Author: Kalantarian Kevo

BUSINESSMAN MANVEL TER-ARAKELYAN ASKS PRIME MINISTER FOR HELP

18:34 | June 4,2014 | Social

Manvel Ter-Arakelyan, the owner of Hin Erivan (Old Erivan) Restaurant
Holding, has addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan., calling his attention to the problem of the restaurant
complex.

“You have repeatedly stated that you will support and protect
businessmen whose businesses are threatened and might appear in
the hands of other people. You said you will fight till the end and
asked everyone to report to you on any threat. Now I inform you that
businessman Manvel Ter-Arakelyan, who set up a business from scratch,
has appeared in such a situation. They want to take away my life’s
work. Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I am filled with hope and call your
attention to the unjust conflict between Hin Erivan and Unibank which
has been lasting for three years now and has drawn much attention on
Facebook network, attracting 190.528 viewers in ten days. I just ask
you to give me an opportunity to present to you the entire matter
and prevent evil-minded people from presenting the matter in favour
of the bank since in your apparatus you have employees who protect
the interests of metastasis,” reads the letter.

GEORGIA TO EXTRADITE ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN INVOLVED IN OFFSHORE SCANDAL

June 04, 2014 | 16:34

Georgian justice minister signed documents to extradite Armenian
businessman Ashot Sukiasyan who is involved in an offshore scandal.

According to Armenian Prosecutor’s Office, the businessman will be
handed over to the Armenian police.

Sukiasyan was caught on January 31, in Georgian capital city Tbilisi,
with the assistance of the Interpol National Central Bureau in Armenia
and as a result of cooperation with the Georgian law enforcement.

The scandal broke out after Armenian media outlet wrote that Tigran
Sargsyan, Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan, and “jeweler” Ashot Sukiasyan
are shareholders in an offshore company called Wlispera Holdings
Limited, which is registered in Cyprus. Sargsyan and Kjoyan, however,
have denied their involvement in such a company.

The Armenian General Investigation Department had laid charges on
Sukiasyan, and on the grounds of committing fraud, causing property
damage, and legalizing criminally-earned income. Arrest was set as
his restraining order.

ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONCERNED OVER HAZARDS OF POOR NATURE PROTECTION

16:32 * 04.06.14

The serious degradation of values has caused a real crisis in most
different spheres of life, affecting also the mother nature, Armenian
environmentalists said today at a news conference devoted to the
World Nature Conservation Day.

“This is not a problem that emerged in just one day. We have been
isolated from the land, water and nature, and that isolation has caused
us to destroy and deprive ourselves of everything that once fed us
and was the basis of our identity and culture,” Anna Aghlamazyan,
a coordinator of the Armenian Environmental Front, noted.

Describing the widespread indifference to the environment as
“nature destruction”, she said the situation has amounted to a
serious disaster.

The environmentalist ruled out any cooperation with the authorities,
considering it a useless job.

Syuzi Petrosyan, another coordinator of the group also attending
the news conference, said she, as a representative of the Diaspora,
is interested in spreading true information about the problem.

“In the Diaspora, we have a movement called Armenian Renaissance,
and we operate branches in ten countries. There is a telecast in
Los Angeles, which covers all the environmental problems in Armenia
without filtration,” she said.

Karine Danielyan, the head of the local NGO, For Sustainable Human
Development, added for her part that an environmental problem is
part of more general and broader policies that shouldn’t be treated
in isolation.

“Several years ago, there was a plan to reduce us to the level of a
raw appendage. And those who wanted to make money quickly did so. So
we must now try to step by step find a way out,” she said.

Describing the use of the earth’s lithosphere as the most serious
environemntal problem, the Danielyan added they have elaborated
conceptual approaches reflecting their ideas of possible solutions.

“We had agreed with the previous government to jointly discuss the
issues to find solutions, but it was delayed for objective reasons
as there was a cabinet change. So we will now try that cooperation
between the society and the government,” Danielyan promised.

