Author: Hovhannisian John

Film: Parajanov films to be screened at Pera Museum in Istanbul

Hovhannisian John
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 9 2019
20:08 09/01/2019 Armenia

A selection of films by Sergei Parajanov, a world-renowned Armenian director, will be screened in Pera Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. As Ermenihaber reports, the screenings will take place as part of the ongoing exhibition “Parajanov with Sarkis. ”

to remind, coordinated by the director of the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, Zaven Sargsyan, the event exhibits various works by the artist, including paintings, collages, trimmings, sketches themed after his movies, stage costumes, mosaics, photos, etc.

The screening program, meanwhile, will run through March 17 and will give the local audience wo enjoy number of award-winning films, such as “Andriesh,” “Ukrainian Rhapsody,” “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” “Hakob Hovnatanyan,” “Flower on the Stone.” The program also features The Seasons of the Year by another Armenian director Artavazd Peleshian and documentary “Paradjanov: A Requiem” directed by Ron Holloway. 

A little Russian king…

Hovhannisian John
La Croix International, France
January 5, 2019 Saturday
A little Russian king
 
 Gospel reflection for the Epiphany
 
 
 
Who were these famous Magi who infuse the nativity with a little of the atmosphere of One Thousand and One Nights? One meaning of the word “magos” could indicate that they were Persian priests. Or were they magicians, soothsayers, sages, or Babylonian astrologers? Some suggest that they were religious propagandists, even charlatans.
 
In the Gospels, only Matthew describes them in detail, careful to show how they are connected to the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Nations will come to your light/and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isiah 60:3)
 
There is also Psalm 72: “May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.” (Ps. 72: 10)
 
From as early as the second century, in Syria, Armenia and the Arab countries, the apocryphal gospels demonstrate great powers of imagination. The Armenian Gospel of the Infancy says that they were kings, that there were three brothers, each rulers of different kingdoms. The first, Melkon (who became Melchior in the West) ruled over the Persians, the second, Balthazar, ruled the Indians, and the third, Caspar, ruled the Arab kingdom.
 
The Armenian Gospel delights in describing the gifts, the procession, the crowns worn by the Magi, their departure from Persia accompanied by the sound of a cockerel crowing, the arrival in Jerusalem at dawn, the conversations between Mary and Joseph as well as the gifts of Jesus’ swaddling that the kings took back to their countries as relics.
 
The story doesn’t stop there. In the eighth century, the great English Benedictine scholar, Bede the Venerable, described the Magi with such precision that you would think he had met them the night before at the office of Compline. Here, Melchior is made “an old man with white hair and long beard who gifted gold to the Lord as to a king.” The second, Gaspar, “young and beardless and ruddy complexioned … honored Him as God by his gift of incense, an oblation worthy of divinity.” As for the third, Balthazar, “black-skinned and heavily bearded … by his gift of myrrh he testified to the Son of Man who was to die for our salvation.”
 
In the 12th century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, also a doctor of theology, enhanced the story, adding that it was the gold that finally lifted the Virgin from her sorrow, that incense was used to sanctify the stables and that myrrh was used a medicine to cure the child of his ailments.
 
Over the centuries, and up to our own times, literature has enjoyed revisiting this fanciful tale, including the tradition of the fourth king, unmentioned in the Gospel, who arrived too late at Christmas and was still a pilgrim 33 years later. I am greatly moved by Edgard Schafer’s Christmas tale written almost 50 years ago, in which this fourth king, a minor king of Russia, encounters many obstacles and loses all his gifts, and arrives just in time at the foot of the cross to offer his heart to the Lord.
 
This fourth king is also the king of Epiphany … he who finds the charm (known as the “fève” in France) in the Epiphany cake, the galette des rois, and wears the golden paper crown. And there is yet another tradition, in keeping with the Eucharist, that the youngest child is the fourth king, sometimes called “The Little King” or “The Sun Child,” who hides under the table and chooses who will have which slice, in complete innocence.
 

Nikol Pashinyan, Vladimir Putin discuss institutional solutions on CSTO

Hovhannisian John
ARKA, Armenia
Dec 28 2018

YEREVAN, December 28. /ARKA/. Strategic essence and content of the Collective Security Treaty Organization were briefly discussed at the meeting between Armenian Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pashinyan said Thursday night in his live address to Armenian people on his Facebook page upon his return from Moscow.  

