Author: Kalantarian Kevo

KARABAKH AND COUP

Naira Hayrumyan
Comments – Tuesday, 17 September 2013, 20:55

Armenia is trying to figure out the economic and political benefits
that its membership to the Customs Union may bring about, understanding
that benefits are ruled out initially. People wonder what pushes us
into that union. Zbigniew Brzezinski described it precisely. He said
that Russia is merely trying to subject the post-Soviet states which
are still independent. The next, according to Brzezinski, will be
Ukraine which depends on Russia more than Armenia.

However, it is not ruled out that Azerbaijan will be the next which
helped Russia to bend Armenia towards the Customs Union. The Russian
analytical press hints that Azerbaijan may suffer considerably in
case it wants to join the Customs Union. Russia does not need Armenia
without Azerbaijan, these two countries always go together for Moscow.

And now, having achieved Armenia’s consent, Russia will move on to
Baku with similar arguments as for Yerevan – a coup in Karabakh –
in the same order. Russia continues to sell arms to Azerbaijan even
after Serzh Sargsyan’s agreement. Moscow did not turn its back
to Baku, on the contrary, activated its efforts. In addition, a
presidential election will be held in Azerbaijan in October, and the
Azerbaijani mass media are predicting a coup. The threat of coup is,
most probably, Putin’s key argument vis-a-vis Serzh Sargsyan. All
through the summer the political forces yelled about the failure of
the economic policy and that the Association with the EU would give
away Karabakh. Moreover, the parties declared rallies and vote of no
confidence for this fall. All through the summer Armenia was shaking
with protests, scandals, leakages. The skeleton of civic activists were
able to stay “clean” though even they said that someone is provoking
clashes and unrest. Notably, after the statement to join the Customs
Union activism declined considerably. In this regard, it took a hint
that those processes were coordinated to convey to Serzh Sargsyan
that change of government was quite realistic, as well as equally
realistic for Ilham Aliyev. A similar situation characterizes the
Karabakh issue. Not having announced about its intentions, Russia
retains its levers of influence on Armenia and Azerbaijan. A single
step by Aliyev may be followed by the recognition of NKR by Russia,
while Serzh Sargsyan’s ruses may lead to a “small war” in Karabakh.

The European Parliament has adopted a special resolution on pressure
exerted by Russia on the post-Soviet states and committed to coming
forth with measures to support these countries. What measures can
Europe come forth with?

RUBEN VARDANYAN: I AM HAPPY THAT OUR DREAM CAME TRUE

20:09 17/09/2013 ” Society

“Our plan and project came true. It was implemented on a high level. I
am satisfied,” told architect Artak Ghulyan Panorama.am adding that
regardless all the difficulties they had come across with during the
implementation of the project the church was constructed.

According to the architect though the construction lasted for years
changes have been made in design and decoration even yesterday.

“I tell everyone that there are two main issues that I have put on
the table; I wanted to introduce the Armenian architecture out of
the borders of Armenia and to make it so that it corresponds the
architecture of the city it is built in. I think the church will
be considered within these two aspects,” the architect notes. The
construction of the church was implemented due to Armenian
philanthropists, Ruben Vardanyan, the CIB co-chair among them.

“I am happy that our dream came true at last,” Ruben Vardanyan said
at the briefing with the journalists.

According to Ruben Vardabyan the fact that the church is big is
really good, but the best thing here is that the people will have the
opportunity to come together and to communicate to each other inside
the church.

“I also like the fact that our children will have the opportunity
to get acquainted to the Armenian traditions and values here,” the
speaker added.

President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, together with the
president of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan attended the ceremony of
consecration of the Armenian Cathedral in Moscow and opening of the
Church compound. The ceremony of consecration of the Cathedral was
conducted by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

ARMENIA DOUBLED EXPORT OF JAMS, JELLIES AND FRUIT PUREES

14:15, 17 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The volumes of the jams, jellies
and fruit purees exported from the Republic of Armenia during the
first six months of the year of 2013 have increased in comparison
with the same period of the previous year by more than twice and
made 328,100 kilograms. According to the data provided by the State
Revenue Committee of the Government of the Republic of Armenia,
during the first months of 2012 156,000 kilograms of jams, jellies
and fruit purees were exported from Armenia.

