Author: Kanayan Tamar

PM: GOVERNMENT STARTED TO REHABILITATE INFRASTRUCTURE IN KASSAB TOWN

Jun 18, 2014

Damascus, (SANA) – Prime Minister, Dr. Wael al-Halaqi, stressed that
the government has started repairing the infrastructure in Kassab city
to facilitate the return of families to their houses, pointing out that
the Syrian people will achieve victory and reconstruct Syria thanks
to their unity and determination to carry out national recon citations.

During the weekly session of the Cabinet, the prime minister noted
that the government’s priotiy in the current and upcoming stage
is rehabilitating the public industrial, agricultural, service and
administrative sectors and enhancing the capabilities of the private
sector, in addition to encouraging Syrian businessmen inside and
outside Syria to invest in their homeland.

The ministers presented their proposals about the positive government
interference in the market to control prices and secure goods for
citizens.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Walid
al-Moallem, presented a political review of the Syrian situation
and the importance of assembling the capacities of the homeland to
confront all challenges.

The cabinet approved a draft law to establish a syndicate for workers
in financial and accounting jobs based in Damascus.

The cabinet also approved another draft law concerning the Public
Housing Establishment.

Granting licenses to new mobile telecommunications companies were
also discussed during the cabinet’s session.

F.Allafi

‘AZERBAIJAN HAS IMPORTANT STATUS IN IRAN’S FOREIGN POLICY’ POLITICAL DESK

On Line: 18 June 2014 16:14
In Print: Thursday 19 June 2014

TEHRAN – Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri has said
that Tehran attaches great importance to relations with neighboring
countries and Azerbaijan has an important status in this respect.

Jahangiri made the remarks during a meeting with Azeri Minister of
Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov in Tehran
on Wednesday.

He said cultural, religious and historical affinities between Iran
and Azerbaijan have paved the way for expansion of fraternal relations.

He stated that it is necessary to take steps to increase economic
interactions between the two neighbors.

Jahangiri added that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s trip to Iran
opened new chapter in relations.

In April, the Azeri president made a trip to Iran during which
three memorandums of understanding and one agreement for bilateral
cooperation were signed.

For his part, Abbasov praised Iran for its stance toward the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Abbasov described his visits with Iranian officials as positive and
said that an Azeri private sector delegation will hold talks with
their Iranian counterparts to study expansion of economic cooperation.

He went on to say that a joint economic committee’s meeting will be
held in near future, expressing hope that it would help promotion of
economic interactions.

NA/PA

ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS AND GERMAN MP CONFER ON CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS

June 18, 2014 | 13:53

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Wednesday received, at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, a delegation led by Germany Bundestag
(Parliament) member, Dr. Martin Patzold.

Karekin II attested to the friendly and cordial relations between
the two peoples, and the cooperation between the two countries.

In the ensuing talk, the Catholicos reflected on the historic role
which the Armenian Church has played in the national and spiritual
life of the Armenian nation.

Speaking on the difficulties which the Armenian Church has faced
throughout history, Karekin II specifically pointed to the dire losses
which the Armenian nation and Church have suffered as a result of the
Armenian Genocide. In this connection, the Catholicos expressed the
hope that in 2015, when the Armenians will commemorate the centennial
of the Genocide, international community will support the Armenian
people in the Genocide’s international recognition and condemnation.

The interlocutors also discussed Church-state relations, the Church
engagement in societal life, the activities of a variety of religious
currents and organizations, the socioeconomic life in Armenia, and
the challenges which the Armenian people face.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ORIENTALIST: SECURITY OF KESSAB’S ARMENIANS IS FULLY ENSURED WITHIN THE SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK

Tuesday, June 17, 17:37

The security of Kessab’s Armenians is fully ensured within the
short-term outlook, Ruben Safrastyan, Head of the Institute of
Oriental Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, said at
a press conference on Tuesday.

“I think the Armenians of Keesab will start returning home now. The
militants have destroyed the town but it can be restored”, said the
expert. He thinks that one cannot speak of long-term security, because
if the power in Syria weakens, Turks will not miss the chance to get
to Northern Syria via Latakia and to get the opportunity to control
the Mediterranean coast.

Safrastyan thinks that Ankara has failed to carry out the given plan
due to the protests and condemnation of the Kessab developments by
the international community.

To recall, on June 15 the Syrian governmental troops liberated the
Aermenian-populated town of Kessab seized by the armed Islamists on
21 March 2014.

JAPAN MAY USE ARMENIA-DEVELOPED ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

YEREVAN, June 17. / ARKA /. Japan is ready to use alternative energy
technologies, developed by Armenian researchers, Junichi Nakazawa,
the executive director of the Armenian-Japanese Association, said
today in Yerevan.

He said in Armenia he was shown a technology developed by Barva
innovative research center for processing of biomass. He said it
could be used in his country.

Aram Vardanyan, head of Barva innovative research center, said the
technology can produce gas, identical to natural gas, imported from
Russia, from any biomass, but its cost is 10-15 times cheaper.

He said this technology could be used to build small power plants
able to produce up to 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year,
as much as consumed by Armenia annually.

According to him, Armenia may build 2-3 thousand small power plants,
each costing about $3,000. He said the cost of one cubic meter of such
gas will be $20-30, and the cost of a kWh electricity -5 drams. He
said this technology is expected to be introduced in Armenia in a year.

Barva research center’s focus is on production of anti-hail systems,
photovoltage power plants, as well as development and production of
equipment to combat early spring frosts. -0-

– See more at:

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: AZERBAIJAN NOTES ITS VULNERABILITY TO PIPELINE RELIANCE

June 17, 2014 | 19:12

Armenian analyst Richard Giragosian said Azerbaijan noted its
vulnerability to pipeline reliance and warned of terrorist threat
to pipelines.

