining to culture, politics, economy.

We lack cooperation in judicial sphere’~R Mkrtumyan noted. In the
words of the interlocutor, within the framework of the visit Chinese
delegation members are enabled a chance not only to get familiarized
with Armenian judicial system and pay visits to courts of all
instances but have an opportunity to see Armenian historic monuments
and sights. The Chairman of the Court of Cassation expressed hope
that mutual visits will pave the way for the cooperation and exchange
of experience.

In the words of PRC Supreme People’s Court Vice President the
cooperation between the two countries will gain greater importance as
a result of joint work.’~R We have general interests and reportedly a
higher level cooperation should be established. We can sign agreements
for the strengthening of bilateral ties and judicial systems’~R the
interlocutor underscored.

The Chairman of Armenia Cassation Court presented the Chinese
delegation the structure and peculiarities of Armenian judicial
system. China’s Supreme People’s Court delegation is set to meet with
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

From: Baghdasarian