As reported by Armenpress, the major part of the jams, jellies and
fruit purees exported from our Republic during the first six months
of the year of 2013 was tasted in Russia (206,800 kilograms), Canada,
Germany, the United States of America, Ukraine and other countries.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ARMENIAN SCHOOLS IN ALEPPO REOPENED AND RECEIVED PUPILS

19:33, 17 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian schools in Aleppo reopened
after summer holidays on September 17 and received Aleppo-Armenian
pupils. “Armenpress” was informed about it from its source in
Aleppo. “Today is the first day of opening the schools. Children
attend schools. Life goes on in a normal way,” he said.

Reverberating to prices of goods Aleppo source mentioned that they
cannot change greatly compared with previous week.

“Sometimes prices for goods are very high but now food and bread

are available. Compared with previous week when it was difficult to
find bread now it can be found but it is expensive. There is not
fuel at all,” he informed adding that the blockade of the city is
continued. “The blockade is continued, at the end of last week three
Armenian young men were kidnapped and there is not any information
from them,” mentioned he adding that clashes are continued in different
parts of the city.

Military intervention issue in Syria is frozen for some time and was
made a decision about establishing international control over chemical
weapons of the government. Syrian authorities accepted that decision.

AT present Security Council of UN works on resolution about
establishing control over chemical weapons. International community
gave positive estimation to the decision.

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN: WE’RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT PROMISES NO PERSPECTIVES

18:03 17.09.2013

Karen Ghazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia

The country’s statehood, freedom and independence are endangered.

We’re living in a state of emergency, and we should search for
solutions unless it’s too late, founder of the Heritage Party Raffi
Hovhannisyan told reporters today.

Hovhannisyan said the steps on both foreign and domestic policy field
contradict the national interests. He said the choice between the East
and the West does not matter much to him. What’s really important is
to regain sovereignty and identity.

Raffi Hovhannisyan said the provisions of the Association Agreement
with the EU were not known and it was impossible to understand how it
would impact Armenia’s economic perspectives and the national interest,
the Nagorno Karabakh issue, etc.

“I think Armenia is forced to move in a direction, which promises now
perspectives,” the Heritage leader added. He voiced the opinion that
the European direction is more suitable to Armenia.

COLORING MATERIAL PRODUCTION IN ARMENIA INCREASED BY 5.5 PERCENTS

17:26, 17 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The coloring materials production
in the Republic of Armenia has been increased by 5.5 percents at the
course of the period ranging from January to July of the current year
in comparison with the same period of 2012, thus reaching 5 thousand
448.4 tons. In accordance with the data of the National Statistical
Service of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Armenia produced 5
thousand 164.9 tons of coloring materials during the last 7 months of
the previous year. As reports “Armenpress” the total volume of coloring
materials produced in the Republic of Armenia previous year equals
to 10 thousand 848.4 tons. In accordance with the data of the State
Revenue Committee under the Government of the Republic of Armenia, our
country exported over 100 tons of various coloring materials to foreign
countries at the course of the first six months of the current year.

ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL IN MOSCOW CONSECRATED

16:03 17.09.2013

Armenian Church, Moscow

President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan who are visiting the
Russian Federation today participated at the ceremony of consecration
of the Armenian Cathedral in Moscow and opening of the Church compound,
President’s Press Office reported.

The ceremony of consecration of the Cathedral was conducted by His
Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. The ceremony was
attended by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill who gave
his blessings, the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako
Sahakian, state and public figures of the Russian Federation, heads of
the major Armenian Apostolic Church dioceses from Armenia and abroad,
representatives and benefactors.