“Our stance is that we need institutional solutions here to make in the CSTO regulations the amendments foreseeing such situations for avoiding such disputes caused by the lack of coordination,” Pashinyan said. 

The turmoil in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was triggered by Armenia’s decision in early November to recall Yuri Khachaturov, a former chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, who had been serving as CSTO secretary general. In Armenia Khachaturov had been charged with involvement in the violent crackdown on the opposition in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election in 2008. Armenia insists that the position should be held by its representative until the end of Khachaturov’s term, which ends in mid 2019. 

During a November 8 CSTO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan and Belarus insisted that the rotating position be handed to Belarus, which is next in the list of the countries to assume the position by alphabetical order.  -0—

Asbarez: 3 Reasons Why We Should Stop Calling It Lahmajo(Un)?

Hovhannisian John
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Aintab style Lahmajoun (Photo by Ani Kalafian)

BY SARKIS RSHDOUNI
Special to Asbarez

Every culture on this planet has their own ethnic cuisine, however, it is hard to believe that there is one type of food represented by one specific culture, in this day and age.

As I, being part Armenian, part Assyrian, and part Greek, born and raised in the eastern part of Syria; the Lower Mesopotamia, and Aleppo, the heaven of Middle Eastern cuisine, literally, I had the chance to eat wholeheartedly all types of food and national and ethnic cuisines, such us, of course Western Armenian, Assyrian, Levantine, Arabic, Mediterranean and more. Even with all these options at my disposal, I chose to become a vegetarian at the age of 14, perhaps a very rare commitment in Syria.

Since my graduation from Yerevan State University, Faculty of History, it was my obsession to find the origins and etymology of not just language, but actual titles and colloquialism of all the dialects of Armenian used today. Hence, I started with one of the most popular and loved foods of the Armenian culture: LAHMAJO(UN).

I have come across several blogs, articles, and personal testimonies regarding “Lahmajo,” with the word being of Arabic in origin, whilst the actual food is not. I have concluded in my extensive research that the food that we call “Lahmajo(un)” has spiritual pagan origins dating back to the late Iron Age 900-650 BC, at the very least. Allow me to explain further starting with:

Authentic Ingredients
Flour, water, salt, ground meat, baked into a thin crust in a pit oven, known as Tandoor or Tonir.

It is very obvious that the thin crust was inspired by Lavash itself and the meat was beef, to be more specific, it was HEIFER (young cow, not calf).

The reader must wonder, why Lavash and why heifer meat?

The Answer goes back circa 2100 years ago, during the Artashesian reign (Artaxiad Dynasty).

Lahmajo made in Armenia. (Photo by Danica Harootian)

Why Lavash? Lavash is the most sacred food among the Armenian people through out history. Making Lavash is a sacred ritual that requires a lot of dedicated physical work and back in the ancient times it was committed only by women. Armenian women solely dominated the Lavash making tradition, and the reason behind it is simply very obvious; women represent the Godess Anahit’s elements, traits, and divine feminine energy, where the Tonir oven represents the womb creating and birth-giving in this world and thus they have the blessing of Goddess Anahit to prepare the main part of their food, which is the bread of life. Lavash also used to be given as gifts and offerings to Goddess Anahit during rituals and holidays as a symbol of fertility and prosperity and even protection.

Armenian Historian Hamazasp Khachatryan explains this in his book titled “A Form Of Worshipping Goddess Anahit in Ancient Shirak,” where he states firsthand accounts of Greek Historian Plutarchus (1st century AD) witnessing the heifer as the main animal sacrifice to Goddess Anahit in the province of Shirak. The other provinces where temples of Goddess Anahit existed had similar types of sacrifices.

We can conclude and assume that this specific type of sacrificial meat that was only used in Lahmajo(un) was a ceremonial food. Taking into consideration, ancient Armenians’ daily nutrition was majorly based on grains, bread, dairy, and herbs, meat was exceptional, consumed mainly by the noble class and during rituals and holidays for commoners.

