Author: Kalantarian Kevo

LE GOUVERNEMENT SOUHAITE OUVRIR DES COOPERATIVES POUR LES AGRICULTEURS
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 27 decembre 2012

Sergo Karapetian, ministre de l’Agriculture, a appele les agriculteurs
a s’entraider pour la survie du secteur agricole qui est aujourd’hui
en difficulte. ” Il s’agit d’un grave problème pour nous, car
l’agriculture ne se developpera pas de cette facon “, a-t-il declare.

” Mais les agriculteurs doivent le faire volontairement. Ils devraient
s’unir pour creer des cooperatives “, a declare Karapetian.

L’Armenie compte environ 403.000 hectares de terres arables qui sont
detenues par 340.000 personnes, la plupart d’entre elles sont des
agriculteurs a faible revenu. En depit des hausses considerables de
la production agricole rapportees par le gouvernement au cours des
trois dernières annees, de nombreux agriculteurs se plaignent qu’ils
ont de plus en plus de mal a gagner leur vie. ” Nous avons emprunte
de l’argent pour planter des choux, des haricots, des concombres et
gagner un peu d’argent, mais ils ont coupe l’eau d’irrigation trop
tôt cet automne et nous n’avons pas fait de recettes “, a declare une
habitante de la vallee d’Ararat. ” Nous avons du mal a payer l’impôt
foncier et la taxe sur l’eau “, se plaint un autre agriculteur local.”

Nous n’avons pas assez de revenus. Il y a des gens qui possèdent
de nombreux hectares de terres, ils peuvent en quelque sorte se
debrouiller. Mais ceux qui possèdent des parcelles plus petites
ont de plus en plus de dettes et doivent vendre leurs terres. ” Le
Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian a declare fin 2011 que plus de 50
cooperatives agricoles seront mises en place d’ici la fin de l’annee
2012 dans les communautes pauvres situees dans les zones montagneuses.

Hranush Kharatian, un eminent sociologue, est sceptique quant a cette
strategie. Il affirme qu’une grande partie des terres agricoles est
maintenant detenue par des personnes riches ayant des liens etroits
avec le gouvernement.

” L’agriculture est maintenant rentable, mais elle est avantageuse
pour une poignee de personnes “, a declare Kharatian a RFE / RL
(Azatutyun.am).

Selon les statistiques gouvernementales, la production agricole
a augmente de plus de 8% de janvier a octobre 2012, aidee par des
conditions meteorologiques favorables qui ont fortement stimule la
production vegetale. ” Nous avons encore beaucoup de problèmes non
resolus, mais dans l’ensemble, cela a ete une annee positive pour
l’agriculture “, a declare le ministre.

jeudi 27 decembre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews.com

ADL ALARMED AT TURKEY’S REPORTED INVESTIGATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DUAL ISRAELI AND TURKISH CITIZENSHIP

Update: (12/24/12) On December 22, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs released a statement denying media reports of an investigation
of Turkish Jews in connection to the “Flotilla Incident” stating that
there is “no basis” and that Turkey “cannot accept generalization
and presentation of allegations regarding possible perpetrators of
the incident in a way that targets the Turkish Jewish community who
are a part of our society and equal citizens of Turkey.”

New York, NY, December 18, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) today expressed alarm at news reports that Turkey’s National
Intelligence Organization is investigating individuals who may be
dual citizens of Israel and Turkey in connection to the Mavi Marmara
“Flotilla Incident” of 2010.

Various reports suggest that targets of the investigation are Jewish
without a thorough identification process and go on to mention that
the identities of those being investigated will be disclosed at a
later time.

In a letter to H. E. Namýk Tan, the Ambassador of Turkey to the United
States, ADL stressed that the vague allegations being reported may be
intimidating to the Turkish-Jewish community and could create a sense
of alarm for Turkish Jews who have felt protected by the government
in Turkey for centuries.

“Throughout Jewish history, similar tactics have fomented anti-Semitism
by publicly raising suspicions of Jewish dual loyalty in the minds
of fellow countrymen,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

ADL also reiterated its call for an explanation on the validity of
the reports.

“If your government has information about specific individuals under
investigation, that should be disclosed immediately in order to
relieve any sense of uncertainty about the Turkish Jewish community
in general,” Mr. Foxman wrote. “If the news reports are unfounded or
misleading, an immediate and public clarification is needed.”

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services
that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

ARMENIA-BASED HERITAGE PARTY LEADER MAIN CHALLENGER TO AUTHORITIES

TERT.AM
25.12.12

Styopa Safaryan, Political Secretary of the Heritage party, believes
that the party leader Raffi Hovannisian will stand higher chances in
the 2013 presidential election in Armenia after Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
Chairman of the opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC),
announced his refusal to run for the presidency.

