Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTRY EXPECTS 7% GDP GROWTH, LESS THAN 4% INFLATION IN 2012

Interfax
Oct 24 2012
Russia

Armenia’s GDP will grow by roughly 7% in 2012, Armenian Finance
Minister Vache Gabrielyan said while presenting draft changes to the
minimum wage law at the parliament on Tuesday.

This year’s budget envisages 4% inflation, plus or minus 1.5 percentage
points, “although in reality it will be below 4%,” Gabrielyan said.

Armenia will have 3.4% inflation next year. “That is a sufficiently
low figure that will not have a significant influence on spending by
the population,” he said.

According to the draft law presented by Gabrielyan, the minimum wage
will be raised from the current level of 32,500 dram to 35,000 dram.

Armenia’s minimum consumer basket will total around 50,000 dram.

Gabrielyan said that the minimum wage should rise to 45,000 dram in
2014 and to 65,000 dram within five years.

At the beginning of October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
lowered its forecast for Armenian GDP growth from 6.2% to 3.9% for
2012. This year’s state budget assumes GDP growth of 4.2%.

The Armenian economy expanded by 4.6% and had 4.7% inflation in 2011,
compared to 9.4% inflation in 2010.

The official exchange rate on October 24 was 405.92 dram/$1.

BERLIN – UNE EXPOSITION PERMANENTE SUR LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 25 octobre 2012

La chancelière allemande Angela Merkel a donne son feu vert pour la
renovation complète d’un bâtiment d’exposition pour le Centre contre
les Expulsions a Berlin.

” Avec l’achèvement de la renovation une collection permanente devrait
voir le jour en 2015/2016 ” a declare le ministre de la Culture Bernd
Neumann (CDU). Le contenu de l’exposition est plus large que prevu :
Les domaines abordes touchent aussi des desastres tels que le genocide
au Darfour, a declare Alexander Koch, de la Fondation SFVV.

L’exposition integrera les questions de persecution ethnique dans le
monde entier dont le genocide des Armeniens, l’expulsion des Allemands
de Pologne et de la Republique tchèque en 1945. L’exposition devait
etre presentee sur 1600 mètres carres.

Le parti Die Linke a critique cette decision. Le depute Luc Jochimsen
a declare ” qu’est-ce que le genocide des Armeniens a a voir avec
l’expulsion des Allemands après 1945 ? “.

jeudi 25 octobre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

KNOWN THAT ARMENIAN ARMY USES IN NAGORNO KARABAKH MILITARY EQUIPMENT PURCHASED FROM JAPAN

APA
Oct 24 2012
Azerbaijan

Whereas Tokyo has announced that it does not sell military products
to the conflicting countries, including Azerbaijan and Armenia

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Tank transporters purchased from
Japan were used in the military exercises carried out by Armenian
Armed Forces in Nagorno Karabakh. APA reports that the photos of the
military equipment have been posted on the website of Russian Centre
for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST).

Photo reporting prepared by deputy director of CAST Konstantin Makienko
in Karabakh shows that the units of Armenian army in Karabakh and
military units of the separatist regime possess tank transporters
produced by Hino company of Japan. Nothing is known about the date
of purchase of the military vehicles. Armenians mainly use them to
carry armored vehicles.

These facts once more prove that the military equipment sold by
foreign countries to Armenia is sent to Nagorno Karabakh separatists.

Earlier – the parade held in Khankendi in May, 2012, revealed that the
“army” of Karabakh possesses M93 Black Arrow sniper rifle, which was
sold to Armenia by Serbia in 2007.

Tokyo has announced that it does not sell military products to the
conflicting countries, including Azerbaijan and Armenia. But it turns
out that Japan doesn’t adhere to this statement and sells military
vehicles to Armenia, which has occupied Azerbaijan’s territories.

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIAN CARTOONS

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 24 2012
Russia

The Big Festival of Cartoons returns in Moscow on October 26 and will
last for 12 days.