Etymology/Terminology
LAHM bi-Ajeen (Arabic), LAHM-ACHUN (turkish) literally means meat with dough. If “Lahmajo(un)” was an Arabic/Levantine invention then why wouldn’t they have a proper name for it? Example, Italians don’t call their Pasta “boiled dough,” they have a name for it. If we think “Lahmajo(un)” was translated directly from an Armenian name, we would be wrong, because in Armenian it would have been “khmorov mees or meesov khmor”, that just doesn’t sound right, Armenians are more traditionalists with their food and names.

Taking into consideration, “Lahmajo(un)” was introduced to northern Syria, state of Aleppo in the late 19th century, and that was mainly through the Armenians of Aintab and Urha and Cilicia regions who moved to Aleppo for merchant businesses, trade, and work, where Armenians became the masters of crafts and the food industry in general. It’s no surprise that Armenians started naming “lahmajo(un)/lahmajeen” for their Arabic and turkish speaking clients to make their product more appealing and easy to order.

During my research, I came across of two Armenian colloquial terms that could be close to “Lahmajo(un)” which are “M’salosh – Մսալօշ and M’sashot – Մսաշոթ”. With that said, the two titles are still a direct translation from “Lahmajo(un),” “mees” is meat and “losh” is Lavash, and “shot/շոթ” couldn’t find an official meaning for it which still explains the ingredients rather than the concept.

Cultural Aspect
Let’s check with Arab of the Levant and those who turkified the Arabic word “Lahmajo(un)”. In Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine “Lahmajo(un) is not consumed by the main populations, only by the minority Armenian Diaspora. From Aleppo is where the “Lahmajo(un) got its unique style that became more popularized with the greater Diaspora community around the world that now use pepper based spices and etc. Aleppo is famous with its chili pepper flakes and paste, and in Beirut is made little bit differently, but overall it is the same style and concept of the same ancestral “Lahmajo(un)”. In Damascus, probably in late 40’s “lahm bi-ajeen” became a popular street food, as a matter of fact, Damascenes have a similar food, similar in concept and ingredients but smaller in size, called “S’fiha – صفيحة” (meaning flat), where I, personally think that is a gentrified version of the Armenian product.

The Proper Naming Solution:
Taking into account the popularity of “Lahmajo(un)” and its roots in Armenian History and heritage, the community at large should come up with an original name. Until a proper Armenian title of the beloved meat and bread combination is named, I suggest at the very least start calling it “M’salosh or M’sashot”, by doing so one would be removing the turkified Arabic title that is commonly used everyday.

When Armenians proudly introduce and feed “Lahmajo(un)” to their non-Armenian friends in their hospitable nature and tell them of its Armenian origins and maybe even call it an Armenian Pizza and be proud and all that, but that pride shatters down as soon as the non-Armenian person asks, what does “Lahmajo(un)” mean? And you stumble and sorrowfully say, it is Arabic or turkish. How ironic.

I call to all Armenian Historians, Historical Linguistics and Anthropologists to collaborate all together and find the original word for “Lahmajo(un)” and free our heritage from the unauthentic elements.

Press: About a year after the revolution, 50-55 thousand state workers will become unemployed

Hovhannisian John
  • 22.12.2018

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7
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VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.


“time” the newspaper writes. “As a result of the structural reforms of the government – reduction of ministries, closing of public transport and non-governmental organizations, reduction of unnecessary teachers, approximately 50-55 thousand state workers may become unemployed. It is not known what they will do after losing their state jobs. The only visible job at the moment continues to be a taxi driver, to whom the government has given tax benefits.”


“Publication” the newspaper writes. “The RPA has decided to withdraw for the time being, not to participate in debates and discussions, to speak only when absolutely necessary, so that the newcomers, who are hardly familiar with the alphabet of politics, appear to be “full-fledged”. RPA does not exclude that Serzh Sargsyan will go to “retirement” without stopping to count and arrange the chessboard in the future. And how will the party survive? “I think the problem is there, but not very acute. Vigen is busy with “Luys” Foundation, Arpinen, Sharmazanov they lecture Vahram Baghdasaryan will also find a place in the educational system, Davit Harutyunyanfounded a law firm, Ashotyan will deal with the affairs of the party. The party currently has quite a lot of real estate – more than 70 offices, most of which are in Yerevan. In the end, they can rent a part of the premises of these offices, cover the expenses of the party,” said our interlocutor. By the way, the RPA Kentron community office, which is located in Buzand 1/2, a building belonging to Yerevan Municipality, has a contract until 2027. Meanwhile Taron Margaryan He signed contracts with news organizations located in this building for only 2 years.”


