Author: Kalantarian Kevo

EXPERT PREDICTS 25 PERCENT DROP IN ARMENIAN WHEAT OUTPUT

/ARKA/
31 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. An expert in agriculture predicted today a
20-25 percent drop in this year’s Armenian wheat output saying one of
the reasons was that elite wheat seeds brought in by the government
from Russia and distributed to farmers appeared to mismatch with
local climatic conditions.

Speaking at a news conference, Hrachya Berberian, who is chairman
of a non-governmental organization called Association of Farmers,
said because of low wheat spike farmers can not use harvesters on
around 8,000 hectares of land under wheat.

He further argued that before importing thousands of tons of Russian
wheat seeds the authorities should have tested it for three years in
Armenia, which was not done.

“It was a professional error, and the ‘perpetrators’ must be punished,”
said Berberian, calling for setting up an ad hoc commission that
must include also farmers who have appeared in a hopeless situation
to make an inquiry into this problem.

He also said that his organization has asked the president to help
exempt farmers from paying for irrigation water, and provide them
with free seeds next year.

Earlier, agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan said the government
expected that by 2014 the country would achieve self-sufficiency in
grain and abandon imports. Officials said at that time that Armenian
farmers should be able to meet more than half of the demand already in
2013, when domestic wheat production was expected to rise to 350,000
tons. According to official data, grain output last year was 35%
higher than in 2010 securing a 39 percent self-sufficiency.

Armenia annually consumes up to 650,000 tons of food grains and relies
on import for nearly two thirds of its grain consumption.

DIASPORA-ARMENIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT UN

news.am
July 31, 2012 | 14:57

YEREVAN. – This is the third year that Armenia’s diplomatic
representation at the United Nations (UN) is conducting a special
summer internship for the Diaspora-Armenian university students.

The objective of this internship is to familiarize the Armenian
graduate-year students from the universities of a variety of countries
with Armenia’s priorities in the UN, the Armenian delegations’
activities, UN programs in Armenia, and the activities of the
organization’s primary agencies.

By way of the lectures delivered by Armenia’s Ambassador to UN, Karen
Nazaryan, and the practical courses, these interns are acquiring a
better understanding of urgent international matters, are preparing
reports, visiting the UN and attending the sessions of its bodies,
and meeting with UN Secretariat representatives and foreign diplomatic
mission chiefs, Armenian MFA press service informs.

The summer internship also includes visits to vastly-Armenian-populated
centers of the US East Coast, and meetings with representatives from
the local Armenian community.

This year’s interns were from the US, Canada, Great Britain, and
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

YEREVAN COURT REJECTS SLANDER SUIT FILED BY “WORD OF LIFE”
Tatevik Shaljyan

hetq
17:36, July 31, 2012

A Yerevan court today rejected the slander suit filed by the Word of
Life religious organization against the newspaper Iravunk.

The presiding judge has ordered that the religious group and its
president each pay the newspaper 150,000 AMD for incurred legal fees.

Word of Life had sued the paper for an article that appeared last
October showing a collage of photos implicating the organization in a
sex scandal involving a well-known Armenian show business personality
who is said to be a member.

Word of Life argued that the article is libelous and defamatory and
that it incites religious hatred. It wants the newspaper to retract
the article and publish an apology on the front page. The attorney
for the group had maintained that the word “sect” was defamatory.

As to financial compensation, the organization was seeking 8,000 AMD
it has spent for various court fees and 15,000 for translation and
notary services.

TRAVEL OPERATORS: ARMENIA FAVORITE COUNTRY OF ITALIAN TOURISTS

arminfo
Tuesday, July 31, 14:23

Armenia enjoys great popularity among Italian tourists who say that
the Armenian cultural heritage is very similar to the Italian one.

Anahit Dabinyan, operator at Imega Tour and Travel Agency, made such
statement to ArmInfo.

She said that the cultural heritage of Armenia is very interesting
also to the tourists from Australia, Canada and the USA. Armenia
very often receives tourists from California, she said, and the top
popular sights in Armenia are the resort towns of Dilijan and Jermuk.

Tigranuhi Aleksanyan, operator at Sirov Travel Agency, confirms
that Armenia is very popular among Italian tourists. Armenia enjoys
popularity also among Ukrainian, English and Japanese tourists. The
favorite region of tourists is Lori, as all the tourists express
desire to visit it.

