Author: Kanayan Tamar

AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MARKETING EXCELLENCE TO BE LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA
Anna Balyan

Radiolur
16.11.2011 14:19

Armenia may become a pivotal component of a world marketing program.

Professor of Marketing Philip Kotler intends to open a regional center
for marketing excellence in Armenia, one of the 2-3 similar centers
in the world.

“Kotler Impact” CEO Dr. Fahim Kibna says Professor Kotler ascertained
that being close both to the Arab World and Europe, Armenia possesses
great business opportunities. Armenia has a strong financial sector
and a developed IT sphere. Besides, from the demographic point of view,
there are many young people here.

Specialists from Georgia, Iran and other countries of the region will
come to study here, Fahim Kibna said at an international marketing
conference in Yerevan.

The center will boost the cooperation with research institutions and
provide advice to business groups.

“The center will become a unique incubator, which will later generate
ideas that will contribute to the development of different spheres,”
President of the Armenian Marketing Association Aram Navasardyan said
in an interview with “Radiolur.”

Organization of a world marketing summit is another idea suggested by
Philip Kotler. He intends to convene it in Bangladesh, as a country
bordering several others. The ideas brought to the summit will be
tested in the research incubators opened in different countries.

The international marketing center will be opened through private
investments, the terms are not yet known. Aram Navasardyan suggests
opening it in one of the distant regions of the country to promote the
development of marzes. The idea has been supported by the President
and Prime Minister of the republic. “By intensifying the cooperation
with neighbor countries, this initiative will contribute to the
reinforcement of regional peace, as well,” he said.

ARAVOT: GOVERNOR’S CASE IS TOUCHSTONE

Tert.am
11:42 16.11.11

The case of Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan is a touchstone to
prove the authorities are serious.

If reforms should have been launched three years ago, they should
have got rid of Mr. Khachatryan long ago. They should not have allowed
one official to terrorize and humiliate an entire region for 12 years.

The governor’s “deeds” have repeatedly been highlighted by the media,
with government officials turning a deaf ear to the reports. It
was not until the latest act of violence that the Armenian premier
announced an administrative investigation. However, he has proved
unable or unwilling to have it completed.

A precedent is available. Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglaryan had to
resign after committing violence against a staffer of the Armenian
presidential protocol. Mayor is an elective office, and it is much
easier to dismiss a governor.

If what should be done is not done this time, the previous instance
may be considered nothing but a “court intrigue” rather than a
principle-based decision.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: EX-CHIEF OF ARMENIA’S POLICE FACING TRIAL

Tert.am
10:52 16.11.11

The case of the ex-chief of Armenia’s traffic police, Margar Ohanyan,
will soon to be sent to court.

Ohanyan is charged with abuse of office and embezzlement of property.

He has been in custody for three months, since Aug. 30.

If found guilty, Ohanyan will be sentenced to 12 years of
imprisonment. His lawyer informed the newspaper that Ohanyan does
not plead guilty.

AMAYA TO OPERATE NEW NATIONAL LOTTERY IN ARMENIA

Gaming Intelligence Group
Nov 15 2011

Canada’s Amaya Gaming Group has signed an exclusive ten-year agreement
with the Republic of Armenia to implement a new national lottery
which will be deployed through traditional sales channels as well as
via Short Message Service (SMS).

Under the agreement, Amaya will implement a national lottery and
provide central reporting and integrity services.

The company will install and deploy the Amaya Central Reporting
Module (Amaya CRM) on all electronic gaming devices operating in the
Republic of Armenia for the next ten years. The Amaya CRM provides the
government with real-time reporting tools to capture and monitor gaming
transactions, improve tax efficiency and promote gaming integrity.

Amaya said that the agreement represents a significant milestone as it
includes the company’s first mandate to install its Amaya CRM system.

“We are very pleased to begin a mutually beneficial long-term
relationship with the Government of Armenia,” said David Baazov,
president and CEO of Amaya Gaming Group. “Our lottery and integrity
solutions are providing us with a platform to expand our technology
footprint and grow our relationships with customers in new
jurisdictions.”

The agreement follows a collaboration first announced late last month
by Armenian finance minister Vache Gabrielian between the Armenian
Government and Amaya to create Amaya Armenia, a joint company on
a parity basis with the income from the lottery being distributed
equally between the principals.

Gabrielian said at the time that he expects the partnership to secure
several billion drams annually in additional revenue, with AMD2 billion
([email protected]) expected in 2012, and AMD7 billion ([email protected]) in 2013.

The minister also announced that the Government will collaborate
with Amaya on the establishment of a centralized system of control
and accounting to prevent fraud, money laundering and other forms of
economic crime.

Shares in Amaya Gaming Group Inc (Co. Profile) (TSX:AYA) will commence
trading at CAD$2.14 per share in Toronto later today.

PHOTO EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO ARMENIA OPENS IN FRANCE

news.am, Armenia
Nov 15 2011

YEREVAN. – Professional photographer Jean-Michel Berts’ photo
exhibition entitled “Light of Armenia” opened, on November 12, in
Fontenay-le-Comte city, which is considered the center of France’s
Vendee department.

The event was devoted to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence,
and it was an initiative of the Vendee-Armenia Association. Armenia’s
Ambassador to France, Vigen Chitechyan, and Fontenay-le-Comte’s Mayor,
Hugues Fourage, also attended the photo exhibition’s official opening,
MFA Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

And an official reception was held, on the evening, during which
Ambassador Chitechyan addressed those present and expressed a hope
that cooperation between Armenia and Vendee would further develop
and expand.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS WELCOMES TURKISH STANCE AGAINST SYRIA

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2011

The White House said on Tuesday that Turkish criticism of Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad had deepened the isolation of his regime.

