Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA WILL NOT LET THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EXTERNAL DEBT TO BE CLASSIFIED RISKY: THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
30 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. In accordance with the predictions
of the international organizations Armenia will be classified as a
country with a middle load in 2013. As reports “Armenpress” during
the discussions of the project of budget for 2013 in the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia the Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated that the rating of the external debt
will be of a certain importance. The Prime Minister said: “We will not
let the administration of the external debt to be classified as risky.

The 4, 6 % of the state budget will be used for paying off the
external debt.”

The most part of the costs of the state budget counting more than 84
% will belong to the social sphere: more than 40 % to the education,
healthcare and social service, more than 20 % to the defense, social
order, national security more than 14 % to the branches of economy,
4, 6 % to the external debt, 3, 1 % to the dotations for the financial
rotation of the community budgets.

Among other things the Government of the Republic of Armenia will
focus on the continuance of the programs initiated in 2012. Extra
attention will be paid to the improvement of the healthcare service
of the regions and mainly the creation of modern ambulatory centres
in the regions.

Tigran Sartgsyan stated that the second important issue for
the Government is education. 31 reforms and financing of the
infrastructures have already been considered by the Government. For the
improvement of this sector the Government of the Republic of Armenia
will cooperate with the colleagues from EU and the Russian Federation.

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6 – 8 % OF THE JEWELRY IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET IS PROVIDED BY THE ARMENIAN JEWELERS

ARMENPRESS
30 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian jewelers have always
been famous for their skill and their fame and their influence in
the sphere of international jewelry is still palpable. As reports
“Armenpress” at the 15th meeting of “Association of the Armenian
Jewelers” the chairman of the association Gagik Gevorgyan mentioned,
that the 6 – 8 % of the jewelry in the international market is provided
by the Armenian jewelers and there is an issue regarding transferring
a part of their production to Armenia or to organize production here
and export it to other countries. The idea of free trade zone for
the jewelry will encourage investments in Armenia and the production
exported from Armenia will be increased due to this fact.

In accordance with the statistics jewelry costing AMD 5, 57 billion
have been produced in Armenia during months of 2012. The amount of
export equals to AMD 5, 1 billion.

ARMENIANS, KURDS TO PROTEST ERDOGAN VISIT TO GERMANY

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 30, 2012 – 15:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A large group of Kurds, Ezidis, Armenians, Alawites
and Syriacs from Europe are planning to hold a protest against
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Germany,
Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Around 10,000 people from almost 50 organizations are expected to
attend the rally in Berlin.

Ezidis in particular are angry with Erdogan’s recent remarks in which
he used the term “Yezidi” instead of “Ezidi.” They believe that the
word “Yezidi” holds negative connotation in Turkey.

Aziz AlkıÅ~_, head of the Ezidi Associations Federation in Berlin said
the “Prime Minister looked down on Ezidi citizens” with his remarks.

He said they would call on Erdogan to end his policy in Syria, as well
as end pressure on minorities and ethnic groups in Turkey. Noting that
the Ezidi religion is not recognized on national ID cards and signified
by an “X,” AlkıÅ~_ said it made their faith seem anti-Islamic.

Azad Ordughanyan, head of the Germany Armenians Center, said they would
call on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “Turkey is still
denying the genocide. We will renew our call for its recognition.”

The head of the Alawite Unions Federation in Cologne, Huseyin Mat,
said the Turkish government pursues a policy of assimilation rather
than accepting all differences. “Erdogan will tell Europe that Turkey
is a democratic country here. We will tell that this is not true.”

PHENOMENA OF IVANISHVILI AND TSARUKYAN ARE ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 30 2012
Russia

The phenomena of Ivanishvili and Tsarukyan are absolutely different,
according to Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Caucasus
Institute

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

The political scientist and head of the Caucasus Institute, Alexander
Iskandaryan, gave an interview to Vestnik Kavkaza on the coming
presidential elections in Armenia.

– Four months are left ahead of the presidential elections.

However, even today representatives of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia and some pro-government experts speak about a victory
for Serge Sargsyan and the impossibility of an opposition candidate
succeeding. What do you think about this?

– I think these statements are truthful. The point is not in the
pro-government direction, but in the situation. Today it is obvious
that the only candidate who can seriously claim to compete with the
current president is the leader of Prosperous Armenia, Gagik Tsarukyan,
or some other member of the party, for instance Vardan Oskanyan.

Any other candidate without the support of Prosperous Armenia –
Raffi Ovannisyan or Levon Ter-Petrosyan – is not a serious rival
for Sargsyan.

We saw competition between the RPA and Prosperous Armenia in the
parliamentary elections on May 6. The two forces fought, using similar
instruments. It wasn’t a struggle of ideologies, but a struggle
of technologies. There are various ways to attract voters: from
administrative resources to construction of roads and giving gifts.