Gegham Aghouzuntsyan, Director of Gamo Tour Agency, said, in turn,
that tourists often complain about too high prices at hotels in
Armenia. In this light, the inflow of tourists in the country fell
versus the previous years. He said that trips of the country rose in
price by 10%-15%. Most of the tourists in Armenia are Russians who
often rest in Dilijan, Hankavan where prices are relatively low.

SYRIAN AND LEBANESE REFUGEES NOT TO SAVE ARMENIAN DEMOGRAPHY

News.Az
Tue 31 July 2012 05:01 GMT | 6:01 Local Time

News.Az interviews Hadi Rajabli, chairman of the parliamentary
committee for social policy of Milli Majlis.

Armenian government has decided to ease the procedure of issue of
Armenian citizenship by countrymen from Syria and Lebanon. Can such
measures allow Armenia avoid demographic problems?

Different countries of the world, especially European countries,
have used such methods. In particular, such methods are widely used
by Germany. However, all these measures and methods do not play any
role in the regulation of the demographic situation. In other words,
migration does not justify the hopes of addressing the demographic
situation in a particular country. That is, Armenia will not be able
to fix the deepening hole in their demographic sphere. Therefore,
even if a certain number of Armenians come from Syria and Lebanon,
it would not save it from a demographic crisis.

In addition, the contingent of Armenians, who might agree to move
from Syria and Lebanon to Armenia is doubtful. It is possible that
the Armenians living in Syria will move to Armenia due to the outbreak
of war in the region. However, the situation in Armenia is even worse
than in Syria. Therefore, I doubt that Armenians in Syria and Lebanon
will ever come to Armenia for permanent residence.

What is the possibility that Armenian authorities will start settling
refugees from Syria and Lebanon to the occupied lands of Azerbaijan?

Naturally, Armenian authorities will try to place Armenians from
Syria and Lebanon to occupied lands of Azerbaijan. However, this will
not give the effect that would help overcome demographic crisis. In
addition, even if some of the Armenians from Syria and Lebanon come
to Armenia for permanent residence, they would not agree to settle in
Nagorno Karabakh. Armenian refugees are convinced that Karabakh is
not their land and they would not want to change one unstable place
for another.

What problems can the growing demographic problems create for the
countries of the region?

Full integration of nations and peoples of the region and the overall
world is hampered by differences in language, mentality, religion and
culture. But the situation is that the world is walking towards full
integration and this process is intensifying with time. All countries
of the world become connected with each other by any means. The common
European space is a real example. Problems connected with the growth
in population can be overcome through integration with the countries
of the region. And instead of occupying someone’s lands Armenia should
also integrate with them.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev considers it necessary to raise
the country’s population. Why should the state pay so much attention
to this in the absence of any demographic problems in the country?

Azerbaijan lacks any signs of problems related to demography. However,
the growth in population can be useful for the comprehensive
development of the country, since Azerbaijan is an economically
developing country and is able to provide its citizens even with
the double and triple rise in their number, especially that the
stable demographic situation will become a factor that conditions
the development of any state in the nearest future. Therefore, the
population of Azerbaijan must undoubtedly grow.

TURKEY AND NORWAY ARE THE COMPETITORS TO ARMENIA IN FISH EXPORT

ARMENPRESS
31 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: Armenian fish-breeders are feeding the
fish not with hormonal but special food imported from abroad.

Armenian fish breeding union” NGO Executive Director Artur Atoyan told
at the briefing with the journalists on July 31″ I can guarantee on
behalf of our organization and other fish breeding companies that we
do not use hormonal food”, Armenpress reports.

On the state level appropriate events were launched for the prohibition
of imports of such food,” said the director.

By official data 234 enterprises have permission to be engaged in
fish breeding, many of which currently do not operate by various
causes. By the request of Armenian fish breeders , an interdepartmental
commission was established to carry out the tasks pertain to the
existing issues.The Commission was ordered by PM Sargsyan.

There are also problems concerning export, particularly to the
direction of Russian Federation. ” Our competitor countries in this
context are Turkey and Norway, who sell their product by lower prices,
reportedly our” valuable” market remains Russia” Artur Atoyan noted.

The Commission already commissions works aimed at eliminating both
that obstacle, and creating conditions for Armenian fish product to
be exported to European countries.

EXPERT DISMISSES SYRIAN ARMENIANS’ LARGE INFLOW TO HOMELAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 31, 2012 – 15:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – There will be no large inflow of Syrian Armenians,
orientalist Suren Manukyan said.

