Author: Kanayan Tamar

ITAR-TASS, Russia
January 2, 2015 Friday 08:51 AM GMT+4

Armenia joining Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union

MOSCOW January 2.

. Armenia officially joins on Friday the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU), a new economic grouping between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Armenia is becoming a full-fledged member-state of the bloc, under an
agreement signed in October, but will have a limited representation in
the EEU’s executive bodies until their term of powers expires in late
2015.

Armenia’s share in the customs duties from goods entering the
territory of the EEU will total 1.13 percent. At the same time, the
share of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia slightly decreases to 4.65
percent, 7.25 percent and 86.97 percent, respectively.

The country will join the agreements between the EEU member-states on
common grounds, and will switch to a common customs tariff in the
sphere of commodity trade step-by-step by 2022.

Until 2022, Armenia will be able to apply customs duties on a number
of goods, including meat and meat products, which differ from customs
rates of the bloc. The republic will have a separate tariff on certain
dairy products, eggs, honey until 2020 and until 2019 on some fruits
and nuts.

Besides, Armenia will apply zero customs rates on petrol until 2018,
and will switch to a common customs tariff in 2020.

Under the same principle, the level of customs rates will be subject
to regulation on some organic and inorganic chemistry products,
fertilizers, household chemicals, leather, plastic ware and rubber
ware, including car tires.

Up to 2021, Armenia will have separate customs rates in regard to some
kinds of fabric.

Armenia will launch talks with the member-states of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) on changing its commitments as part of the
organization due to joining the EEU.

BOURG-LES-VALENCE (DRÔME)
Le bal arménien du Nouvel An à Bourg-Lès-Valence (Drôme) a fêté
l’arrivée de 2015 dans une ambiance chaleureuse

Superbe ambiance arménienne en cette nuit de la Saint Sylvestre à la
salle > (Bourg-Lès-Valence) avec près de 400 invités
pour fêter le Jour de l’An. De nombreuses personnalités et
responsables d’associations arméniennes étaient présentent à ce
rendez-vous festif. Les chanteurs Koko Bardakjian et surtout Vrej
Sahakian (d’Alep) ont enchanté le public qui ne quittait pas la piste
de danse. L’arrivée de l’année 2015 fut sous le signe de la chanson
arménienne et les kotcharis. Bravo à l’équipe de Joseph Kazazian
l’organisateur de ce bal du Nouvel An sous les couleurs de la chanson
arménienne. Terminer l’année 2014 et débuter l’année 2015 sous le
signe de l’Arménie dans une ambiance chaleureuse de fête et de la
famille est aujourd’hui sans doute l’un des meilleurs atouts pour
affermir l’identité arménienne.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 1er janvier 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Tax-News
Jan 2 2015

IMF Advises Armenia To Broaden Tax Base

By Tatiana Smolenska, Tax- News.com, Moscow
02 January 2015

Armenia’s plan to formulate a comprehensive tax code is an opportunity
to broaden the tax base and increase revenues, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

It said that higher tax revenues are needed to fund increased social
spending and spending on growth-enhancing infrastructure projects.
Improvements to the tax system should aim to eliminate gaps and ensure
greater equity, it said.

The IMF noted that Armenia may receive extra revenues from the
Eurasian Economic Union’s (EEU) common customs pool, but EEU tariffs
are expected to decline over the medium term. It commended what it
called the authorities’ “cautious approach” to evaluating the
sustainability of these additional revenues prior to incorporating
them in the budget.

The IMF said that, at present, fiscal stimulus policies are
appropriate, given the nation’s low fiscal deficit, but fiscal
tightening may be needed if the outlook for the country worsens. It
noted the importance of continuing to strengthen the capacity of the
tax authority.

The comments appear in the IMF’s first review of Armenia’s economic
performance as part of a three-year program under the Extended Fund
Facility (EFF). The review’s completion enables the release of about
USD17m, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to USD34m.

Times of India
Jan 2 2014

Restaurant Review: TBBQ – Terrace Barbecue

The author has posted comments on this articleAnil Mulchandani, TNN |
Jan 2, 2015, 12.00AM IST

Restaurant Review: TBBQ – Terrace Barbecue

TBBQ – Terrace Barbecue is a specialty restaurant of the Country Inn &
Suites By Carlson, Ahmedabad.

