Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ERDOGAN THE LESSER OF THE EVILS FOR ARMENIANS

18:32 11.06.2013

Anna Nazaryan
“Radiolur”

A few days ago Javakhk Armenians staged a protest at the
Armenian-Georgian border, complaining of the decision of RA Customs
Service to levy brokerage commission for the provision of customs
declarations filled in by Georgian citizens at Bavra checkpoint.

The decision has not taken account of the fact that it’s mostly Javakh
Armenians crossing the border from Bavra. Therefore, they have to
pay money to enter the Motherland.

Head of the Center of Western Armenian Studies Haykazun Alvrtsyan is
confident this decision will alienate the Armenians of Javakhk.

This is not the only decision that creates difficulties for Javakhk
Armenians, as a result of which the population of the region has
decreased 40% in the past 20 years. “This is a result of lack of
policy on Georgia,” Alvrtsyan said

Analyzing the events in Turkey, the Head of the Center of Western
Armenian Studies noted that Prime Minister Erdogan’s statements
further deepened the gap between the protesters and the Prime Minister.

According to him, President Abdullah Gul is more acceptable today
than Erdogan. He does not share the opinion that the developments in
Turkey might turn against the ethnic minorities.

Alvrtsyan said Armenians will benefit if the authorities remain in
power. Otherwise, the power will pass to the nationalists, which does
not meet our interests.

THREE NEW UN CORNERS OPENED IN IJEVAN, DILIJAN AND STEPANAVAN

15:49 11.06.2013
Armenia, UN

UN Office in Armenia continues focusing attention on youth empowerment
in the regions and opened three new UN Corners in Ijevan, Dilijan
and Stepanavan. Now students, researches, officials and journalists
will have more opportunities to further learn about the UN values,
global agenda and UN work in Armenia.

The UN Corners were launched at the library of Ijevan branch of the
Yerevan State University, ~SKnowledge for Development~T Dilijan Center
of the Central Bank of Armenia and the Stepanavan Central Library.
They were opened with the support of the UN Department of Public
Information (UNDPI) in Armenia.

More than 2,500 UN publications, multi-materials were provided to
the newly-opened UN Corners, by UN institutions present in Armenia.
UN officials will visit the UN Corners to discuss the UN-related
issues with all interested.

Maria Dotsenko, the UNDPI Representative in Armenia, said: ~SThe UN
keeps focusing on youth empowerment and dialogue with public. Since
the representatives of your communities are active participants of
many UN activities, we supported your idea to open UN Corners in your
home towns, so that you will have direct access to the UN-related
information. You are our reliable partners in promotion of UN values:
human rights, democratic governance, peace and security, sustainable
human development. We are glad to support you to further improve
their knowledge and get engaged in our activities.~T

The representatives of the above mentioned communities highly
appreciated the cooperation with the UN emphasizing that such joint
activities will allow people to contribute to the work of the UN and
become better informed and active citizens of their country.

The 4 UN Corners already exist in Armenian ~V Russian (Slavonic)
University, Armenian State Pedagogical University named after Khachatur
Abovyan, the Armenian National Agrarian University and Armenian State
University of Economics.

NATURAL GAS FOR LAND – AZERBAIJANI OIL VENTURE DETAILS EARLIER STATEMENT

14:36 ~U 11.06.13

Azerbaijan’s major oil manufacturing company has given clarifications
to its president’s recent statement expressing readiness to supply
Armenia with natural gas upon necessity.

In a statement, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR)
has said that the country will collaborate with Armenia over gas
supply issues provided the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict receives a
pro-Azerbaijani solution.