Dina Goder, the program director of BFC-2012, film expert, theater
critic

Importance and charm of the festival is that it is rated for any
kind of audience. There are many programs about children for adults,
teenagers, the old, cartoon specialists, and those who want to have
fun. One can create his own cartoon at the cartoon factory – we have
a whole factory with cardboard workshops where young directors create
cartoons together with children. One can watch series, for example,
for children while eating and drinking cocoa. A lot of opportunities.

One of central programs is called “First Run.” This program is always
very popular because we show cartoons shot by Russian directors during
the last year.

Moreover, we have the program “School” where we demonstrate
young multiplication – cartoons shot by students or graduators
of universities. The program devoted to the 100th anniversary of
Russian cartoons is “Silent Cartoons. Live Music.” We have a plenty
of Russian cartoons which have never been showed, published, and
they are wonderful. We will have a cartoon concert where they will
be demonstrated. The program will begin from the film of 1912 by
Vladislav Starevich, a pioneer of our cartoon animation. Other cartoons
will be of the 1920s. Georgy Borodin collected them especially for
us. An outstanding band from Tallinn will accompany us – a crazy,
bright band. Its leader, composer, musician, Kaspar Yantsis is a
cartoon director too. His cartoon Villa Antropoff is a nice story
which takes place at the abandoned villa of the former general
secretary Andropov. I think it will be a joyful concert which is
worthy attendance.

Maria Tereshchenko, the program director of BFC-2012

I cannot tell you the history of the Caucasus animation in one
sentence. Multiplication in Georgia was born before the war. They have
strong traditions. Armenian cartoons have powerful traditions too. As
for the Soviet audience in general, Armenian cartoons were the most
popular due to the genius of Robert Saakyants who created “In the blue
sea, in white foam”, “Maslenitsa!”, “Wow, Speaking Fish!” Everybody
knows them well: they are funny and lambent. The other interesting
moment is that one of the major Soviet animators Lev Atamanov (he is
the author of “The Snow Queen”, “The Golden Antelope”, “The Scarlet
Flower” and all best cartoons) began his career in Armenia. A lot
was connected with the Caucasus in the Soviet multiplication.

Unfortunately, today the situation is very bad. I talked to Georgians
about it: cartoons are not supported, studios are destroyed. Actually,
if you look at any cartoon festival today, you won’t find Georgian,
Armenian, or Azerbaijani works there. Few works are produced. For
example, I have seen only one Azerbaijani cartoon for 10 years, even
though annually I watch thousands of cartoons. One Azerbaijani, some
Georgian works created for children at children studios, and several
Armenian cartoons – too little. A lot was done under Saakyants even
in the 2000s: the series Taverna; animation educational programs on
geography and so on.

Of course national Georgian, Ossetian, and other fairytales are filmed
– in “Mountain of Gems” Natasha Berezova had “Proud Mouse”, as far as
I remember it is an Ossetial fairytale. There are many examples. For
instance, a Georgian lullaby is in the project “Lullabies of the
world”, as well as an Armenian lullaby. “Mountain of Gems” includes
a Dagestan fairytale. We, Russian animators, don’tforget about the
Caucasus; wonderful cultural Caucasian heritage is widely used in
cartoons.

This year the festival will have a new professionalprogram “Anima
Campus” where students from various countries will try to create
thematic cartoons. Another innovation is a variety of special
programs. At the moment we are going beyond our limits: for instance,
we have a Halloween program and genre programs. We have extended the
audience part as sometimes we used to come to arthouse. This time we
have a plenty of programs for mass audience: both children and adults.

What is our peculiarity? First of all, the volume as I cannot remember
any other festival presenting such a big volume and variety. Secondly,
we are available. As a rule cartoon festivals are oriented at
professionals; they are held in small towns and small places, and it
is difficult to get there. Thirdly, our special actions, for example, a
cartoon factory, the concert. This year we will have stereo-animation,
3D animation. A producer from Canada will tell us about it, will show
us how to transform cartoons into stereo-cartoons.