On the other hand, he points out higher risks. “Since a number of
political forces – both Prosperous Armenia and Levon Ter-Petrosyan –
have, all at once, made, so to say, direct or indirect steps to boycott
[the election], participation entails certain risks. And the Heritage
party, Raffi Hovannisian, as well as the political and public circles
supporting him, have to deal with this,” Mr Safaryan told Tert.am.

Under the circumstances, Mr Hovannisian will become the main challenger
to Armenia’s incumbent authorities.

In an interview with the Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun newspaper, the
ANC leader explained that his nomination is hardly possible.

As regards the Heritage party’s attitude to the nomination of Armenia’s
ex-premier Hrant Bagratyan, Mr Safaryan said: “He noted his main
aim was disseminating liberal ideas and presenting this alternative
to the liberal sections. I view his nomination more as a step to
preserve the ANC electorate. Ter-Petrosyan indirectly contributed
to this by ruling out the nomination of any other candidate – be it
Levon Zurabyan or Nikol Pashinyan. The aim was to create favorable
conditions for Hrant Bagratyan.”

According to Mr Safaryan, by making his statement the ANC leader
solved the problem of his successor. “Neither you [Levon Zurabyan]
nor he [Nikol Pashinyan]. By delaying his decision as long as possible
he actually got Hrant Bagratyan nominated at the ANC congress.”

As regards the reasons for the ANC leader’s decision, Mr Safaryan
repeated that he considered Ter-Petrosyan was most unlikely to run
for the presidency for numerous reasons.

“First, it is not the best times for the ANC. Secondly, it would be
the second attempt for Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and the hopes placed on
him are not the hopes placed on him in 2008, and so on. Also, the
disappointment at what is called elections. Expectations naturally
created a socio-political environment for Ter-Petrosyan,” Mr Safaryan
said.

The ANC leader himself is well aware of that his speeches at the
ANC rallies in recent years “showed hints, even if veiled ones,
at problems within the ANC.”

In the long run, the ANC leader made a decision that would cause him
less damage than one on nomination.

As regards the “age reasons,” Mr Safaryan said: “I would not like
to rule out this factor… It is obvious, however, that there is a
problem of political age, and Ter-Petrosyan can feel it very well.”

He pointed out the problem of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s accurate political
calculations, which may be the actual reason for his “political age”
or rather a change of political generations.

CHRISTMAS TREE OF CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR ARTS TO BE DECORATED WITH CHILDREN’S HANDMADE ORNAMENTS

17:43, 25 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Ahead of New Year and Christmas
celebrations, a special creative program for children is administered
at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts on December 26, 2012 at 14:00.

Armenpress was informed from director of marketing and public relations
of Cafesjian Center for the Arts Lilit Sokhakyan.

“The program will be guided by Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden,
who will help the children create Christmas decorations of their own.

Divided into age groups children will work on various assignments and
tasks, and at the end of the program, with their handmade ornaments
they will decorate the Christmas tree of the Cafesjian Center for
the Arts placed at the Visitor Center,” Sokhakyan said.

TER-PETROSYAN NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT (INTERVIEW)

25.12.12

The local newspaper Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun has talked to first
president and the current leader of the opposition Armenian National
Congress, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who elaborated on his key arguments
for not joining the upcoming presidential race.

Below is an excerpt from the interview.

“Mr. president, it is no secret that your decision whether or not to
nominate yourself [in the upcoming election] is the key, if not the
only intrigue related to the presidential polls, the comments and
forecasts appearing in the media every day being an evidence of that.

How do you treat them?”

“With surprise”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that those backing or opposing to my nomination plan
propose dozens of arguments, circumventing the key issue. To the
best of my knowledge, no one has raised the question as to whether
a person respecting his own nation can pretend to the presidential
office at the age of sixty-eight. Things like this do not normally
happen in developed democracies.”

“Are there no exceptions?”

“There are of course. But they normally become apparent in emergency
situations when the political elite invites – be it though in breach
of the Constitution – elderly but highly respected politicians with
consolidative capacities to take the helm of state due to the existing
chaos and uncontrollable situation. Such was the case with Churchill,
Adenauer, Shevardnadze, Heydar Aliyev and Mario Monti. The only real
exception is probably [Ronald] Ragan, whose election does not fit with
this scheme. But as they say, an exception – if proven to be such –
confirms the existence of regularity. ”

“And don’t you think the situation in Armenia is like a state of
emergency?”

“Not absolutely. Not at least with respect to the issues I mentioned.

Armenia is facing neither a chaos nor an uncontrollable. It’s just
vice versa. The problem is the excess control, with everything being
centralized in the hands of a group of criminals who have seized
power. Hence, there is no demand at the moment for getting rid of a
chaos and making the country controllable. And even if there were,
that wouldn’t mean I would be the person to satisfy the demand.”

“So, you are not going to nominate yourself?”

“No. Whatever you may say, a 68-year-old cannot have the same
enthusiasm and ability to work as the one who is 40 to 60, which is
the optimal age for political figures seeking the presidential office.

