Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA IS AHEAD OF ITS NEIGHBORS IN RAISING CHILDREN

news.am
May 15, 2012 | 05:08

Armenia ranked 30th in a list ranking countries where children are
best raised.

The ranking has been done by Save the Children NGO, which presents
a report on maternity situation in the whole world every year.

Armenia and its neighbors Turkey, Georgia, Iran and Azerbaijan were
among the less developed countries while most of the European Countries
and Russia were among the developed countries.

To note, Armenia is ahead of its neighbors: Azerbaijan ranked 61st,
Georgia is 42nd, Iran is 50th and Turkey is 47th.

PRIVATE REMITTANCES TO ARMENIA TOTAL $277.2 MLN IN Q1 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 15, 2012 – 11:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – USD 277.2 mln was transferred to individuals through
the Armenian banking system in January-March 2012.

According to Armenian Central Bank’s monthly bulletin, 10.3% increase
was recorded as compared with the same period of 2011.

Besides, the amount of remittances from Armenia rose by 13.8%
in the reporting period, totaling $60.9 mln against $53.5 mln in
January-March 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the net cash inflow
increased by 9.3% amounting to $1 216.3 mln against $197.9 mln in
January-March 2011.

In 2012 Q1, Russia keeps the biggest share of remittances to Armenia –
$192.1 mln, followed by the U.S. – $12.3 mln, Kazakhstan – $3.4 mln,
France -$1.3mln and Spain- $1mln.

EXPERT SAYS CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENT MAKES AGGRESSOR MORE UNCONTROLLED

Panorama.am
15/05/2012

“We witnessed an ordinary statement that is end in itself and is
“about nothing”, it will indeed fail to ease the tension in the
battle field. Moreover, such statements are making the aggressor more
unbridled. The Aliyev administration is confident they can do whatever
international humanitarian law bans and still remain unpunished,”
military expert said.

The Co-Chairs expressed their concern in the statement over recent
incidents along the frontlines, and urged the sides to exercise
restraint and refrain from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the
sides’ reaffirmation of their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement.

Speaking to Panorama.am Davit Jamalyan said Armenian side does not
urge to express “pro-Armenian” position.

“What we demand is impartial examination of incidents, revelation
of the guilty side and appropriate conduct. Political commitment and
will is enough to do it,” said the expert.

RUSSIAN EXPERT: IF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESUMES, RUSSIA WILL SUPPORT ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, May 15, 13:02

Russia’s policy in the Caucasus is aimed at maintaining the status
quo with a view to keep third forces out of the region, to limit
the presence of the United Stats and to ensure normal conditions for
2014 Sochi Olympic Games, well-known Russian journalist and political
expert Vitaly Tretyakov said in an interview to 1news.az.

“Putin cannot be think this way: status quo and endless talks –
everything but war. But should the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resume,
Russia will support Armenia, formally, because the Armenians are
signatory to the Collective Security Treaty, informally, because
psychologically the Russians are on their side. But the Kremlin does
not want to make a choice, so, it prefers endless negotiations,”
Tretyakov said.

He believes that the fight for influence in the South Caucasus will
be continued. The key problems to solve here are Iran and the United
States’ control. “Nobody can say what the Americans are going to do
and when. They may start whatever they like the moment they see real
guarantees of impunity,” Tretyakov said.

Regarding Russia’s relations with Turkey, the expert said that as long
as the Turks’ activities are not in conflict with Russia’s interests
in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the relations will be the way they
are now – rational and pragmatic.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I ATTENDS INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MEETING IN TEHRAN

tert.am
15.05.12

The fifth meeting of the Interreligious Dialogue, which was initiated
some 15 years ago by His Holiness Aram I and Ayatollah Taskhiri,
was held on Monday 14 May in Tehran.

The theme of the meeting was “The role of religion in promoting
ethical values in society”. The introductory remarks were made by Dr.

Mohammed Reza Dehshiri, Vice president, Center of Research, Education
and Academic Exchange and by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the
Primate of the Armenians of Tehran, the press service of the Cilicia
Patriarcate reported.

Ayatollah Taskhiri as the first director of the Center greeted the
conference highly appreciating the role of His Holiness Aram I in
promoting interreligious dialogue on global level. Inaugural speech
was given by Dr. Mohammed Bagher Korramshed, president of Organization
of Culture and Islamic Relations. He emphasized the importance of
dialogue and the centrality of moral values for Islam.

The key note address was given by His Holiness Aram I. His Holiness
considered the moral values the core of religion. He said that
“Religion has its divine and human dimensions. Distinction between
these two dimensions is important. Revelation as a God given reality
generates human response, which is affected by time and space”.

Speaking about moral values, Aram I said that they touch all aspects
of life. His Holiness emphasized that “moral values should sustain and
govern the life of a society, otherwise it may lose its identity and
direction and disintegrates”. His Holiness identified three areas
of concern: relativism of moral values, politicization of moral
values, and increasing decay of moral values. According to Aram I,
“Dialogue is an efficient way of creating mutual understanding and
peaceful coexistence among nations”. The Catholicos considered lack of
mutual trust an evil force that dominates the life of many societies:
“Religion should not create fear and mistrust but should generate
mutual understanding, tolerance and trust”.