We try to create something new always to make the show unusual,
modern, and bright.

Pavel Shvedov, the curator of the Russian cartoon exhibition

We will demonstrate the movie “Beautiful Lyukanida” which is a starting
point of the Russian animation. The exhibition is devoted to cartoon
characters which were created by Soviet and Russian directors.

We would like to remind everybody about them. We want to present these
characters from a professional point of view – when a character is not
completed, when a director, a photographer and a crew are in the middle
of the working process and still don’t know what result they will have.

The majority of materials have never been shown before. We also use
copies to show a mystery of giving birth to a character. A person
who comes to the exhibition begins a certain dialogue with himself
and feels emotions caused by the characters which he will look at
from the other side.

PRESIDENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC : PRESIDENTS OF ARTSAKH AND ARMENIA VISITED THE VILLAGE OF METS TAGER

4-Traders
Oct 24 2012

On 24 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together
with President Serzh Sargsyan of the Republic of Armenia visited
the village of Mets Tager in the Hadrout region and partook at the
solemn event of opening a memorial complex immortalizing the memory
of martyrs perished in the Artsakh liberation war.

President Sahakyan considered important the existence of such complexes
in different places of our republic noting their significance
for patriotic upbringing of the younger generation as well as for
maintaining national values.

The Head of the State expressed gratitude to those who participated in
the construction of the complex adding that by this they make worthy
contribution to developing and prospering the native land.

IRANIAN MINISTER STATES EXISTENCE OF “OBSTACLES” FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BILATERAL PROJECTS IN YEREVAN

Mediamax
Oct 24 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The session of Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental
commission started in Yerevan today.

Speaking at the meeting, Co-Chair of the commission, Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Armen Movsisyan said that “the
agenda currently comprises drafts of construction of the third line of
Iran-Armenia high-voltage electric power transmission, construction
of a joint hydropower plant on the river of Araks and oil pipes,
expansion of cooperation in the sphere of petrochemistry”.

He also said that “a number of discussions were held regarding the
draft of the construction of Iran-Armenia railway and the sides are
determined and mutually interested in implementation of the project”.

Minister of Energy of Iran Majid Namjoo said:

“Of course, we registered progress in implementation of joint projects
but I should note that there are also some obstacles which somehow
slow down the process of their implementation. In spite of all the
achievements, the results are not satisfactory for us and everything
should be done to overcome the obstacles and move ahead”.

The statement of the press service of the Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources of Armenia doesn’t specify what “obstacles” were
meant by the Iranian Minister.

US AMBASSADOR EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF ARMENIA’S STANDING IN DOING BUSINESS REPORT

armradio.am
16:50 24.10.2012

US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern called Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan today to congratulate the latter for the improvement
of the World Bank “Doing Business” index and mentioned the significant
progress (18 points) made by Armenia in this field.

He attached particular importance to the development of the business
environment for maintaining sustainable economic growth in Armenia. He
also hailed the Armenian Government’s efforts aimed at reforming the
public administration system of the country and its resoluteness to
bring the process of reforms to its completion.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the American Ambassador
and mentioned the importance of the technical assistance that the
US Government has provided to Armenia in order to ensure progress in
this area.

Mr. Heffern also mentioned the positive developments in paying of
taxes and protecting investments, and emphasized that the measures
taken in this regard should be continued.

At the end of the conversation, Mr. Ambassador pointed out the
readiness of the US Government to continue providing technical
assistance to the Armenian Government for the implementation of its
reform agenda and in particular for the further development of the
country’s business environment. In response, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan expressed his appreciation and stated the willingness of
the Armenian Government to continue the cooperation.

THE PROVEN AXIOM – A RESPONSE TO FALSIFICATIONS OF HISTORY BY ARMENIA’S NEIGHBORS
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
18:03 24.10.2012

A new documentary telling about cartographer Rouben Galichian’s works
will be presented to public in early November at the initiative of
three young authors. “The Proven Axiom” – a 35-minute documentary
is a response to falsifications of history by our neighbors. The
distribution of the film will be supported by the Public Relations
and Information Center of the President’s Administration.

