Author: Kajoyan Gevork

LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL TO DEVELOP AMULSAR GOLD MINE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 11. / ARKA /. Simon Fraser, permanent undersecretary
in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commended today in Yerevan
Lydian International Company for its pledge to invest $400 million in
Armenia’s mining industry. Lydian International will operate Amulsar
gold deposit in Armenia.

Speaking to Armenian reporters, Simon Fraser said he had discussed
this issue when he was received by Armenian president and prime
minister. He said Lydian International will work with particular
attention to ecology.

Simon Fraser also said that the United Kingdom’s government is ready
to assist British companies wishing to invest in Armenia’s financial,
information technology, mining and in agriculture sectors.

“We are interested in boosting the volume of our investments in
Armenia. This largely depends on the availability of open, reliable
and stable investment environment,” he added.

In turn, UK Ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Aves, noted that Lydian
International’s investment will contribute to perceiving Armenia as
a country with a favorable environment for investment.

“The Lydian International is enforcing the highest international
standards for the protection of the environment and for ensuring
financial transparency. Its success will be a green light for other
companies,” the ambassador said.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, Armenia’s
trade with the United Kingdom in January 2013 rose to $17.7 million,
an increase of almost 4 times compared to the same period of 2012. -0-

INTERESTING STATEMENTS BY UK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

18:01 11/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The United Kingdom wants to deepen economic ties with Armenia, said the
Deputy Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, Simon Fraser, in today’s
press conference in Yerevan. He noted that this is the first visit
to Armenia and he has already had nice meetings with top officials.

During the meetings, three main issues were discussed. The first is
how Armenian-UK relations should develop; the second was about the
steps Armenia is taking to deepen relations with the European Union,
in particular within the Association Agreement; and the third issue
was related to regional issues, including the Karabakh conflict.

“The president and the prime minister underlined the importance of
investments in the economic sphere. In particular one of our companies
is interested in investing in the mineral sphere in Armenia”, said
Simon Fraser adding that there are possibilities in the IT, financial,
agricultural, mineral and other spheres, and the UK government could
encourage British companies to invest in Armenia.

He added that it is necessary to amend the Customs’ sphere. The UK
vice-foreign minister noted that they are interested in large-scale
trade with Armenia. “We support Armenia’s development”, Fraser noted.

He said that they are interested in increasing the scales of
investments in Armenia, which will depend on the creation of open,
reliable and stable investment conditions.

Dwelling on the agreement on deep and comprehensive free trade area,
the British official noted that it is evident Armenia has goals and
aspirations to ensure closer ties with Europe. In the meantime, sure,
there will be issues related to the Customs’ Union, he said adding
that these two processes, though, are not mutually excluding.

GREAT BRITAIN TRIES TO SUPPORT OSCE MINSK GROUP. SIMON FRASER

17:50, 11 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Great Britain, United Kingdom Simon Fraser has great expectations
from his first visit to Armenia. Deputy Foreign Minister has already
met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Tigran Sargsyan
and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian. During March
11 meeting with journalists Simon Fraser noted that besides issues
regarding bilateral cooperation, other issues on regional security
and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict had been discussed.

According to him, Great Britain tries to support OSCE Minsk group
in the settlement process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “I believe
it is of crucial importance to find the resolution based on the main
principals approved by Minsk group,” he underlined.

Deputy Minister considered the negotiation process to be rather
prolonged; nevertheless, Fraser didn’t want to make any personal
evaluations regarding the process. “Resolution has to be reached
through negotiations, which are based on those principals, which
lead to the non-use of force, territorial integrity and expression of
people’s rights of self-determination. This is the process we support,”
he said.

Referring to Azerbaijani bellicose rhetoric and threats on striking
civil plains of Stepanakert, Simon Fraser noted “Everyone should
refrain from actions which can bring to such consequences which
haven’t been foreseen. Maximum transparency should be ensured”.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom Simon
Fraser arrived in Armenia in frames of his March 10-12 visit to
South Caucasus.

Simon Fraser is a British civil servant, who currently serves as the
Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
having served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills from May 2009 to August 2010.

PRIVATE REMITTANCES TO ARMENIA TOTAL $83MLN IN JAN 2013

March 11, 2013 – 16:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – $83 mln was transferred to individuals through the
Armenian banking system in January 2013.

According to Armenian Central Bank’s monthly bulletin, 10,9%. increase
was recorded as compared with the same period in 2012.

Besides, the amount of remittances from Armenia totaled $20 mln in
January 2013, with the net cash inflow grossing $62 mln in January
2013.

Russia keeps the biggest share of remittances to Armenia – $4,9 mln,
followed by the U.S. – $2 mln, Kazakhstan – $1.3 mln and France –
$674 thous.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HAS NOT BEEN INVITED TO MEET WITH SERZH SARGSYAN

ARMINFO
Monday, March 11, 14:01

Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian told ArmInfo he has not
received any invitation from President Serzh Sargsyan. “It is a lie,”
he said when commenting on the reports disseminated by the Presidential
Administration saying that Hovannisian declared the invitation to
a meeting.