He dismissed Armenian community’s unexpected influx to homeland due
to the established business relations, and its prior experience to
set up ties with the Syrian authorities in crisis.

“The number of Syrian Armenians having arrived in the country doesn’t
exceed 2 thousand. Though Armenia must be ready to face it, it can’t
ensure the best conditions for them,” the expert said, stressing the
need for Armenia to once a week send a delegation to Syria to make
Armenian community representatives feel homeland’s support.

Dwelling on Syrian Armenians’ statements on getting RA citizenship,
Mr. Manukyan said they need passports to receive EU visa.

“Syria’s Armenian community mainly backs Bashar Assad’s regime as a
sign of gratitude for the privileges granted,” he said.

YEZIDIS OF ARMENIA SUPPORT ARMENIANS OF SYRIA

news.am
July 31, 2012 | 14:48

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s “National Association of Sinjar Yezidis” NGO
issued a statement, whereby it extended its support to the Armenian
community in Syria.

“As it is known, many of our brothers and sisters had settled in
Aleppo, having escaped the Ottoman violence, and live there. [But]
We are confident that, in this case, the Armenians living in Aleppo
must return to Motherland Armenia because their physical existence
there [in Aleppo] is already at risk.

As we see it in Armenia, they were not too prepared to receive
our Syrian-Armenian brothers and sisters on a state level. The
“National Association of Sinjar Yezidis” NGO is convinced that
all citizens of Armenia need to unite-today more than ever-so that
the Syrian-Armenian community is not left out in the open and at
least a place to shelter be provided for them. We believe that if
each of the 4,000 organizations functioning in Armenia provides one
[Syrian-Armenian] family with a ‘roof [above it head],’ the problem
will be resolved in one day.

We stand ready to support, to the extent of our capacity, our brothers
and sisters who are emigrating from Syria to Armenia. Let us hope
our assistance will be timely and appropriate,” the aforesaid NGO’s
statement reads in particular.

MORE RESIDENTS OF ARMENIA RESORT TO ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

news.am
July 31, 2012 | 13:59

YEREVAN. – In line with the research conducted in Armenia in 2009, the
infertility rate constitutes 16.8 percent among the country’s women,
and 11.8 percent among the men, Maternal and Child Health Protection
Research Center’s Deputy Director of Science Karine Arustamyan said
during a press conference on Tuesday.

Incidentally, according to the World Health Organization, an
infertility rate exceeding 15 percent is considered a national
security threat.

Also, there are various causes for infertility, but the most widespread
are the combined causes of unknown origin.

In his turn, Center Director, Professor Georgy Okoyev spoke about
artificial insemination, and noted that this procedure is geared
toward curing infertility among families. In his words, the first
artificially-inseminated babies in Armenia were born in 2004, and
they were triplets.

Okoyev noted that the number of artificial inseminations is growing in
Armenia on a yearly basis, and, as case in point, this has increased
by 10 percent as compared with the year past.

The specialist also informed that one artificial insemination in
Armenia costs AMD 1.2-1.7 million (approx. US$ 2,940-$4,170), and,
if the process is unsuccessful, the money is not refunded because
expensive medications and materials are being used.

According to Georgy Okoyev, 38-39 percent of the artificial
insemination conducted in Armenia results in births while the pregnancy
rate is much higher.

FAAE: ARMENIA’S EX-INTERIOR MINISTER SIRADEGHYAN MUST BE SENTENCED TO LIFE

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 31, 2012 – 13:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s ex-interior minister Vano Siradeghyan must
be arrested and brought to the courtroom once he returns to Armenia,
according to the statement by Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe
(FAAE).

“In case of fair trial, he will be sentenced to life for the crimes
committed,” FAAE head Ashot Grigorian said, citing pressure and
pursuit of Siradeghyan as reasons behind many activists’ emigration
from Armenia.

“Many activists residing abroad stand ready to testify against
Siradeghyan if he comes back to Armenia to face the court,” Mr. of
Siradeghyan said.

Armenia’s ex-minister of interior affairs, former parliament member
and ANM leader Vano Siradeghyan was deprived of parliamentary
immunity in 2010 and a criminal case was initiated against him for
a range of crimes, including creation of a gang and organization of
contract killings. Since that moment, Siradeghyan has disappeared
from Armenia and an international arrest warrant has been issued for
him via Interpol.