Decor
TBBQ is located on an open terrace with bamboo walls that give some
privacy from the neighbourhood. The terrace restaurant has open
kitchens where you can watch processes of making various kinds of
kebabs on charcoal grills or griddle pans (tawas). The cushioned
chairs are set around tables that have iron grills embedded in them
for those who want to heat their own kebabs and satays – you can even
ask for skewers of marinated semi-cooked pieces of meats or veggies to
grill yourself on your table.

Food
The kebab is the hero of this restaurant. You have two options – you
can ask for a pre-plated kebab combo (one kind of kebab with
bread/rice and other accompaniments) or the unlimited meal with
eat-all-you-want servings of kebabs on your table based on a daily
changing menu after which you get up and help yourself from a small
buffet with the mains, biryani/pulao and desserts of the day.
The Kakori Kebab here is soft and delicate, with the melt-in-the-mouth
quality of Awadhi kebab. The Peshawari Chapli Kebab is crisp and light
tava-fried minced mutton patties. If you like seafood, the Malai
Jheenga has plump prawns in a creamy marinade.

Among the vegetarian kebabs, the Paneer Tikka is well-marinated,
gently grilled so that its softness is not lost to the char-grill. The
house specials are Arbi ki Kakori, Chukandar Ke Kebab, Khumb Mutter
Til Tikka, Rajma Ki Galouti and Gulnar Seekh Kebab. They also have
Jain friendly versions of Gobi Razzila, Khumb Mutter Til Tikka and
Arbi ki Kakori. All the kebabs of northern India and the NorthWest
Frontier come with a bread (eg roomali roti), mirchi ka salan, salad,
mini-papads and chutneys. Grilled Corn with Chilli Saffron Butter is a
house special for those who do not eat onions, garlic and potatoes,
and comes with a veg momo and noodles.

While the Indian kebabs are delicious, they also have some innovative
international inspired kebabs from different parts of Asia that are
above average. The Lebanese Chicken Kebab and Moroccan Fish are quite
nice, but they lack for good pita bread and accompaniments like khubz
arabi, fattoush salad, hummus and muhammara dip are also at best
average. The Khorovadz Kufta is their take on the Armenian burger
patty which also comes with hummus and other dips. Vospov Kufta is a
vegetarian version of this Armenian kebab made from dal. Thai Chicken
Skewers are Indonesian style satays with a sweetish soy sauce marinade
served with peanut and coconut dips, which is plated as a combo with
chicken dumpling and noodles that are both rather disappointing and do
not compliment a Thai dish.
The desserts change daily – the jalebis, gulab jamun and seasonal
halwas are all excellent when they have them.

Plus and minus
Go to TBBQ -Terrace Barbecue when you are in the mood for lip-smacking
kebabs in the pleasing ambience of an open terrace. The special
feature of the restaurant is that it offers the flexibility of
ordering a la carte or opting for the eat-till-you-drop menu. Their
Indian kebabs are outstanding but the international ones lack good
accompaniments.

LA Magazine, CA
Jan 2 2015

New Year, New Laws

January 2, 2015 Shayna Rose Arnold Politics Add a comment

When the clock struck midnight on Thursday morning, a number of the
930 bills Governor Jerry Brown signed into law went into effect across
California. Here are 10 of the most interesting new rules to be aware
of now:

It’s now possible, legally speaking, to invade someone’s privacy with
a drone (if one is used to record a person in a private place).

Landlords can no longer prevent apartment and condo renters from
growing fruits and vegetables in portable pots.

Toy weapon manufacturers must design toy guns in bright colors so they
are less easily mistaken for real ones.

Members of same-sex couples can now check a box marked “parent” (an
alternative to “mother” or “father”) on birth certificates.

Students can no longer be expelled for “willfully defying” school officials.

Bitcoin and other “digital currencies” are now legal for transactions.

State entities can no longer display or sell the Confederate flag or
objects that show it, except for historical/educational purposes.

Large airports must designate a room located behind the security
checkpoint for mothers who are breastfeeding–restrooms don’t count.