For his part, Raffi Hovannisian’s Headquarters Hovsep Khurshudyan
declared that the Presidential Administration disseminated misreport.

He said that Hovannisian is ready to meet with Sargsyan at any
moment and listen to his opinion. However, he said, such meeting is
possible only at the Liberty Square where Hovannisian is currently
on a hunger strike.

Earlier today, Spokesperson of the Armenian President Armen Arzumanyan
said that on March 10 Vigen Sargsyan, Head of the Presidential
Administration, phoned Raffi Hovannisian to officially invite him to
a meeting.

At the rally on March 10 Raffi K. Hovannisian declared a hunger strike
until the day of the president’s inauguration – April 9.

R. HOVANNISIAN: LET SARGSYAN COME HERE, I SHALL HEAR HIM

02:06 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Former Armenian presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian he started
a hunger strike in Yerevan’s Freedom square, demanding a rerun of
the recent presidential election, today explained the reasons for
rejecting Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to a meeting.

“If he (Serzh Sargsyan) has something to say, he can come here [to
Feedom square] and talk to me. I shall respectfully listen to his
offers,” Mr Hovannisian told A1+.

Addressing hundreds of his supporters at a rally in Freedom square
on Sunday, leader of the opposition Heritage Party said, “If Serzh
Sargsyan doesn’t agree to step down and acknowledge the victory of
Armenian people, if he and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II
desecrate the Bible with a false oath on April 9, they will do it
over my dead body. So, unless Sargsyan announces his resignation,
I will stay in the square and will not eat. This is not just a hunger
strike, but a boycott against lies and fraud.”

However, Mr Hovannisian does not have the answer to the question what
obstacles can hinder Serzh Sargsyan from becoming president on his
corpse, given the fact that in 2008, Serzh Sargsyan came to power
over the dead bodies of ten people.

“You had better address the question to him (Serzh Sargsyan),” was
Hovannisian’s reply.

Mr Hovannisian says he does not want to see blood in his struggle but
if Serzh Sargsyan decides to desecrate the Bible and Constitution
with a false inauguration on April 9, they will have to do it over
the dead body of an opposition figure.

“This is not an ultimatum, nor a threat. This is the truth and out
people should be able to see that I am ready for everything, including
sacrifice, for the victory of our people,” he said.

While Raffi Hovannisian regrets that his party did not participate
in the previous municipal elections in Yerevan he is not going to
run in the upcoming municipal election though he is not against his
party’s involvement in the race.

The Heritage party leader says Serzh Sargsyan has been considered
illegitimate president after the 2008 presidential election.

“There was to be a presidential run-off and I told this personally
to Levon-Ter-Petrosyan [who was challenging Serzh Sargsyan in the
2008 presidential election],” said Mr Hovannisian.

In conclusion, Raffi Hovannisian said that we shall have a new Armenia
on April 9.

NO EXCLUSIVE RELATIONS WITH ANYONE – RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ON NATIONAL CONSENT GOVERNMENT

13:08 ~U 11.03.13

A number of people, including singer Ruben Hakhverdyan, former
presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan, ANC MP Nikol Pashinyan
and other citizens have been visiting Heritage party’s leader Raffi
Hovannisian who is hunger striking from March 10 in the Liberty
Square.Tert.am spoke with the party’s leader about his decision and
the responses of the ruling party.

– Mr Hovannisian, Sardarapat movement is for creation of alternative
legislative and executive bodies of national consent to ensure
transition of power, etc. Have you discussed issue of nominations
with the forces who joined you?

– I do not know which forces back me, but I think, the forces who
are speaking about being by people’s side, party leaders, political,
civil movements must realize that if two months before neither of them
believed in the eruption of lawfulness, demonstration of the spirit’s
will, now everyone is concerned, everyone is speaking about it, many of
them are in the square. But I must say that no issue of personalities
has been discussed. At March 15 rally we may have a dialogue with the
present citizens over the issue but the most important thing is the
realization that the people have brought this victory and I am not
going to have exclusive relations with anyone. I do not exclude that
discussions will take place and that we will have the prototypes of
executive and judicial powers, as we are going to have new Armenia
from April 9.

– Do you have any nominations, prototypes, in this judicial system
or elsewhere?

– If you are speaking about individuals, in my mind I have many good
candidates for each service, each office, but I do not have concrete
names for concrete offices. There are many devoted young people,
specialists, belonging to different parties.

I think the national consent government is to be created in this
square but people are to participate in the process.

– Mr Hovannisian, Republican party’s faction secretary Hovannes
Sahakyan described your step as blackmailing.

– Senseless, anti-national, coward descriptions. I have no response.

Those who want may express their viewpoint, but blackmailing, anarchy,
destabilization came from those speaking like this, who rigged the
votes of our people on February 18 in favor of their candidate. So
no one should ascribe to others the features they have. If on April
9 Serzh Sargsyan gives his false oath this will be state blackmailing
and sin. And having regular illegitimate president we will essentially
weaken Armenia’s national interests.