“Azerbaijan has, throughout its history, lived in peace with
the neighbors … The neighboring Armenia, however, chose the
nationalistic and separatist path, seizing the Azerbaijani lands
and forcing over 1 million Azerbaijanis out of home. And today,
violating the norms of international law, the Armenian government
fails to express a willingness to liberate the Azerbaijani lands,
thus preventing the socio-economic development of not only its
country but also the region. Azerbaijan has repeatedly announced
that in case Armenia changes its position on the liberated
lands and proposes a peaceful, negotiated and, most importantly, a
pro-Azerbaijani-territorial-integrity-settlement, it will have a chance
to be involved in projects of international significance. In case the
above conditions are met, Azerbaijan may discuss the possibilities
of supplying Armenia with gas…” reads the statement.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when the Armenian
majority of the then autonomous region declared its intention of
breaking away from Azerbaijan.In a referendum held on December 10,
1991 (days before the collapse of the USSR), the population voted
overwhelmingly in favor of independence (99.89%). The move was
followed by Azerbaijan’s large-scale military operations against
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven neighboring regions. The Ceasefire Agreement
which went into effect in May 1994 put an end to the armed attacks
in the conflict zone.Since 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group has been
spearheading the efforts towards reaching a negotiated settlement
between the conflicting countries.

OIL AND MONEY – KEY MOTIVE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA PARLIAMENT SUPPORTING AZERBAIJAN’S “TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”

ARMINFO
Tuesday, June 11, 14:24

Bosnia and Herzegovina supports Azerbaijan’s “territorial integrity,”
Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija who is on an official visit to
Azerbaijan said at a meeting with his vice speaker of Azerbaijani
Milli Mejlis Ziyafet Askerov, on June 10.

“For that purpose, the House of Representatives of the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina passed a resolution supporting ‘territorial
integrity’ of Azerbaijan,” the foreign minister said. Zlatko Lagumdzija
said that the two countries have much in common to develop cooperation.

Armenian diplomatic sources do not comment on the reports.

“Oil and money is the key motive of the given decision of Bosnia
and Herzegovina Parliament,” a diplomat told ArmInfo in return for
anonymity.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN’S FINEST HOUR

After the end of the tense voting year in Armenia and appointment of
the government, Hovik Abrahamyan, finally, took up the task to change
the role of the parliament. Recall he promised to do it five years
ago immediately after being appointed Speaker. Yes, he also promised
to build a church in the yard of the parliament. But over the five
years he was able to do neither the one nor the other.

Now, it is time to render parliament a tribune of popular demands. As
Vahan Hovhannisyan says the power decided to assume the functions
of the government and the opposition because it does not like to be
criticized by others.

Actually, the new model of the Armenian authorities is being outlined –
the “good” parliament is becoming a platform of opposition rhetoric
and good intentions, and the “bad” government parries criticism or
just barely meets the requirements of people’s representatives.

This model has been formed proceeding from the situation in which the
oppositional parties appeared in the parliament, but in so miserable
number that their opinion does not influence on the decision-making.

Besides, these parties are either connected with the ruling party,
or don’t have a clear action plan. Since, the right and initiative
to express people’s pretentions are assumed by civil organizations,
it was decided to usurp this function too.

In the last couple of days, Hovik Abrahamyan voiced several claims
relating to the reduction of loan interests and involvement of
investments. In addition, it is done in the following way: “Hey,
government, provide your plan or whatever it is”.

Perhaps, this is how Hovik Abrahamyan takes revenge for not having
been given the office of prime minister. Perhaps, there are other
calculations connected with his relative Gagik Tsarukyan, who
keeps criticizing the government. But it is evident that after Vova
Gasparyan, the finest hour came to Hovik Abrahamyan.

Now we will have a good parliament where the biggest opposition will be
the Speaker, we will also have a government which reacts to the demands
of the parliament, a premier who started meeting the population and the
most democratic president in the world. The civil society will once
again be left with nothing, because the real demands of the people
will still not be satisfied. No one ever showed the public, “after
a heated debate in the parliament”, the new contract with Gazprom.