The keynote address of Aram I was followed by the following
presentations: Dr. A. Gavahi, “Islam ethical approach to society,
politics and international relation”, Mr. R. Biglarian “A glance
at the role of ethics in resolving international crisis with
special reference to environment issues”, Dr. M. Merghati “Ethics-
jurisprudence relations and their compatibility in today’s human
issues”, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian “Fundaments of morality in
Christianity”, Dr. K. N. Barzegar “The ethical culture of Muslims
to impact peaceful coexistence”, Ms. Emilia Nersisians “A historical
approach to ethics and trade with special reference to Isfahan during
the Safavid era”, Dr. H. Shomali “The social aspects of Islamic
ethics”. Each presentation was followed by discussion.

More than hundred people attended the conference. At the end of the
conference, a joint statement was issued. The statement emphasized
the pivotal role of moral values and called for better relations and
greater collaboration between religions in general and Christianity
and Islam in particular. The statement reminded that: “The religions
of the world, besides their differences, have also common values and
share common perspectives and approaches in respect to global issues
and challenges. Therefore, we believe that developing a common and
global ethical framework could provide a firm basis for religions
and particularly to divine religions for joint action”.

KENTRON TV, YERKIR MEDIA TO BE FINED

TERT.AM
15.05.12

National Commission on Television and Radio will discuss at its
May 18 sitting issues on subjecting Kentron TV and Yerkir Media to
responsibility, press release of the commission runs.

The statement comes after fining Kentron TV in the amount of AMD 1
million for anti election propaganda on the day of silence.

This time the Commission’s press release does not elaborate on what
articles of the law the agenda issues refer to.

Speaking to Tert.am, an official from the Commission said new issues
have appeared in connection with Kentron TV having no connection with
the previous case.

MOODY’S AND REPUBLICAN VICTORY

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:40:35 – 15/05/2012

Bloomberg: The election victory of Armenia’s ruling coalition is credit
positive as it “will ensure a degree of political stability and policy
continuity,” according to analysts at Moody’s Investors Service.

“Key challenges for the new Armenian government lie in managing the
geo-politically sensitive region of Nagorny Karabakh, over which
Armenia and Azerbaijan are in disagreement, and of the closed border
with its neighbor country, Turkey,” Lucie Villa and Aukse Montvilaite
wrote in Moody’s weekly credit outlook published today. “Governmental
continuity in light of these sensitivities is positive.”

Armenia is rated Ba2 with a negative outlook at Moody’s, the second
best junk rating.

POLICE IMPLICATED IN DINK CASE PROMOTED

armradio.am
16.05.2012 12:36

A police chief accused of negligence during the assassination of Hrant
Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist murdered outside his office in
Istanbul in 2007, received a promotion through the unanimous voting
of a commission in the Turkish Police Headquarters.

The commission decided to promote Ali Fuat Yılmazer, who was serving
as a deputy director in charge of intelligence at the Istanbul Police
Department at the time of Dink’s assassination, from second to first
class police director during a meeting May 12.

The promotion allows Yılmazer to be appointed to the offices of
provincial police chief or the head of a department, according to
the daily Milliyet.

Yılmazer is currently serving as the head of the Witness Protection
and Bomb Demolition Departments in Ankara. His name was also implicated
in a report prepared by the Prime Ministry Inspection Board on Dink’s
assassination.

The controversial police chief also headed the intelligence unit
in charge of technical tracking during preliminary preparations in
the investigations of a number of high-profile cases, including the
Ergenekon probe.

Yılmazer’s promotion also follows the promotion of other police
officers implicated in the Dink case. Ahmet Ä°lhan Guler, the
intelligence branch director of the Istanbul police at the time of
Dink’s murder, had also received the same promotion last year.

Yılmazer’s name was also among the list of police officers who have
been called back toAnkara following a recent crisis between Turkey’s
Intelligence and police staff early this February.

Ramazan Akyurek, a former inspector at the Police Headquarters, was
also appointed as the head of his department, despite the controversial
allegations about him in connection with Dink’s murder during his
tenure as the head of the Turkish Police Intelligence Department,
Hurriyet Daily News reports.

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GEORGIA’S DEPUTY FM OVER CHURCH ISSUE

news.am
May 16, 2012 | 12:15

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia, Hovhannes Manukyan,
on Tuesday met with Georgia’s First Deputy FM, Nikoloz Vashakidze.

They reflected on the collapse of the belfry of Tbilisi’s Surb
Nshan (Holy Sign) Armenian Church in the evening of May 13. Both
men underscored the need to quickly restore and fortify the Church,
MFA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

They also examined the matter of starting the complete renovation of
Petros Adamian Tbilisi State Armenian Drama Theatre, and other issues
concerning ties between Armenia and Georgia.

On the same day, Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia also met with the
country’s Prosecutor General, Murtaz Zodelava.

They discussed the rights of Armenia’s citizens kept in Georgian
prisons, the chances for pardoning and releasing those who are
sentenced for minor and involuntary crimes, and several other matters
of mutual interest.

MATERIALS BEING PREPARED ON REPORT MADE BY “GALA” TV JOURNALIST

HETQ
19:56, May 14, 2012

On 11 May, the journalist of the “GALA” TV of Gyumri N. Nalbandyan
reported that on 5 May, he had gone to the polling station 33 located
in School 30 of Gyumri with the purpose to get explanations from the
commission. The commission chairman G. Hovhannisyan had refused to
provide information, quarreled with him and hindered the implementation
of his activities.

Prosecutor General’s Office of RoA reports that the Prosecutor of
Shirak region tasked Gyumri Investigation Division of the Police to
prepare materials.