Students can be taught about mass killings, such as the genocides in
Rwanda and Darfur and the massacre of Armenians during the Ottoman
Empire. Education officials must now consider teaching lessons about
these events.

The death certificates of transgender people will now list the gender
the deceased person identified with.

IMF predicts new challenges for Armenia’s economy

22:05 * 02.01.15

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released its first
review under extended arrangements with Armenia, which enables the
disbursement of $17 million, Cistran Finance reports.

The report said Armenia saw steady growth between 2010 and 2012, with
growth slowing in 2013 and 2014. The growth rate is expected to be 2.6
percent in 2014, with only a gradual increase predicted for 2015.

Inflation fell below the Central Bank of Armenia’s (CBA) ideal range,
but it is expected to rise again as depreciation of the dram will
likely drive import prices up. Also, the further depreciation of the
Russian ruble affected the regional economic landscape at the
beginning of the year and again in November.

The IMF recommends that decisive action be taken by the government to
reform macro-economic conditions and boost growth. Part of this would
likely come from the creation of a financial space that would
encourage social spending and investments over the medium term.

Armenia becomes full member of Eurasian Economic Union

14:20, 02.01.2015

YEREVAN. – From January 2 Armenia became a full member of the Eurasian
Economic Union that also comprises Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Till the end of 2015 Armenia will be represented by three members sin
the Eurasian Economic Commission. They will have one vote without
assigning them spheres of competence.

Armenia’s share in customs duties will make 1.13 percent, while the
share of Belarus will reduce from 4.7 percent to 4.65, that of
Kazakhstan from 7.3 percent to 7.25, and Russia’s from 88 percent to
86.97.

As regards services, Armenia joins the agreement of members of the EEU
on a common basis, while on trade a gradual transition to the Common
Customs Tariff is provided.

Up to 2022 Armenia will be able to apply different rates from the EEU
customs duties on a number of products, including meat and meat
products. Until 2020 a separate tariff for some types of dairy
products, eggs, honey will be applied for Armenia, and for some types
of fruits and nuts till 2019.

In addition Armenia will use zero customs rates for gasoline till 2018.

In connection with the accession to the Eurasian Economic Union,
Armenia will begin negotiations with the World Trade Organization
(WTO) members to change their obligations under the WTO.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

ARMENIE
Nouvelle publication sur le Catholicos Gevork IV Kerestejian de
Constantinople (1866-1882)

Avec les bénédictions de Sa Sainteté Karekin II, Patriarche Suprême et
Catholicos de Tous les Arméniens ; le Service des éditions du
Saint-Siège, à l’occasion du 140e anniversaire de la fondation du
Séminaire théologique Gevorkian ; a republié l’histoire de la vie du
123e patriarche de l’Eglise arménienne, le Catholicos Gevork IV
Kerestejian de Constantinople (1866-1882), intitulé >.

A l’occasion du 25e anniversaire du Séminaire, le livre a été écrit
par l’éminent critique littéraire arménien Manuk Abeghyan (1865-1944).
C’est un hommage à Gevork IV l’un des Grands Catholicos, et est
également le récit historique de la fondation et des activités du
Séminaire Théologique Gevorkian.

Le livre a été publié par le patronage du Fonds Sarkis Gabrielyan.

vendredi 2 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 2 2015

The future of the AK Party

HILAL KAPLAN @hilal_kaplan
Published8 hours ago

The year 2013 was one of the most eventful in Turkey’s history. In
January, with the announcement of the reconciliation process, three
women from the PKK were brutally murdered in Paris. This violent act
of provocation that tried to weaken the process did not achieve its
intended goal.

In February, an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara by a radical left
terrorist organization, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation
Party-Front (DHKP-C), one of the groups active in the Gezi Park
protests. That was followed by other terrorist attacks on the Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters and the Justice Ministry
in Ankara. In the following days, the transcript of the meeting the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) delegation had with the PKK’s
imprisoned leader Abdullah Ã-calan on Ä°mralı Island was leaked to the
press. This transcript, which was expected to cause public resentment,
conversely increased confidence in the negotiations.