The parliamentary elections showed the citizens and the observers
how the RPA gains victories. Since that time nothing has changed:
PA hasn’t improved, the RPA has not been weakened.

Thus, it is natural to predict that the RPA, which controls the state
structure, has more chances of winning than PA.

Another issue is that the competition is focused on what percentage
of the vote the main rival of Sargsyan will gain and whether a second
round will take place. This risk is realized by the president and
his team. They will have to share power with a candidate who enters
a second round.

– Some experts compare Bidzina Ivanishvili and Gagik Tsarukyan. Is
this an adequate comparison?

– To draw such parallels means to have no idea what Georgia is,
what the political situation that has appeared there is and to see
no difference between the political systems of Armenia and Georgia.

The phenomena of Ivanishvili and Tsarukyan are absolutely different.

First of all, Ivanishvili is 10 times richer than Tsarukyan.

Secondly, it seems Ivanishvili is the richest person in the Caucasus
but he didn’t make his capital in the Caucasus, as one cannot get so
much money in the Caucasus. His capital is not in Georgia, but abroad.

Tsarukyan earns his money in Armenia and his capital is situated
in Armenia.

Thirdly (most importantly), Armenia and Georgia represent very
different political and economic systems. Armenia has an absolutely
different business structure. Saakashvili’s power required a vertical
regime. Georgia, unlike Armenia, had no opposition. Ivanishvili
managed to consolidate all the protest political forces from liberals
to radical nationalists. Gagik Tsarukyan would be like Ivanishvili,
if he contradicted the whole system.

Armenia has a different situation and we couldn’t have Ivanishvili,
just as Georgia couldn’t get Tsarukyan. Georgian Tsarukyans have died
in London after drinking the wrong tea or losing all their capital.

Russia, the West, and even Armenia imagine Georgia in fairytale terms
which are not real. The opinion that Saakashvili is a democrat is
a myth.

– Recently the coordinator of the Armenian National Congress, Levon
Zurabyan, made a sensational statement that Armenia has two forces
which can compete with the ruling regime – the ANC and Prosperous
Armenia. He said that the ANC’s electorate are intelligent educated
people, while dissatisfied layers of the population support PA. What
do you think about this statement?

– Levon Zurabyan’s statement is no surprise. I have expected this. It
is obvious that technologies beat ideologies in Armenia. And not only
in Armenia. What should the ANC do? What are their chances?

Rely on educated people who support the ANC and gain 5%? The ANC
cannot build roads, give expensive gifts or increase teachers’
salaries. The ANC has no financial opportunities, no expert crew,
no human resources. The main weapons of the ANC are words, ideology.

However, it gains too little today: you cannot get a serious number
of votes. They had to do this in 2008, but failed.

Today the ANC cannot fight for power. Thus, the ANC has to unite with
a candidate who can be a serious rival to the authorities.

Today the political space of the country is waiting for the results
of shadow politics – will Tsarukyan put himself forward for the
presidential elections? This is the main question for the internal
politics of Armenia.

– Does Prosperous Armenia need the ANC’s support?

– For sure, PA needs the ANC because the difference between the
votes gained by Sargsyan and Tsarukyan may be 5%. Therefore, each
percentage point will be important. I think Prosperous Armenia will
declare its attitude to Zurabyan’s statement after Tsarukyan makes
a decision on whether to go to the polls or not.

– How will the events develop if PA and the ANC consolidate?

– We can expect a serious struggle in the presidential elections.

– What are chances of the current authorities?

– The highest. Even if Tsarukyan puts himself forward for the
elections and is supported by another force, he can only hope for a
second round. If Tsarukyan doesn’t go to the polls, the authorities
would gain a huge amount of votes.

MFA IN TOUCH WITH ARMENIAN EMBASSIES IN U.S. DURING HURRICANE SANDY

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 30, 2012 – 17:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia regularly contacts RA diplomatic outposts
in the U.S., Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, commenting on the Hurricane Sandy in
New York.

According to BusinessDay, at least 15 people were reported killed
in the U.S. by Sandy, one of the biggest storms to hit the country,
which dropped just below hurricane status before making landfall on
Monday, October 29 night in New Jersey.

More than 1-million people in a dozen states were under
orders to evacuate as the massive system plowed westward. One
disaster-forecasting company predicted economic losses could ultimately
reach $20bn, with only half of that amount insured.

AN EVENT DEDICATED TO THE HEROIC BATTLE OF MUSA LER AND THE HISTORY OF ANJAR WAS HELD IN CALIFORNIA

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. An event dedicated to the heroic
battle of Musa Ler and the history of Anjar was organized by the branch
of Orange County “Siamanto” of Hamazgayin/All-National Educational
and Cultural Union. Doctor of History Vahram Shemesian lectured at
the event. He had introduced the same lecture in an international
conference held in Prague dedicated to the genocides and their
prevention and inspired by the history of heroic battle of Musa Ler.