Naira Hayrumyan 14:44 11/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

AMBASSADOR: IRANIAN ARCHIVES ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE OPEN FOR HISTORIANS

12:32 11/06/2013 ” POLITICS

“I think, we should order the historians to study the Iranian
archives. That means that they can take all the materials concerning
the Genocide out,” Mohammad Raiesi, Iranian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Armenia said speaking about the possible
opening of the archives about the Armenian Genocide.

Diplomat also noted that he visits Tsitsernakaberd every year on April
24. “Genocide is a crime committed against the humanity, but it is not
acceptable for us. It’s sad that such crimes are still being committed
today, just like in Syria, where there are thousands of victims
there,” ambassador Raiesi noted and added, “We are against any
murder.”

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIAN SPEAKER PRAISES GEORGIAN EFFORTS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS

June 11, 2013 | 12:51

YEREVAN. – Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan praised
Georgia’s moves on attracting investments, saying the Armenian side
must follow the lead.

“A mayor in Georgia is providing investors with free of charge areas
in the center,” he said during the debates on granting tax exemptions
to Dilijan International School. Abrahamyan stated such investments
are opening new jobs and help tackle social problems. Foreign
investors are not forming a queue to bring money to Armenia, he
emphasized.

However, Abrahamyan shared concerns of the opposition MPs, adding that
the project of the school must be introduced to the lawmakers.

“They want money but do not explain for what,” he added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 8, 2013 Saturday 11:33 PM GMT+4

Margaryan reelected as Yerevan mayor

YEREVAN June 8

– Taron Margaryan, 35, has been reelected the mayor of Yerevan.

In the May 5 municipal elections, more than half of votes were cast
for the Republican Party of Armenia. The City Council is elected by
the proportional multi-party system and the top candidate in a party’s
election list becomes the mayor of Yerevan.
Margaryan is to be sworn in on June 11. He has been holding this post
since November 2011. The son of former dissident and ex-prime minister
Andranik Margaryan (1951-2007), he will retain this position for four
more years.

Three political forces are represented in Yerevan’s City Council. In
addition to the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, there are also the
centre-right Prosperous Armenia party led by businessman Gagik
Tsarukyan (17 seats) and an opposition bloc rallying around former
Foreign Minister Raffi Ovanesyan, the leader of the Heritage party (6
seats). The latter was President Serzh Sargsyan’s competitor in the
presidential election of February 18 and lost but insists he won.

Raising The Bar: Ameria And The Bar Association

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

Opening reception co-hosted by Ameria Group: From l to r: Jacklin
Boyadjian, Anush Hovsepyan, Edvin Minassian, Sara Bedirian, Garo
Ghazarian, Rafi Manoukian, Armen Hovannisian, Hovanes Margarian

BY ANUSH A. HOVSEPYAN

Success comes to those that set the bar high. The Armenian Bar
Association (ABA) for 24 years now has been raising the bar for
professionals in the industry, by bringing together the best Armenian
attorneys from all over the United States and Canada.

This year’s conference in San Diego created solid networking
experience for the attendants, connecting them to opportunities both
in the United States and Armenia. The panel included speakers such as
renowned litigator for Fortune 500 companies David Balabanian, Justice
Charles Poochigian and LA Superior Court Judge Zaven Sinanian.

Ameria Group of Companies, serving as a professional investment bridge
between the Diaspora and Armenia, supported the event and during the
opening reception presented possible avenues of cooperation between
Ameria’s Legal Team in Armenia and the attorneys in the Diaspora.

Rafi Manoukian, the CEO of Ameria Group’s LA office, in his speech
stressed the importance of proper due diligence when investing in
Armenia: `Ameria encourages those who are interested in doing business
in Armenia or the CIS countries, to do it the right way, similar to
the US, hire a legal, management and accounting team, do the due
diligence and then invest.’

Ameria has had a lasting relationship with the Armenian Bar
Association (ABA). Prior to the Bar Association’s 24th annual
meeting, Ameria had a meeting with ABA members to discuss how Ameria
can better address the needs of the clients who turn to attorneys for
advice.