– Do you have a “Plan B” in case Serzh Sargsyan does not resign and
the situation becomes uncertain and you face a deadlock?

– Mr Sargsyan with his party and their behavior on the election day
tried to bring the Armenian people to a deadlock, but the Armenian
people said they will no longer tolerate the deadlock based on frauds,
fear and lie. I have stated yesterday that I will wait till April 9
and will expect that no false oath will take place on that day and
our Constitution and Bible will not be desecrated. If in any case
they will fail to demonstrate bravery, Christian approach, we will
continue our plan A, and they should think of plan B for themselves.

– Your call to resign is addressed to Serzh Sargsyan. What expectations
do you have from international observers who may probably come to
visit you?

– I do not have any expectations from anyone, but you may read
the interim report of the observers which gives an opportunity to
understand what the future and final report will be. They do not need
to speak with me, they have already registered the widely spread
frauds, especially in places where more than 70% voter turnout was
registered. So, the international observers have registered the truth,
which I welcome.

FIRST CREMATORIUM TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA NEXT YEAR

09:59, 11 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. In accordance with the decision of
the Government of the Republic of Armenia first crematorium will be
built in the republic in 2014. In a conversation with “Armenpress”
the Director of “Special Public Service” CJSC under the Yerevan
Municipality Razmik Harutyunyan stated that a number of problems
regarding burials and cemeteries will find their solution due to
the building of the crematorium. Razmik Harutyunyan noted: “The
crematorium, which will be built next year, will simultaneously
perform 4,500 burnings. It will be in a distance of 3 km from Yerevan.

In comparison with the traditional burial, cremation is much cheaper
and ecologically clean.” Also Harutyunyan stated that he is afraid
that if the crematorium is not built some time later the territory
of the cemeteries will reach the dwelling space. This can have a
psychological impact on the people living nearby.

The Armenian Apostolic Church does not share this opinion on the
creation of crematorium and cremation in general. In a conversation
with “Armenpress” the Spiritual Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church
Fr. Shmavon Ghevondyan stated that the church has already officially
declared that it is against cremation. Among other things the priest
noted that instead of building crematorium it’s necessary to raise
living standards of people so that the average age of death will become
70-80, instead of 50-60. Among other things Fr. Shmavon noted: “The
church will never accept cremation and the people is also against it.”

LE SERVICE DE LA SECURITE ALIMENTAIRE NIE L’INFORMATION SELON LAQUELLE DES SOEURS JUMELLES ONT ETE TUES PAR DES PREPARATIONS POUR NOURRISSONS

Des experts armeniens du Service national de securite alimentaire
ont nie les allegations des medias que deux nouveau-nes, des s~urs
jumelles, Mary et Mariam Vardanian, sont mortes la semaine dernière
dans la province d’Armavir en absorbant des preparations pour
nourrissons. Les experts ont ete invites par la police a examiner la
formule que l’on croyait etre la cause de la mort des bebes.

Les deux s~urs ont ete emmenees dans un hôpital de Vagharshapat
(Etchmiadzin) le 27 Fevrier matin. L’enquete a revele que la mère
des jumeaux a nourri les bebes vers 5 h via la formule achetee dans
une pharmacie locale.

” Le Service national de securite alimentaire a examine la preparation
pour nourrisson Nestozhen et a decouvert qu’il est certain qu’elle
n’a pas eu d’impact negatif sur la sante des s~urs ” a indique le
service dans un communique.

Une procedure penale a ete ouverte en vertu de l’article 109 du
code penal (homicide par negligence). Un examen medico-legal sera
egalement fait.

lundi 11 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN FAIT PRESSION SUR SERGE SARKISSIAN

Le candidat de l’opposition, Raffi Hovannisian, maintient la pression
sur Serge Sarkissian. Lors d’un rassemblement a Erevan, les partisans
de Raffi Hovannisian ont exige la demission du president.

Hovannisian a organise ce rassemblement après quelques visites dans
differentes regions du pays.

” Je respecte Serge Sarkissian qui sera president jusqu’au 9 avril. Il
devra ensuite demissionner a ma demande “, a affirme le chef de
l’opposition. ” Nous devons aller jusqu’au bout “, a-t-il dit.

Raffi Hovannisian n’a donne aucun detail sur sa strategie
post-electorale qui est de plus en plus remise en question par d’autres
leaders de l’opposition et par des commentateurs.

Le parti republicain de Serge Sarkissian (HHK), quant a lui, continue
de rejeter les demandes de Raffi Hovannisian. ” L’opposition ne sait
pas ce qu’elle veut parce qu’elle n’a pas encore developpe sa propre
strategie “, a indique le porte-parole du HHK, Eduard Sharmazanov,
jeudi 7 mars 2013.

Les negociations ont ete rompues après que le parti au pouvoir a refuse
de convoquer une session speciale du Parlement post-electorales. (Le
parti Zharangutyun exigeait des elections legislatives anticipees). En
revanche, le HHK s’est dit pret a envisager une reforme majeure de
la Constitution pour restreindre les pouvoirs du president.

lundi 11 mars 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com