Author: Kalantarian Kevo

KAREN KARAPETYAN APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RUSSIA’S GAZPROM MEZHREGIONGAZ

tert.am
19.11.12

Ex-mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan has been appointed Deputy Director
General for Strategic Development of “Gazprom mezhregiongaz” company,
Mediamax news agency reports.

Gazprom Mezhregiongaz spokeswoman Maria Frolova told the news agency
that the company’s General Director Kirill Seleznev signed a decree
on appointing Karapetyan on November 17.

Gazprom Mezhregiongaz is wholly owned subsidiary of “Gazprom” OJSC
which is selling natural gas across Russian Federation.

According to Mediamax’s information, Karen Karapetyan retained the
position of Vice President of Gazprombank.

Karen Karapetyan held the post of Yerevan Mayor from December 2010
up to October 2011. He had headed “ArmRosgazprom” for almost 10 years
before that.

THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION OF THE ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARIAN COOPERATION COMMITTEE HELD A CONFERENCE

14:58, 19 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVMEBR 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian delegation of the
Armenia-EU parliamentarian cooperation in association with the German
International Cooperation (GIZ) organized a conference-discussion. The
representatives of a number of international organizations, as well
as conference of national platform of civil society of the EU Eastern
Cooperation and the Government participated in the conference.

The Department of Information and Public Relations of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that the
Head of the Armenia-EU parliamentarian cooperation committee Samvel
Farmanyan made opening remarks and said that the main goal of the
conference is to listen to the viewpoints of the civil society and
executive power regarding the issues involved in the agenda of the
conference. The next session will take place in Brussels on November
28-29. This committee is an example of the permanent parliamentary
format targeting the development of Armenia-EU intergovernmental
relations, permanent supervision of the course of the issues involved
in the agenda, the performance of the obligations of the Armenian side
and the support of the reforms, as well as the mission of forwarding
the dialogue with the civil society.

The Head of the delegation emphasized that the European integrity is
among the priorities of the foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia
and Armenia is actively engaged in the cooperation with EU. In this
respect Samvel Farmanyan stated that the current year has been very
abundant and outlined the deep and holistic negotiations regarding
the free trade agreement.

ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER PROUD OF HIS BROTHER

tert.am
19.11.12

Erik Sharmazanov Police Chief of Vanadzor, Armenia’s third largest
city, is full brother of Eduard Sharmazanov, Speaker of Armenia’s
parliament and Spokesman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA).

“All his achievements are only due to his hard work. I am proud to have
such an honest brother. If anyone is drawing parallels between me and
my brother for any other purposes, this would only add what is called
‘a plus’ because people who know him and about his work can only form
a more favorable opinion of our family,” Eduard Sharmazanov said.

34-old Erik Sharmazanov, who is Colonel of Police, graduated from
the Police Academy. He was investigator and chief investigator at
the Vanadzor police department. Later, he was appointed Chief of
the Gugark police department. This year Erik Sharmazanov has been
appointed Chief of the Vanadzor police department.

“He has two daughters, and we hope he will have a son as well,”
Eduard Sharmazanov said.

ARMENIA MUST NOT EXPECT FROM U.S. ANY DIRECT APPROACHES TO KARABAKH ISSUE – ANALYST

news.am
November 19, 2012 | 12:47

YEREVAN.- Armenia must not expect from U.S. any direct approaches to
the Karabakh issue, Armenian political analyst Richard Giragosian said
commenting on possible influence of the U.S. elections on relationship
with Armenia.

Giragosian, Director of Armenia-based Regional Studies Center, believes
Armenian-American relations are deepening. Obama is a more preferable
political figure for Yerevan as he has more balanced position on
U.S. relations with Russia and Iran, Armenia’s main regional partners,
he told reporters on Monday.

“Following the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts, it is clear that Russia
is playing a key diplomatic role. As to Armenia-Turkey relation,
the main expectations are from Ankara. On the whole, Armenia must be
more pro-Armenian rather than pro-Russian or pro-American. Armenia
must seek strength in itself, in its economy,” he added.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 15 2012

CSTO follows Iran situation, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – Bordyuzha

MOSCOW. Nov 15

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be settled by military
methods, Nikolai Bordyuzha, secretary general of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), told journalists.

“In our opinion, it is possible to resolve this serious problem only
by political methods. No military action will help resolve this
problem,” he said.

CSTO member states’ political potential regarding their contribution
to the settlement of this conflict is “sufficiently large,” Bordyuzha
said.

“It is the Russian president’s authority, as well as the authority of
the president of Kazakhstan and other leaders. All aspects capable of
politically influencing this situation are being used,” he said.

There is also an international mechanism for tackling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Bordyuzha said.

“I mean the Minsk Group, meetings of the Russian president with the
leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said.
The CSTO is not interfering in this process as an organization, he said.

“We see how the situation unfolds there, but we are not interfering.
We think that the mechanisms that have already been created are
enough. The involvement of any other structures at this stage would be
counterproductive and could further complicate this already difficult
issue,” Bordyuzha said.

Bordyuzha refused to comment on CSTO member countries’ possible
reaction in the event of an armed conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

Addressing the situation in Iran, the CSTO secretary general said that
the organization was discussing possible scenarios in this country.