`Ameria is the entity that is critical for the Diaspora. It is a
bridge that is going to connect the Diaspora Armenians with their
financial economic interests to better themselves individually, but at
the same time to better Armenia. It’s a win-win situation,’ says the
Chair of the Armenian Bar Association Garo Ghazarian. In fact,
Ameria itself is a unique partnership between the Diaspora
professionals and local Armenians, having set a benchmark of business
success in Armenia. With an initial investment capital of only $100,
000, it now has more than $ 600 million dollars in assets. Many
renowned figures in the investment world are on Ameria’s board,
including Robert Von Rekowsky, the Emerging Market’s Portfolio Manager
of Fidelity Investments and Noubar Afeyan, the founder of a
multimillion-dollar company Flagship Ventures.

`It is nice to see there is a well trusted, established organization
in Armenia that has sophisticated people running it. As I was
listening to the presentation about Ameria, it made me think how I can
provide more services to my clients who trust me as an advisor. I
think it will be very easy to team up with Ameria in the future when
my clients have questions about doing business in Armenia,’ says
Attorney at Law Aram Ordubegian. Harry Dikranian, the Vice Chair of
the Bar Association, with a practice in Canada, also believes there is
a need for such cooperation: `I wish I had known earlier about Ameria
to refer people seeking professional advice in Armenia.’

McKenna Long & Aldridge Partner Raymond Aghaian says Ameria’s idea is
great: `I think given the large diaspora here in Southern California,
particularly in Glendale, Ameria is at the right place at the right
time. There are a lot of issues for Ameria to address and to alleviate
some of the concerns that potential investors have.’

Bar Association’s Gerard Kassabian in his turn says there is a need
for dispelling the fears of the diaspora by presenting successful
business deals made in Armenia: `One of the most important things is
to reduce the unknown and the anxiety of anybody who’s looking to
invest in the motherland. Ameria has come forward and given people
the channel to be able to ask questions, inquire about the facilities
available that make investment a possibility in Armenia, such as with
the investment advisors or the legal department. Ameria has done a
phenomenal job in making their presence known here in the US,
especially to the diaspora Armenians.’

Ameria’s Board Member Noubar Afeyan has stated on many occasions that
the relationship between the Diaspora and Armenia needs to be stronger
for the sake of Armenia’s progress: `We need to understand that the
nucleus of the Armenian race is Armenia. At the moment, Diaspora’s
Armenians are a loose network of people that have something in common.
I hope that the Diaspora’s connection to each other becomes Armenia
and Armenia’s betterment. I would like Armenians to work together to
have every Armenian on the same footing no matter what part of the
world they live in.’

Ameria Group of Companies, continues to be a one-stop resource for
potential investors interested in Armenia’s emerging market, by
providing full-fledged advisory services be it for their legal,
management, research or financial needs. Ameria Group’s LA office is
located in the heart of Glendale, at 330 N. Brand, # 140. For
additional information, contact 818 646 1111.

REPUBLIQUE DU HAUT KARABAGH
Le président du Haut Karabagh a visité le chantier de l’hôpital
ultramoderne de Stepanakert

Le président de la République du Haut Karabagh, Bako Sahakian a visité
le 8 juin le chantier e construction du nouvel hôpital de Stepanakert
afin de faire connaissance sur l’état des travaux en cours. Bako
Sahakian a affirmé sur place, l’importance de la construction de
l’extension de l’hôpital de Stepanakert, avec des btiments
ultramodernes. Il a également insisté sur la nécessité de respecter
les délais des dates de fin de chantier pour offrir à la population de
l’Artsakh des soins de qualité. Le président de la République du Haut
Karabagh était accompagné de Garén Chahramanian, le ministre de la
Construction et Zoya Lazarian, ministre e la Santé.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 juin 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com