“We very much welcome the strong stance Turkey has taken,” White House
deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling
with President Barack Obama to Asia. “Turkey’s comments today further
point to the fact that President Assad is isolated,” he said.

‘EU SEEKS TO INTENSIFY ITS ROLE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT’

news.az, Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2011

Representation of EU as an organization in the OSCE Minsk Group
is impossible.

Azerbaijani political scientist, chief of the chair of international
relations at the Caucasus University Rovshan Ibrahimov is skeptical
about the replacement of the French co-chairmanship in the OSCE
Minsk Group.

Commenting on proposals in the European parliament about the
possibility to replace France in the OSCE Minsk Group, the political
scientist noted that it all depends on EU’s intention to intensify
its role in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh.

“EU has not taken a direct part in the process of Karabakh solution.

Though it was indicated that EU is represented by France, in
fact, everything was different. The French cochairmanship was not
representing EU in the Minsk Group”, Ibrahimov said.

“I do not think that France will really be replaced. I think that it
is just a wish which is voiced not for the first time. But even in
the case of replacement I do not think that it will make any cardinal
changes in the resolution process”, Ibrahimov said.

Additionally, according to the political scientist, the matter is
which country will replace France in the Minsk Group?

“Representation of EU as an organization in the OSCE Minsk Group is
impossible from purely technical standpoint-EU can be represented by
a state-Germany, Great Britain or other.

That is, EU has no mechanism of representation in the OSCE Minsk
Group. But even if they offer such a mechanism, EU is not interested
in taking part in such a process since the general foreign policy of
this organization has not been worked out”, Ibrahimov said.

“Therefore, such proposals still remain recommendations”, he said.

TARON MARKARYAN BECOMES YEREVAN MAYOR

Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 15 2011
Russia

The Yerevan Council of Elders has unanimously elected Taron Markaryan
as the Mayor of Yerevan, News Armenia reports.

The election process was initiated by the City Council of Elders
on November 4. Earlier reports said that the Republican Party of
Armenia had introduced Vice-Mayor Taron Markaryan as candidate for
the position on October 31.

Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan resigned in on October 28 due to change
of job and personal reasons.

Head of the fraction of the Republican Party, Derenik Dumanyan, called
Markaryan the most suitable candidate for the position. Markaryan
himself thanked the party, its chairman, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan and said that he has a good understanding of the job.

Taron Markaryan, a son of former PM Andranik Markaryan who died in
2007, had been born in Yerevan on April 17, 1978. He left school
N177 and entered the Armenian Agriculture Academy in 1995. Markaryan
graduated at the academy in 2001 and received a master’s degree in
engineering as a specialist in agricultural mechanization.

He was a chief specialist and then head of the section for regional
subdivision of the State Committee for Inventory of Real Estate at
the Yerevan District of Nor-Nork in 2001-2003.

Markaryan became deputy head of the Agency for Management of
Bioresources of the Armenian Ministry for Environment. He was elected
in 2005 and re-elected in 2008 as head of the Avan community. He
became the deputy mayor of Yerevan in 2009.

Markaryan has been chairing the Board of Trustees of the Khut Charity
Fund since 2005. He has been a member of the Republican Party since
1996 and a member of its council since 2006.

He has been supervising the Avan Council of the territorial
organization of the party since 1998.

Markaryan was awarded with the Anania Shirakatsi Medal by the Armenian
president, the Garegin Nzhde Medal of the Defense Ministry, the Golden
Medal awarded by Yerevan mayor, the Golden Medal of the Armenian
Agrarian University, the Golden Medal for the memory of Frityof Nansen
and the Golden Medal “Eagle of Mountainous Armenia”, the Order of
Armenian Voluntaries “Yerkrap” – “Sparapet Vasgen Sargsyan”.

FIVE BROTHERS HELD IN FOUR BEIRUT-AREA SLAYINGS

United Press International UPI

Nov 15 2011

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 15 (UPI) — Five brothers have been arrested in
Beirut in the shooting deaths of four men in suburbs of the Lebanese
capital, a source told The Daily Star.

The brothers were arrested during a raid at their house in Beirut at
4 a.m. Tuesday by members of the Internal Security Forces, the source
told the newspaper.

All four victims had been shot in the head with a 7.85mm pistol,
the source said.

The five men who were arrested were identified as Lebanese-Armenians
George, Aziz, Massis, Maurice and Michel Tanelian.

Their arrests came a month after police began surveillance after
the Oct. 14 killings of Albert Ramez Nashar, 52, and Shaker Said
Abdel-Nour, 48. Nashar’s body was dumped under a bridge connecting
Antelius to Naccache, and Abdel-Nour’s body was found next to a bridge
in Sin al-Fil, the Star said.

The two other victims’ bodies were found Saturday.

The body of Lebanese Army Cpl. Ziad Hani Deeb, 30, was found on a road
near the Beirut River, and the body of Hagob Yakoubian, a 50-year-old
Lebanese-Armenian, was discovered behind a church in the Sadd-Boushrieh
area in north Beirut.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told a local radio station the five
brothers were being interrogated.

DEFENSE MINISTRY HOSTS MEETING OF SPECIAL WORKING GROUP

Tert.am
15.11.11

A special group implementing reforms in Armenia’s armed forces held
its first meeting at the Defense Ministry on Mopnday.

The discussion was chaired by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

Introducing the group’s activities, both the minister, and the military
prosecutor, Gevorg Kostanyan said its mission is to review and propose
amendments to the legal acts concerning the sector and conduct probes
into the increased crime rate in the army, taking measures towards
their prevention.

Apart from the Defense Ministry officials, the group also incudes
representatives from the Defense Ministry, the Ombudsman’s Office,
and civil society organizations.