“Fact” the newspaper writes. “A lot of information was circulated in recent days regarding the possible increase of the gas price. The official reactions are extremely fragmented, in principle, one can say, they are absent. According to the reliable information we have, on behalf of the Prime Minister, officials of the Ministry of Energy, as well as those government officials who are in any way related to the topic, have been strictly instructed not to give interviews on the issue of gas tariffs, to remain silent as much as possible, and only in case of urgent need to officially limit themselves to just one sentence: “negotiations are in progress.” There is a point of view that the authorities themselves do not have a complete idea of ​​what is expected in the near future, that is why they are working to prevent panic on the one hand, and to avoid artificial expectations on the other.”


“time” the newspaper writes. “As part of the government’s structural reforms, the issue of uniting the Ministry of Territorial Management and Development and the Ministry of Emergency Situations is also being discussed. This unification would be really effective, but the authorities do not know who should remain as a minister: Suren Papikyan?, who is one of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s closest circle, or? Felix Tsolakyan, who is considered the most experienced and knowledgeable staff of this government.”


“People” the newspaper writes. “According to the information of “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper, criminal cases have been initiated in the law enforcement system in connection with embezzlement of diesel fuel. In particular, after the Velvet Revolution, a number of employees of the law enforcement system filed a complaint, claiming that the diesel fuel that was supposed to be given to marzes for business trips, as well as for moving around Yerevan due to official needs, was not actually provided. And now a criminal case has been initiated to find out that the diesel provided by the departments did not serve the purpose. Note that this problem is not new. For years, police officers and investigators have not hidden in private conversations that they have to go on business trips to marzes at their own expense. However, under the previous authorities, many people did not speak out about the problems, did not complain, fearing reprisals.”


“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Former commander of the Armenian authorities and the Artsakh Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan one of the victims of the conflict between Karen Sargsyan is Robert Kocharyan head of the bodyguard Grisha Sarkisov the son, who held the position of the head of the Artsakh state emergency service, but had to be relieved of that position, because after the “judgment” of the authorities, Lyova Mnatsakanyan could not be left without a position and was appointed to the State Emergency Service. In Artsakh, they are upset that Karen Sargsyan was deprived of her position “for not breaking up”, although, they say, she was working well. In order not to break his heart, they appointed a representative for the special assignments of the President of the Republic of Artsakh.


 


“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Yesterday, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Araik Harutyunyan he told us that next week the universities will hold meetings of the boards of trustees and will elect a new staff. We were informed that the Heratsi State Medical University, whose board of trustees was formed on November 12, by order of the Prime Minister, will be one of the first to hold a meeting. At the meeting, a chairman must be elected from among the 32 members of the council. We have learned that there are currently 2 candidates for President of the Association for Reproductive Medicine Edik Hambardzumyan and a songwriter, a doctor by profession, the grandson of a famous doctor Shield to Artsrun. The latter’s candidacy is welcomed by the medical circles: he is not a party member, he is not a government official and he is familiar with the university and the field of health care in general. Let’s remind that the former president Արմեն Աշոտյանն was”.


“time” the newspaper writes. “According to “Zhamanak”, the SRC is going to send a special order to restaurants, funeral and wedding halls, warning that if unregistered singers, toastmasters or musicians perform there, the full responsibility will fall on the management of these halls. It turns out that before inviting musicians or toastmasters, restaurants or banquet halls have to check their registration certificates, whether they have tax obligations or not, and only then allow them to perform, otherwise they will be fined. All that remains is for the banks to send a letter and demand that there are no overdue credit obligations among the guests.”


“168 hours” the newspaper writes. Director of “Araratcement”. Sedrak Arustamyan announced that in 2019 From January 1, the cost of releasing 1 ton of cement will be 40,000 AMD instead of the previous 50,000 AMD, including VAT. According to him, this step will have a multiplier effect on Armenia’s economy, “which many economists can definitely prove.” He also emphasized. “Here is the economic revolution Gagik Tsarukyanthe first step.” There are opinions that “Araratcement” simply had to take that step because there is a problem of competition in the market, as a large amount of cement is imported. This year, there were many publications in the press that Armenia, having cement factories, started importing it. The main batch of cement was imported from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Political scientist Styopa Safaryan wrote the following about the above statement on his Facebook page.