The documentary authored by three journalists is actually a collection
of facts and the works of cartographer Ruben Galichian. The latter
published several books on the ancient maps of Armenia and adjacent
regions; he has a huge amount of data about the information the
museums and libraries of the world possess about Armenia. Galichian’s
research works provide a basis to assert that Armenia and Persia are
the most ancient countries of the region with a history of more than
2,500 years.

After the passage of 2,600 years the Turkish state tried to erase
the name ‘Armenia’ from maps as a result of the Armenian Genocide,
but historic facts are inerasable and irrefutable, Ruben Galchyan is
confident. According to the cartographer, inerasable is also the fact
that the history of the country that carries the name ‘Azerbaijan’
starts from 1918, despite the assertions of Azerbaijanis that they
are the descendants of Caucasian Albanians.

“It’s enough to show Galichian’s maps during different meetings, and
our Azerbaijani colleagues immediately fall silent,” says historian
Gurgen Hovhannisyan, Adviser on CIS Issues at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. According to him, nowadays good propaganda is an efficient
tool of diplomacy, but propaganda is nothing without facts.

“Ruben Galichian’s works serve as a firm ground for us in the
propaganda war,” the historian says.

GEORGIA TO ENHANCE RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA AND TURKEY, FIRST OF ALL

arminfo
Wednesday, October 24, 13:32

A balanced regional policy to provide Georgia with the function to
unite Caucasian interest is contained in the government programme
entitled ‘For a strong, democratic, united Georgia’, Trend reports.

It is being discussed by new members of the government in parliamentary
committees and factions.The voting on new government staff will be
held in Parliament on October 25.

According to the programme, firstly Georgia intends to intensify its
relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey to express the Caucasian
interests. Georgia will also seek to establish a dialogue with Russia
by using the international mechanisms. The future government stressed
that the priorities of Georgia’s foreign policy is a desire to join
the EU, the Euro-Atlantic orientation and integration into NATO.

Contributing to international military operations is considered as
one of essential components of protecting national interests. The
U.S is mentioned as Georgia’s key ally in the government’s programme.

“Georgia with its peacekeeping policy will become a reliable and
predictable partner of the international community,” the programme
said.

The future Georgian government thinks that one of the conditions to
facilitate a comprehensive settlement of the conflicts is strengthening
democratic institutions and public diplomacy. “It is necessary to
start the negotiations on security assurances,” the new government’s
programme said. “Their mechanism must be created in the format of
the OSCE and the UN.”

It is planned to change the principles of Abkhazia’s and South
Ossetia’s governments’ activity operating in Tbilisi.

Earlier leader of the Georgian Dream coalition which won the recent
parliamentary elections, Bidzina Ivanishvili proposed candidates
for ministers in the new Georgian government. Ivanishvili intends to
become prime minister.

ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP TO RESPOND FOR ITS ACTIONS – MFA

News.Az
Wed 24 October 2012 09:08 GMT | 10:08 Local Time

History shows that those who implement the occupation policy will be
brought to responsibility sooner or later and official Yerevan has
to realize it.

The statement came from spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
Elman Abdullayev commenting on the recent visit of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan to the occupied lands of Azerbaijan

“The Armenian president who visits the occupied land of Azerbaijan
is thus violating the international law”, he said.

Armenian media reported before that Sargsyan together with the head
of the separatist regime of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Saakyan visited
the military positions in the occupied Azerbaijani lands where he
familiarized with the level of the combat readiness of the divisions.

“Those who commit crimes against humanity face the court”, Abdullayev
said, “Meanwhile, the Armenian leadership committed a crime not only
against Azerbaijani people but also the people of Armenia”.

The spokesman noted that Azerbaijani state seeks to restore justice
and to this end it has necessary power.