“We are certainly discussing this situation with the Security Council
secretaries and foreign ministers. Very often these problems are
discussed at the level of presidents, at their narrow-format meetings.
For example, situations like what would happen if a strike were
delivered against Iran, would there be a radioactive cloud, would
there be refugees come up in their discussions very often,” Bordyuzha
said.
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Armenian Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs issued a congratulation
message on the occasion of students’ day

17:09, 17 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Minister of Sport and Youth
Affairs Hrachya Rostomyan issued a congratulation message on the
occasion of international students’ day. As Armenpress was informed
from the press department of the Ministry it was mainly noted in the
message

`Dear students

As the whole world Armenia also celebrates November 17 as the
international students’ day. I am glad to congratulate you on this
occasion and wish all your dreams come true. You are the reason that
now we can be sure in the future of our country. You are the one who
will make Armenia the country we have dreamed of’.

Bisharyan Calls Mher Sedrakyan and Grish of Bellagio `Neighborhood
Tough Guys’ Elected Through Election Bribes and Pressure

NOVEMBER 16, 2012 19:30

In response to a question of whether she agreed with
second President Robert Kocharyan that MPs elected through
majoritarian representation were feudal lords, Heghine Bisharyan, the
leader of the Rule of Law Party (RLP) parliamentary group, said: `I by
no means want to make such assessments of majoritarian representation,
but we are against and want that voting system be voided. At the end
of the day, the role of parties also increases. I, as a candidate
nominated for majoritarian representation twice, lost both times,
because election bribes and the struggle of neighborhood tough guys
and other people of that kind against me caused my defeat by a few
thousands of votes. This means that there is unfairness here; there is
dishonesty here. In that sense, majoritarian representation prevents
elections from being more transparent and of higher quality. Perhaps,
there are majoritarian MPs who can be called highly qualified. I by no
means want to assess everyone as such, because there are MPs who are
literate, well-bred; they are good MPs. That is why I don’t want to
insult my colleagues, but I don’t accept that voting system.’ We asked
to clarify whether Grigori Margaryan (aka Grish of Bellagio) who won
in her electoral district, no. 11, and was also endorsed by the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) had handed out election bribes,
Heghine Bisharyan said: `Certainly. If he won, he was the one.’ We
inquired whether there was proof that he had handed out election
bribes, Ms. Bisharyan said, `I say what my electorate said. My
electorate was not small – roughly 13 thousand people. They said that
the opponent had handed out money; that was why we had lost. I ought
to believe my voters, employees of my headquarters, residents of my
neighborhood, my building who saw everywhere what was going on.’ Mher
Sedrakyan, a member of the RPA parliamentary group, said that people
who didn’t enjoy good reputation opposed majoritarian representation.
In Heghine Bisharyan’s words: `Such neighborhood tough guys can boldly
support majoritarian representation, because they cannot appear on a
political force’s list for proportional representation, despite their
being neighborhood tough guys.’ We asked to clarify whether it didn’t
do parties any credit to have such persons on their lists for
proportional representation, Heghine Bisharyan said, `No. I am
convinced that no political force includes those neighborhood tough
guys in its list. That is why they support majoritarian representation
with its neighborhood tough guys, pressure; we know what election was
held in the community of Erebuni – they are elected majoritarian MPs
through pressure and ballot stuffing. That is why they, particularly
he, support it.’

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

5 Turkish soldiers killed in PKK clashes

November 18, 2012 – 14:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Five Turkish soldiers have been killed while another
was left wounded in clashes with suspected members of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Hakkari
Sunday, Nov 18, Hurriyet Daily News reported citing private
broadcaster NTV.
Clashes occurred when military forces encountered militants during an
operation conducted in a rural area of Hakkari’s Å?emdinli district.
Reinforcements have been dispatched to the region.

Cultural house to preserve Armenian traditions in Lebanon

news.am
November 18, 2012 | 13:17

A pink house situated among the narrow streets of Burj Hammoud,
Lebanon, has compiled piece-by-piece the relics of the country’s
Armenian heritage.

Armenian-style carpets hang in the dining room alongside elaborately
woven satchels, which Armenian monks filled with salt and carried on
their solitary trips more than 100 years ago.

Nearly all the items, including the hand-embroidered pomegranate on
the napkins to the abstract iron sculpture on the second floor, carry
a story of Armenian heritage, The Daily Star informs.

The house will serve in preserving traditional trades, skills and
foods for younger generations.

REVUE DE PRESSE
Le président Arménien salue les relations fraternelles avec la France

Dans un entretien exclusif accordé à France 3, le président Arménien,
en visite à Lyon, rend hommage à la France et aux relations
fraternelles qu’elle a su nouer avec avec son pays et avec son peuple
.

Le président Arménien était en visite officielle en France pendant
deux jours. Lors de son passage à Lyon, il a accordé hier soir un
entretien exclusif à France 3 Rhône-Alpes. Il se félicite des
relations fraternelles nouées avec la France et du rôle qu’elle a joué
dans la reconnaissance internationale du génocide arménien. Il évoque
la destinée de son peuple dont une grande partie vit au-delà des
frontiéres nationales et notamment en Rhône-Alpes. `La qualité de
notre peuple, dit-il, est de s’intégrer facilement dans le pays
d’accueil`. Un consultat général arménien va donc être implanté
prochainement à Lyon.

Questionné par Olivier Michel, Serge Sarkissian évoque aussi les
difficultés rencontrées par l’Arménie, notamment les problèmes de
corruption mais aussi les efforts déployés pour répondre aux éxigences
démocratiques dans son pays. Il confirme qu’il sera à nouveau candidat
aux élections présidentielles qui se dérouleront en février 2013.

Le président de la République Francaise a d’ores et déjà annoncé deux
visites officielles en Arménie : La première en 2013, la seconde en
2015, à l’occasion de la commémoration du centenaire du génocide
arménien. Le président Arménien souligne à ce propos que la politique
francaise concernant le génocide `n’a pas été imposée par nous`.

dimanche 18 novembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com