“PAP has spread the message that the first step of the economic revolution has been taken… While I thought that I would read about another new major investment, it turned out that Gagik Tsarukyan only stopped the collapse of the cement factory, which was no longer considered profitable and was going bankrupt, refused to make a profit for several years, made some investments in the direction of technical re-equipment, and instructed no one to cut costs, no matter how much the situation forces it… In short: to manage its property and its risks. He has done a good thing, it is impressive, but… As far as I know, this is called crisis management or bankruptcy prevention, but this is an economic revolution. I couldn’t even think about it… Wow, what are you doing, I’ll take your classic pain…”


Economist in conversation with “168.am”. Vahagn Khachatryan said that the price of cement decreased as a result of competition. “It’s not just talking, we have to wait and see what will happen as a result. It is not because of cement that those who want to do construction did not do it until now. So, cement cannot have a big role in that multiplier effect. Of course, it is very good that it is getting cheaper, there is no problem, but in all cases I agree with the opinions that it is a consequence of competition. And there is no need to abuse the economic revolution, because first we need to clarify what is meant by economic revolution, and then we can give evaluations if steps are taken towards it. I don’t see those steps today, except for the fight against corruption, which is more political, but whose impact on the economy is significant.”


Former RA Minister of Economic Development and Investments, economist Artsvik Minasyanin the conversation with us, positively assessed the decrease in the price of cement. According to him, an important step has been taken.


“First, a lot of good things have been done from the point of view of modernization. The issue of cement was also discussed back when we had extremely low-priced imports from Iran, and neither of our two major cement factories could withstand that competition. Therefore, from that point of view, it is necessary for there to be real changes in the components that form the cost, and technological changes are definitely commendable. In addition, it is very important to have a differentiated tariff policy for the same energy carriers in the field of cement production, so that we can have a quality product from the point of view of competition,” said Artsvik Minasyan. According to the former minister, the cheapening of cement is also a good step in the sense that it is a system-building product. “Cement is construction, construction provides new economic growth, that is, this is a good sector from that point of view. Yes, I agree that, if there are no other formulations of the revolution, and at this moment there are still no other formulations, such steps can be considered the first step of the economic revolution.”

Yerevan doesn`t want to comment on Baku`s decision to replace army units in Tavush direction of border

Hovhannisian John
Arminfo, Armenia
Dec 20 2018

ArmInfo. Security and the  status of Artsakh are inextricably linked with each other. The press  secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna  Naghdalyan stated this at a press conference.

She again recalled the position of Armenia that negotiations should  continue within the OSCE Minsk Group, exclusively by peaceful means,  and the priority is the issues of security and the status of NKR, as  well as the decisive voice of Stepanakert in establishing a lasting  peace. According to her, the heads of the foreign affairs agencies  agreed to maintain the dynamics of the meetings.

Commenting on the recent statement of the Foreign Minister of  Azerbaijan about the meeting with the Armenian counterpart in Milan,  Naghdalyan reiterated that Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said about everything  on December 6 right after the meeting: “It was about reaching mutual  understanding about continuing the dynamics of meetings and agreeing  on the text of the five-sided statement. “It’s good that something  similar was heard from Azerbaijan for the first time,” Naghdalyan  notes. 

As for the decision of the Azerbaijani authorities to replace the  army units in the Ghazakh and Astafa sections with border units, the  Foreign Ministry believes that it is too early to assess.

Poland’s Pol-Mot Holding in talks over tractor plant in Armenia

Hovhannisian John
Intellinews
Wednesday
Poland’s Pol-Mot Holding in talks over tractor plant in Armenia
 
 
Poland’s Pol-Mot Holding has held talks with Armenian government officials on setting up a plant to produce Ursus tractors in Armenia.
 
A delegation from the agricultural equipment manufacturer, led by its deputy director Marek Pol, discussed the plans with Armenia’s Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan on December 14, according to a statement posted on Avinyan’s Facebook page.
 
The company is interested in setting up production at the existing Slatsk factory in Vanadzor.
 