Armenian News – Tert.am

TOTAL COST OF ARMENIA’S NATURAL RESOURCES IS ABOUT $120 BILLION, WORLD BANK EXPERT

YEREVAN, June 4. / ARKA /. Armenia’s ministry of nature protection
estimates the total cost of all natural resources of the country
to be about $120 billion, without drinking water reserves, which
are estimated to cost approximately $9 billion, according to Esma
Kreso, a World Bank environmental specialist, who spoke today at the
presentation of two papers – “Sustainable and Strategic Decision Making
in Mining” seeking to inform Armenia’s policy dialogue on environmental
and social issues in the mining sector and “Enhancing Environmental and
Social Sustainability of Mining in Armenia” seeking to mainstream and
enhance the understanding of environmental and social sustainability
principles in the development of Armenia’s mining sector.

She said these figures are very important because Armenia trades its
mining products at global markets.

She said out of 65 licenses awarded for operation of mines 56 are
for metal deposits and 5 for extraction of precious metals.

She also cited the data of the nature protection ministry that there
are 17 tailings occupying an area of 700 hectares, while according to
the ministry of emergency situations, the country has 19 tailings,
whose total area is 1,400 hectares. Overall, mining facilities in
Armenia occupy 8,275 hectares of land, she said.

She said the tailings pose a serious threat, because of leaks of
heavy metals in the water, which is dangerous for the health of people
living nearby and the environment, including communities located at
the mouths of rivers.

She said mining companies operating in Armenia do not follow the
best international practice in dealing with such problems. She said
the government must demand that they comply with strict criteria for
nature protection.

Adrana Damianova, a World Bank specialist, told reporters that the
papers were prepared in collaboration with the ministries of nature
protection and energy and natural resources. They will be finalized
and submitted to these ministries.

She said after a meeting with nature protection minister the impression
is that Armenian agencies are interested in these papers being willing
to subsequently implement them.

She said the work on these papers began under the previous government
and expressed hope that cooperation with new government would be as
effective. -0-

– See more at:

ATP LOS ANGELES GALA MARKS 20 YEARS OF GREENING ARMENIA

By Contributor on June 3, 2014

LOS ANGELES–On May 12, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) officially began its
20th anniversary celebrations with what can only be called a bustling
outdoor gathering amid the lush gardens of the Huntington Library,
Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif. Long-time
supporters and new friends joined founder Carolyn Mugar to celebrate
two decades of planting and greening all corners of Armenia and
promoting environmental consciousness throughout the country.

ATP founder Carolyn Mugar, West Coast Building Bridges Manager Anahit
Gharibyan, and Flora Dunaians

After cocktails on the Art Gallery Loggia and dinner at the South
Terrace of what was once the Huntington family residence, senior Obama
Administration official Matt Bogoshian began the program as master of
ceremonies. “Organizations like ATP are creating jobs, and doing it
in a way that is good for the planet. It’s all a part of the ‘triple
bottom line,'” he explained, alluding to the importance of people,
profit, and the planet.

Bogoshian, who promotes sustainability initiatives and develops policy
on pollution prevention in the Obama Administration, addressed the
role ATP plays in reducing global climate change. “By planting trees,
ATP is actually at the cutting edge on this issue. Your work can be
used as a model to show other countries how to do reforestation and
introduce solutions to this global crisis. ATP can set an example to
save the world.”

In his keynote address, Matthew Karanian, author of Armenia and
Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide, spoke about the positive
ecological and

(Seated) David Mgrublian, Ara and Armineh Tavitian, and Susan
Arzoumanian. (Back) Michelle Kezirian, Kathryn and Madlyn Mgrublian,
Gala Committee chair Margaret Mgrublian, journalist and author Mark
Arax, and Sarkis Arzoumanian

economic impact ATP has had on Armenia. “Reforestation is not
as simple as planting trees. Once a forest has been lost to clear
cutting, its biological diversity cannot easily be replaced,” Karanian
explained. “The Tree Project recognizes this, and this is why ATP
does more than plant trees. It also educates about the need to save,
and manage, and conserve the trees we already have.”

Special guests who joined ATP to celebrate the milestone included
former Secretary of the U.S. Navy and Assistant Secretary of Defense
Paul Ignatius, and award-winning journalist and author Mark Arax.