Hence, those who are younger than me have to appear on the arena. ”

KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO HAND AMD 40M FINANCIAL AID OVER TO SYRIAN ARMENIANS

tert.am
25.12.12

On Wednesday, at Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora, Kuwaiti Ambassador
to Armenia Bassam Al-Qabandi will hand AMD 40m as financial aid to
the coordinating center for problems of Syrian Armenians.

The funds will be spent on food stamps for Syrian Armenians.

ARMENIAN COMPANIES FINED TOTAL OF AMD 244 MLN BY REGULATOR IN 2012

YEREVAN, December 25. /ARKA/. Armenia~Rs State Commission for
Protection of Economic Competition penalized a total of 244 million
drams in 2012, the head of the Commission Artak Shaboyan told
journalists Tuesday. The total fine amount was 351 million drams
in 2011.

Shaboyan said that the Commission has made 214 decisions on unfair
competition in 2012 as compared to 30 decisions in the previous years.

The Commission did a lot of work: it studied markets of medicine,
petrol, diesel oil, fertilizers, milk and meat products, and transport
and communication services during the year, Shaboyan said.

Decisions were made on big companies, like Electrical Networks of
Armenia, South Caucasus Railway, ArmenTel and Haypost.

It is important for the Commission to follow up the appeal process,
he said. The court has already made verdicts on there out of seven
appeals, and all the verdicts are in favor of the Commission, the
head of the Commission said. ~V0–

IRAN, ARMENIA STRESS SETTLEMENT OF SYRIAN CRISIS THROUGH INTERNAL TALKS

14:33 | 2012-12-26

Foriegn Policy

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Armenian officials in a meeting in Yerevan
underlined the necessity for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in
Syria through talks between the government and the opposition.

The issue was raised in a meeting between Iran’s Deputy Foreign
Minister for Asia and Oceania Seyed Abbas Araqchi and Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian on Tuesday.

The two sides also expressed concern about the situation in Syria and
underscored the necessity for holding Syrian-Syrian talks between the
government and the opposition forces to settle the problems
peacefully.

During the meeting, Araqchi also submitted a message from Iranian
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to the Armenian top diplomat.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from
abroad.

As an evidence for foreign states’ meddling in Syria’s crisis,
recently a group of 39 Chechen terrorists left London’s Heathrow
airport last week for Istanbul to sneak into Syria via the Turkish
borders and join other terrorist and armed rebel groups in the war on
Damascus.

The 39 terrorists were not the first group of Chechens sent to Syria.

When armed rebellion against the Damascus government broke out,
Chechen terrorists were among the first foreign troops sent to Syria
through Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Britain.

All throughout the last century, Chechens who had always been treated
like an enemy, or at least a second class citizen, both under Tsarist
and Communist Russia mostly left their land for various world
countries, especially in the Middle-East.

“YEREVAN WORLD BOOK CAPITAL” PROGRAM OVERFULFILED

10:03, 26 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. “Yerevan World Book Capital”
program has not been merely completed, but it was even overfulfiled in
accordance with the whole rates. Within the framework of the program
various events have been organized both in Armenia and elsewhere, a
number of international exhibitions were held in different countries,
numerous programs have been realized in association with public
organizations, book fairs, international conferences, republican
scientific conferences, master classes have been initiated. The number
and quality of the programs is rather impressive. The Minister of
Culture of the Republic of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan expressed this
opinion in a conversation with “Armenpress”. According to her the
program will be summed up in its entirety in the end of January, 2013.

This will help us to find an answer a rather important question –
whether we managed to make use of this opportunity properly or not?

There have been difficulties regarding the formation of bookstore nets
in the regions and in matters regarding the visits of various artists
to the Republic of Armenia, notwithstanding the Ministry of Culture
of the Republic of Armenia will spare no efforts to compensate all
these lapses in 2013.

Within the framework of “Yerevan World Book Capital” program a number
of events will be organized until April 2013. The program will be
closed only after passing this title to Bangkok.

ARMENIAN SCHOOLS REOPENED IN ALEPPO: REISIAN

13:12, 26 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The national colleges of the Armenian
National Prelacy of Aleppo restarted their activity. Press Secretary
of the Armenian National Prelacy in Aleppo Jirair Reisian informed
“Armenpress” about this. In addition he stated that the schools have
been brought together in one building in order to make classes more
secure for children. Preparations launched in several schools on
December 25. The first classes have been given today.

According to Reisian Karen Yeppe, Sahakian, Gyulbenkian, Javarian,
and Haykazian Armenian schools have been reopened.

As to the current situation in Aleppo Reisian stated that in the
central districts is calm, but one can still hear shooting from
distant regions. As per the issues regarding bread, electricity and
heating than nothing has changed. Many people are trying to cut off
trees in order to heat their houses.

Clashes in Syria lasting more than 21 months caused the death of
about 40 000 man, including more than four dozens Armenians.