“I am glad that serious steps are being taken to establish cooperation. I added that the government attaches great importance to the work with foreign investors and will support the activities of Pol-Mot Armenia,” Avinyan said.
 
“During the meeting, we also touched upon the possibilities of cooperation in other spheres. In particular, taking into account the fact that Paul-Near Hodlins also produces Ursus Bus electric and diesel buses, we discussed the possibility of producing buses in Armenia.”

Beirut: Tashnaq Brushes Off ‘Armenian Obstacle’ Claims ahead of Govt. Formation

Hovhannisian John
Naharnet, Lebanon
Wednesday
Tashnaq Brushes Off ‘Armenian Obstacle’ Claims ahead of Govt. Formation
 
 
The Tashnaq party MP Hagop Pakradounian said there was no obstacle related to the “Armenian representation” as circulated in the media, but affirmed the party’s right for getting a portfolio.
 
“There is no obstacle regarding the Armenian representation. It is our normal right to get a portfolio. The tourism ministry is going to remain with us, mainy with (current caretaker tourism minister) Avedis Guidanian ,” said Pakradounian in a statement to MTV.
 
Meanwhile, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim “informed the leadership of the Tashnaq Party that the Ministry of Tourism would be allocated to a party representative of the Tashnaq, Avedis Guidanian.”
 
Ongoing efforts continued on Thursday in a bid to complete an “initiative” mediated by Ibrahim between the various Lebanese parties.
 
Naharnet 2018

Expert about withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops: Baku will expect adequate measures from Yerevan

Hovhannisian John
News.am, Armenia
Dec 16 2018
Expert about withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops: Baku will expect adequate measures from Yerevan Expert about withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops: Baku will expect adequate measures from Yerevan

00:59, 16.12.2018
                  

YEREVAN. – The decision of Azerbaijani leadership to replace part of troops on the border with Armenia by border guards is a step forward for the development of relations with Armenia, Alexander Skakov, political scientist, Senior research fellow of the Center for Central Asian, Caucasian and Volga-Urals Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Science, told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the expert, this is related to the change of leadership in Armenia and attempts to develop certain ties.

“The change of the negotiator [change of leadership] in Armenia prompted Azerbaijan to make a certain step forward. This is the reason for such a dramatic change in approaches, given the fact that for many years Azerbaijan refused from making concessions, including in the matter of withdrawing snipers and heavy equipment from the borders with Armenia. Now Baku will wait for adequate measures from Yerevan,” Skakov said.

The expert stressed that it is necessary to take into account the fact that the decision was made regarding the areas bordering with Armenia.

“The aggravation on the border with Armenia may also involve Russia, given the agreement on security signed between Yerevan and Moscow,” he added.

Asked how this decision could be related to the last visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Azerbaijan, the expert said: “Even if this decision was made as a result of consultations with the Russian Foreign Minister, it was obviously agreed with partner countries, primarily with the OSCE Minsk Group member countries.”

Damascus: Khamis to Armenian delegation: Syria working to prepare suitable atmosphere for attracting investments

Hovhannisian John
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Saturday
 
 
Khamis to Armenian delegation: Syria working to prepare suitable atmosphere for attracting investments
 
by Hazem al-Sabbagh
 
Damascus, SANA – Prime Minister Imad Khamis said that Syria continues to work towards preparing a suitable atmosphere for attracting local and foreign investments by preparing a modern investment law and a comprehensive investment map, as well as facilitating administrative procedures and providing necessary services to investors.
 
Meeting an Armenian economic delegation on Saturday, Khamis stressed the need for bolstering Syrian-Armenian investments to match the level of the relations between the two countries.
 
He also underlined the importance of Armenian companies participating in reconstruction in the fields of infrastructure, constructing builds, and producing building materials.
 
Khamis called on businessmen from friendly countries that supported the Syrian people in fighting terrorism to look into the incentives provided by Syria in all investments fields and seize available opportunities.
 
For his part, head of the delegation Narek Karapetyan said that Armenian businessmen are interested in making use of investment opportunities in Syria and of the facilitations provided for facilitating relations between the two countries’ private sectors.
 
He stressed the need for developing partnerships between establishments and businessmen from both sides in all economic fields to expand cooperation in investments.