In May, one of the most fatal terrorist attacks in Turkey’s history
took place in Reyhanlı. As a result of the attack, some 52 people were
killed and 146 injured.

In June, Turkey witnessed the most large-scaled uprising in its
history. People attempted to occupy the Prime Ministry office in
Istanbul and then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s house in
Ankara. Taksim Square, one of the most buzzing locations in Turkey,
was barricaded for 14 days. The demonstrators and vandals could not
achieve their aims though. ErdoÄ?an was not overthrown through the
street demonstrations. Turkey’s democracy was victorious once again.

The Dec. 17 and Dec. 25 operations, which revealed the parallel
structure’s strategy to seize control of the state, were conducted. It
was introduced as a corruption and bribery operation, but at last this
parallel structure was deciphered.

The March 30 local elections, the first of the three elections of
vital importance for determining Turkey’s future, were held in such an
atmosphere. The AK Party won the election with 44 percent, a record
rate in the history of local elections. Subsequently, the second vital
election, the presidential election, was held by popular vote for the
first time and ErdoÄ?an won.

Within this period, the law on the reconciliation process was approved
and enacted. The process of returning non-Muslim foundations gained
speed and their rights to build schools were expanded and made easier.
More importantly, the state broke the taboos regarding Armenian
deportation for the first time after 99 years. ErdoÄ?an, prime minister
at the time, issued an official condolence and called both Armenia and
the Armenian diaspora to compensate for the past and build the future.
The headscarf ban was lifted to a great extent and a law on hate
crimes was approved by Parliament. Turkey became one of the several
countries recognizing the Egyptian coup and stood out among the others
as the one that raised its voice the most. While the oil contract with
the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) started to bare its
first fruit, it was also declared that Turkey came to terms with
Russia on the “Turkish stream” agreement.

Now we have the general elections ahead, which will determine who will
rule Turkey until June 2019. The AK Party will join this election with
another chairman for the first time, Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu. But seemingly
this will not influence the results since DavutoÄ?lu is already the
second name favored by AK Party proponents. Also, since ErdoÄ?an does
not have a complex to prove that his ties with his party are cut like
other presidents in the past, he still maintains his abilities to
mobilize AK Party supporters.

After gaining victory again in the 2015 elections, challenging tasks
will await the AK Party such as the formation of a new constitution,
finalization of the reconciliation process and managing the Syrian
crisis with minimum damage. If a critical problem does not arise in
economy management, the future of the AK Party will seemingly continue
to be synonymous with the future of Turkey.

Note About the Names Historic Armenia, Western Armenia, and Armenian Plateau

Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 | Posted by Matthew Karanian

Karmravank, on the southern shore of Lake Van, stands in defiance of
the significant vandalism it has suffered during the past century.
Photo (c) 2014 Matthew Karanian, Reprinted with Permission.

‘Historic Armenia After 100 Years’ uses the name Western Armenia to
refer to the six Armenian provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The book
uses the name Eastern Armenia to refer to the lands of Ani and Kars.

Since both of these regions are historically part of Greater Armenia,
and since the book features both areas, they are collectively
identified in the title of the book as Historic Armenia.

The name Armenian Plateau is also used throughout the book. This is
the geographic term that describes the land that encompasses much of
historic Armenia. The Armenian Plateau extends from Lake Sevan to the
edge of Cappadocia.

After the 1915 massacres and expulsions of the Armenians from the
Armenian Plateau, Turkey began a systematic effort to remove Armenian
names from the region, as well. They started to refer to the Armenian
Plateau as “Eastern Anatolia.”

Identifying all of Asiatic Turkey as Anatolia is not accurate. The
Armenian homeland, and the Armenian Plateau, is not located in
“Eastern Anatolia.” Accordingly, the book ‘Historic Armenia After 100
Years’ uses only the correct geographic terms Armenian Plateau and
Armenian Highland when referring to the historic homeland of the
Armenians.

Adapted from ‘Historic Armenia After 100 Years,’ (Stone Garden Press,
$39.95, Pub. Feb. 2015) by Matthew Karanian. Pre-order now for $35
postpaid in the US from: Stone Garden Productions; PO Box 7758;
Northridge, CA 91327 or pay with credit card by requesting an invoice
from [email protected]