The construction of the Church compound, which is located in the
center of Moscow and built in accordance with the Armenian national
architectural traditions, was commenced back in 2006. It comprises the
Cathedral, the Holy Cross Church, the diocese office, educational,
cultural, administrative and hostel units, reception and festivity
halls and a museum. The compound is built with light apricot colored
tuff while the Cathedral is built with rose tuff brought from Á stone
quarry situated in the vicinity of the Armenian capital Ani and is
decorated with crosses, bas-reliefs and the Armenian alphabet.

The compound through its appearance and bas-reliefs relates to
the citizens of Moscow and guests of the Russian capital about the
Armenian people, presents momentous pages of our history – invention
of the alphabet, adoption of Christianity, our struggle for faith
and motherland, the Golden Age, etc. The ornaments and bas-reliefs
are harmoniously connected with the scattered over the territory
of the compound numerous cross-stones – symbols of the Armenian
sculptural art.

After the official ceremony of the consecration of the Cathedral,
President Serzh Sargsyan along with the organizers, benefactors and
guests watched at the reception hall of the administrative building
of the Church “The Armenians in Moscow: Historical Road” exhibition,
which was organized by the Russia and Nor Nachijevan Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, National Archives of Armenia, RF Federal
Agency of Archives, the General Department of Moscow Archives, and
State Central Archives of Moscow.

The opulent exhibition presents the almost five-century long history
of the Armenian community of Moscow starting from the end of the
XIV century up to the beginning of the XX century. The exhibition is
called upon to enhance the understanding of the role of the Church
and community in the life of the Armenian nation and the processes
of mutual enrichment of the Armenian and Russian cultures.

The President of Armenia visited also the educational and cultural
units, as well as the Church hostel. Later, in the courtyard of the
Church he was present at the unveiling ceremony of the Love and
Brotherhood memorial fountain dedicated to the friendship of the
Armenian and Russian peoples.

ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL OPENS IN MOSCOW

September 17, 2013 – 12:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The consecration of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral is ongoing Tuesday, September 17 in Moscow, with Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II, President Serzh Sargsyan, representatives
of Russia’s Armenian Diaspora, and high-ranking officials attending
the opening.

The consecration is performed by the Catholicos of All Armenians and
the primate of the New Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

The ceremony will be followed by the opening of exhibits titled
Armenians of Moscow and Historic Journey as well as a Love and
Fraternity theatrical performance.

Its construction launched back in 2008, the cathedral will serve as
a residence to Bishop Ezras Nersisyan, primate of the New Nakhichevan
and Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

EARLY ELECTIONS AT WRITERS’ UNION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER; POET EDWARD MILTOYAN IS POSSIBLE CANDIDATE

The early convention of the Armenian Writers’ Union is to be held on
November, during the convention elections of the AWU chairman are to
be held, literary critic Avik Isahakyan told the “Haykakan Zhamanak”.

Isahakyan is involved in the commission of the preparation processes.

There is a conviction among the writers that next chairman of AWU is
to be the poet Edward Miltoyan.

IN WHAT SEQUENCE HAS ARMENIA TAKEN STEPS TOWARD CUSTOMS UNION?

September 17, 2013 | 01:45

YEREVAN. – It is considered that Armenia has begun its integration
processes with the Customs Union on September 3, following the
agreement which Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and
Vladimir Putin had reached in Moscow.

But the aforesaid is not quite true.

In reality, Armenia’s first step toward the Customs Union was taken on
August 8, 2012, again in Moscow, and again during a meeting between the
two presidents. On that day, they agreed to establish a working group
to ascertain the chances for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union.

Subsequently, in an interview with the Russian Rossiya 24 television
on December 21, Sargsyan spoke in more certainty in favor of joining
the Customs Union.

Next, Armenia signed the first formal document with the Customs
Union on April 10, when Eurasian Economic Commission Chairman
Viktor Khristenko had visited Armenia. This was a memorandum, and
such memorandum is signed with Ukraine, too. In actual fact, Russia
views such memoranda as the first step on the road to the Customs
Union accession.

In parallel with the abovementioned, respective activities also became
more active at the parliamentary level.

And following all these processes, Armenia’s wish to join the Customs
Union was announced on September 3, in Moscow.