Introduced as a leader with a long resume of effecting social change
and a committed citizen changing the world, founder Carolyn Mugar
addressed the human face of ATP. She expressed heartfelt gratitude
to the thousands of friends who have helped ATP fight poverty
and unemployment in rural villages by establishing tree nurseries,
community planting sites, and fruit orchards. “This project is you all,
and our people in Armenia,” she said. “You won’t believe how much of
‘a village’ it takes to do all of this.”

ATP Gala benefactors Haig and Hilda Manjikian with their extended
families

She invited guests to visit ATP’s various projects and sites. “See
it for yourself. See the nurseries, education centers, and planting
sites, and meet the people that are doing this work in communities
all over Armenia and Artsakh [Karabagh]. Please call us if you plan
to go because everyone should do it.”

In closing, Mugar amusingly added, “ATP is not an NGO, a
non-governmental organization. We are an NGU, meaning Never Give Up!”

Since its inception in 1994, ATP has planted more than 4.4 million
trees during 41 seasons of planting, established 3 nurseries and 2
environmental education centers, and has greened villages, churches,
parks, and open spaces throughout Armenia. In the process, the
organization has provided employment for hundreds of people and
provided vital resources to thousands of villagers throughout the
country.

EURASIAN EQUATION: ARMENIA SEES KARABAKH AS DE-FACTO PART OF EMERGING UNION

Analysis | 04.06.14 | 10:16

By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Armenia’s ruling party insists that Karabakh de jure will not join
the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that is being formed by Russia,
Kazakhstan and Belarus, but de facto it will become part of it.

Goods produced in the country will have the same status as those
produced in EAEU member states, Gagik Minasyan, the head of the
committee on financial-credit and budgetary affairs at the Armenian
parliament, said. According to him, Armenia’s membership in the EAEU
will open new economic opportunities for Nagorno-Karabakh. Minasyan
stressed that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are a single economic area
and that there can be no customs point between them.

No one openly says what mechanisms are proposed to involve Karabakh
as well as other unrecognized countries like Abkhazia, South Ossetia
and Transnistria in the Eurasian Union. Moreover, in Armenia some
officials advise not mentioning Karabakh a lot in order not to obstruct
the already coordinated arrangements.

Apparently, the idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to
recreate a multinational Soviet Union where there were no closed
borders between the republics and where all issues were solved by the
Center. By creating such a structure, Putin intends to establish full
control over the post-Soviet territories of the Caucasus and Central
Asia, at the same time smoothing out the frozen conflicts and opening
old and new communications. This project is being steadily pushed
forward, even though elites in the countries resist the growing
Russian influence in decision-making.

Along with Armenia Putin is also trying to attract Azerbaijan to the
Eurasian Union. Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Alexei
Ulyukayev stated in Baku that he had offered to the leadership of
Azerbaijan to join the Eurasian Union, which, he said, would promote
regional cooperation. Azerbaijan has not responded yet, evidently
it is waiting to see whether Armenia joins this union and, if yes,
then within what borders.

The mechanism of open borders between the countries of the future
Eurasian Union, including, perhaps, between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
looks vague. Membership of these countries in the CIS, the United
Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other organizations
failed to lead to the lifting of blockades of the Armenian borders
by Azerbaijan and Turkey. It is yet difficult to imagine how this
can be done within the framework of the Eurasian Union.

Though, apparently, there are certain integration projects. In
particular, Armenian political analyst Artem Yerkanyan says that the
recent change of power in Abkhazia may lead to the reopening of railway
connection between Russia and Armenia. Meanwhile, acting President
of Abkhazia Valery Bganba said yesterday that there is no need to
work on agreements on deeper integration of Abkhazia with Russia. “I
do not see the need for new treaties. It is another thing that the
reality is changing and now the issue of Abkhazia’s participation in
the Eurasian Union is on the agenda,” said Bganba.

Does Armenia agree to enter into a single economic union with
Azerbaijan and what guarantees will it have that it will not lead
to the change in the status quo in the Karabakh conflict in favor
of Azerbaijan? The opposition Heritage party yesterday called for
abandoning the Eurasian project that it described as detrimental to
Armenia. However, representatives of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia doggedly keep promoting this idea, insisting that on June
15 Armenia will join the Eurasian Union without any damage either to
itself or Nagorno-Karabakh.