The lecture had an extraordinary success, which displeased the
Ambassador of Turkey. He suggested introducing “the other side of
the genocide” as well.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” Shemesian said: “The Jewish
organizers of the conference advised the Ambassador of Turkey to take
into consideration that the Genocide is a fact and has no other side
at all.”

Writer Edvard Boyajyan described Anjar village, which became the
refuge for the people from Musa Ler, like this: “Anjar is a bad place.

It’s difficult and painful to live here.”

It’s difficult to imagine today that Anjar, which now resembles to a
modern European place, decades ago was a swampy and deserted handful
of earth. This town of Lebanon was inhabited and enriched by the
Armenians from Musa Ler.

EXPLOSION IN THE ARMENIAN DISTRICT JARAMANA IN DAMASCUS

ARMENPRESS
29 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. There was an explosion in the Rauda
district of the Armenian region of Jaramana near the capital of Syria
Damascus. In accordance with the preliminary information there are
Armenians listed among the complainants. They are not identified yet
and it is not certain whether they are dead of wounded. Our compatriots
from Damascus informed us about that and mentioned that they are now
trying to verify this information. The majority of the people living
in Jaramana are Christians including more than 400 Armenian families.

The Syrian SANA agency states that militants keep violating ceasefire
regime declared on the occasion of Ayd al Adha celebration. According
to the preliminary information the explosion of the vehicle in the
Jaramana district caused the death of 6 man and more than 50 people
are wounded. More than 20 vehicles and more than 15 trade centres
were damaged due to the explosion.

Clashes in Syria lasting for already 18 months caused the death of more
than 30 thousand people, including more than four dozens Armenians.

ANALYST: NO MATTER WHO WILL COME TO POWER IN U.S., THERE WILL BE NO PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

arminfo
Monday, October 29, 14:42

The presidential election in the U.S. differs from the previous ones
with stiff competition and high level of democracy. The future of
America depends on this election, Richard Giragosian, Head of the
Center for Regional Studies, told media, Monday.

“Incumbent president of USA, Democrat Barack Obama will win the
election,” he said. Giragosian said that the Armenian-American
relations will remain as stable as before. The issue of recognition
of the Armenian Genocide is still referred indirectly in the relations
of the two countries.

“One should not pin hopes with the presidential candidate in the
issue of Genocide. No matter who will come to power, there will be
no progress in the given issue. The Armenia-U.S. relations will be
dynamically developing till 2015, the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide,” Giragosian said.

He said that the Armenian lobby is not satisfied with the U.S.

authorities and it is a challenge for the authorities, because a
discontented citizen is the most impartial voter. He said that the
Armenian community in the USA mainly supports Democrats rather than
Republicans.

THIRTY-TWO MALE BREAST CANCER CASES REVEALED IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Monday, October 29, 11:43

Armenian-American Wellness Center has revealed 32 cases of male breast
cancer, Khachanush Hakobyan, Head of the Center, told media, Monday.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, Hakobyan said.

Breast cancer mortality rates are the highest. Women at the age of
40-50 are in the risk group and they need to undergo a screening test
once in a year. She said that cancer is more and more frequently
revealed in younger women. For instance, in Armenia the Center has
diagnosed 62 cases of breast cancer in young women below 29. Cancer
is genetic and stresses make people more vulnerable.

In total, within 15 years of its activity in Armenia the
Armenian-American Wellness Center has revealed cancer in 8,000
women, with 3,600 having no symptoms. Early diagnosis helped starting
treatment at early stage of the disease. In this light, Hakobyan called
on women to undergo screening tests to prevent cancer. She said that
the Center provides digital mammography that reveals cancer at the
zero stage.

ORHAN PAMUK OFFICIALLY BECOMES FRENCH LEGION OF HONOUR OFFICER

news.am
October 30, 2012 | 13:39

Renowned Turkish writer and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in
Literature, Orhan Pamuk, was officially decorated, in France on Monday
evening, with the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France.

Pamuk, whose books have sold over 11-million copies all through the
world, left Turkey in 2007 and settled in the US, Lenta.ru reports.

He was forced to emigrate because of his persecution by Turkish
nationalists, which had started after his interview with a Swiss
newspaper. In an interview with a Swiss newspaper in 2005, Orhan
Pamuk had stated that the Turks had killed a million Armenians and 30
thousand Kurds in 1915. “And almost nobody dares to mention that. So I
do,” Pamuk said. Subsequently, the Turkish authorities opened criminal
proceedings against him under the Turkish Criminal Code’s infamous
Article 301, that is, for explicitly insulting the Turkish identity.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Orhan Pamuk recently
received Denmark’s most prestigious prize in literature. The Sonning
Prize, which is worth one-million Danish kroner, was awarded to Pamuk
in Copenhagen. Representatives from Denmark’s Armenian community
likewise were on hand at the ceremony, but Turkey’s Ambassador to
Denmark was not in attendance.