CEMIL CICEK: “THE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS SHOULD BE NORMALIZED TO ENSURE PEACE IN THE CAUCASUS REGION”

Azeri-Press news agency (APA)
June 2, 2014 Monday

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Cemil Cicek discussed
the Armenian issue at the meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Francis Ricciardone.

APA reports that outgoing Ambassador Ricciardone asked Cicek why Zurich
protocols on Turkish-Armenian rapprochement hadn’t been included in
the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Cicek said the reason for it was the position of Armenia.

“Accusing a country and society of committing genocide is the biggest
insult. It undermines the relations. Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement
on the allegations of genocide issued on April 23 should be considered
well. Unfortunately, the U.S. misinterpreted this statement,” he said.

The Speaker said that Turkey has taken 3 important steps in this
regard: “Though, the President and Foreign Minister visited Armenia,
the opposite side didn’t take any step. The Armenian-Azerbaijani
relations should be normalized to ensure peace in the Caucasus region.

However, Armenia is under the mortgage of the Armenian Diaspora.

Armenia should take a fairer position to contribute to the solution
of the problem.”

OSCE CIO PROPOSES ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TO MEET IN PARIS

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 2, 2014 Monday 07:55 PM GMT+4

BAKU June 2

– Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), Swiss President Didier Burkhalter has emphasised
the importance of a new meeting between Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Sezh Sargsyan and Ilkham Aliyev, over the Karabakh
settlement.

It is necessary to move towards peace step-by-step, Burkhalter said
on Monday.

Firstly, the parties should intensify the dialogue. To this end,
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan should meet, he said.

The regular meeting is expected to be held in Paris, Burkhalter said,
adding that the OSCE backed it.

The negotiations that will allow the parties to reach a peace agreement
should be conducted on the basis of the Madrid principles, worked
out by the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, Buckhalter said.

Secondly, a ceasefire agreement is indispensable, he said.

Switzerland is ready to mediate talks on the Karabakh settlement and
uphold any financial and political contribution to implementing the
peace agreement, Burkhalter said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began on February 22, 1988. On November
29, 1989 direct rule in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended and Azerbaijan
regained control of the region. However, later a joint session of the
Armenian parliament and the top legislative body of Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

On December 10, 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum,
boycotted by local Azeris, that approved the creation of an independent
state.

The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and
Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By
the end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and
created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial
ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994.

As of August, 2008, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group were
attempting to negotiate a full settlement of the conflict. On August 2,
2008, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan travelled to Moscow for talks with Dmitry Medvedev, who was
Russian president at that time. As a result, the three presidents
signed an agreement that calls for talks on a political settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

ZHAMANAK: UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR RETURNS TO YEREVAN

10:23 03/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Kukhta is back in Yerevan,
Zhamanak writes. The Embassy receptionist told the newspaper on
Monday that the Ambassador is holding a consultation with the Embassy
employees.

According to the newspaper, thus Ukraine’s new authorities show
a positive reaction to President Serzh Sargsyan’s congratulatory
message to President-elect Petro Poroshenko.

According to Zhamanak, rumors say that Ukraine expected Armenia to take
some step so as to restore diplomatic relations to their normal course.

Source: Panorama.am

LE CATHOLICOS ARAM 1ER EN VISITE AU VATICAN

VATICAN

Un mois après la visite du Catholicos supreme de tous les Armeniens,
Karekin II, c’est au tour du Catholicos de Cilicie, Aram Ier, de venir
rencontrer le Pape Francois au Vatican. Pendant ce voyage de trois
jours (du 3 au 6 juin), un moment de prière commune aura lieu ainsi
qu’une visite au Conseil pontifical pour la Promotion de l’unite
des chretiens. Aram Ier se recueillera egalement sur le tombeau
de Pierre et devant la statue de Saint Gregoire l’Illuminateur,
un saint armenien.

Le Catholicos de Cilicie est un representant de l’Eglise apostolique
armenienne, qui compte six millions de fidèles. Aram I est devenu
Catholicos de Cilicie le 28 juin 1995. Il a rencontre Jean-Paul II
en 1997 et Benoît XVI en 2008.

Radio Vatican

lundi 2 juin 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com