Giragorsian, Director of Armenia-based Regional Studies Center,
shared his conclusions on Twitter after participation in the second
day of NATO PA Rose-Roth Seminar that is held in Baku.

During the conference, the analyst said he realized that without
Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani diplomacy and security would falter,
as it is limited to one-issue based strategy.

Richard Giragosian is participating in the seminar along with the
head of Armenian delegation to NATO PA Koryun Nahapetyan and MP
Tevan Poghosyan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

UKRAINIAN APRICOTS BEING SOLD IN ARMENIAN MARKET

Fresh Plaza, Netherlands
June 17 2014

Small apricots from the Ararat Valley are being sold in Yerevan stores
for AMD 2,600-2,700 per kilogram, Haykakan Zhamanak writes. The price
of bigger apricots is AMD 6,000. Apricots from Meghri are being sold
for AMD 4,000.

The newspaper notes that there are also imported apricots in the
Armenian market. In particular, apricots imported from Ukraine are
being sold for AMD 10,000 per kilogram.

DARMIAN PROVIDES ITALY HOPE

Football Italia
June 17 2014

Can Matteo Darmian be a regular starter for Italy? Sam Lewis examines
why the Torino man has hope for the future.

As Matteo Darmian spoke to the Press following his World Cup finals
debut, he was as surprised as many at his inclusion in Cesare
Prandelli’s Italy squad.

“If someone had told me a few months ago that I would be here,
honestly I would have laughed,” the 24-year-old confessed.

What the Torino man refers to is a three month period that would be
represented on a graph as a consistently ascending line. Darmian’s
World Cup selection followed an excellent season for Giampiero
Ventura’s Granata that for the most part flew under the radar – he
played 37 games in a variety of positions including either sides of
midfield, centre-back and as either full-back.

Darmian has now turned into a crucial component of a club side that
finished seventh in Serie A last season and is now, most recently,
a starter for Italy – playing every minute of the Azzurri’s 2-1 win
over England on Saturday night.

However, despite giving the impression he has simply popped out of
the ground, Matteo Darmian will enter his third season as a Serie
A regular after the World Cup. Appearing first as a 16-year-old
substitute for Milan in 2006 before a collection of loan moves –
first to Palermo and later to Torino in 2011 – cemented his status
and first attracted the attentions of the Italy Coach.

Born in the Northern Italian town of Legnano to parents of Armenian
descent, Darmian excelled at youth level for Milan, captaining the
Diavolo’s primavera side at 17.

However, in June 2012 the Rossoneri sold their stake in Darmian’s
contract to Palermo, ending an 11-year relationship with the player.

The decision has proven to be an oversight – Darmian evolving into
a consistent figure in Turin while Milan have struggled for quality
at either full-back position in recent years.

Quick and industrious, Darmian was a constant threat on the right
flank against England with overlapping runs and measured, intelligent
movements. Displaying accurate crossing and incisive, calm passing,
the former Palermo man combined well with Antonio Candreva, including
one occasion that led to the Azzurri’s winning goal in Manaus.

Darmian’s effectiveness led to many lauding the performance, including
Inter and Azzurro icon Sandro Mazzola.

“I didn’t expect Matteo Darmian to be so decisive at these levels
but he really impressed me,” the former midfielder remarked. “England
didn’t realise he was there and it allowed us to punish them.”

Darmian’s Italy involvement is a credit to Cesare Prandelli, who has
once again trusted his instinct to value talent over experience. The
choice of the Torino prospect instead of the more tournament tested
Ignazio Abate and Christian Maggio has proven to be a worthwhile risk
so far, Darmian representing another weapon that provides much-valued
tactical flexibility.

It is only one game for the Torino talent who is very much at the early
stages of a prospective Azzurro career, but the first indications are
promising. With little expectation attached to the chances of finding
a long-term solution at right-back out of either Abate or Maggio,
Darmian has a real opportunity to make the position his own. Although
if he did, it probably wouldn’t much of a surprise anymore.

SYRIAN ARMY CONTINUES CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS IN KASSAB

Press TV, Iran
June 17 2014

Syrian soldiers continue their clean-up operations in Kassab near
the border with Turkey after recapturing the strategic town from
foreign-backed militants, Press TV reports.

According to Press TV, Syrian army engineers have combed through
Kassab, situated in the coastal province of Latakia, and defused a
large amount of explosives and mortars after liberating the town.

“Kassab is in a mountainous border area and close to the Syrian coast.

Militants were trying to establish control over parts of the Syrian
coastal area and create a buffer zone near the Turkish border to
facilitate their movement into Syria. We foiled their scheme,”
a Syrian army official told Press TV.

On June 14, Syrian government forces retook control of Kassab from the
Takfiri groups and reestablished security there. Many terrorists were
killed in the army operation. Kassab’s residents have begun returning
home following the town’s liberation.

The ethnic Armenian-inhabited town had been under siege by extremists
from various militant groups, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated
al-Nusra Front.

Also on June 5, Syrian troops regained control of the town of al-Thawra
in Kiswah district near the capital, Damascus, killing a large number
of militants. Sources said that army forces also destroyed militant
hideouts in the nearby town of Zakia.

Over the past months, Syrian armed forces have achieved major victories
in their battle against the Takfiri groups operating against the
Damascus government.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence for more than three years.

Some reports say more than 160,000 people have been killed and millions
of others displaced due to the turmoil fueled by the foreign-backed
militants.

ARMENIAN FM MEETS THE PRESIDENT OF BUNDESTAG

11:10 17.06.2014

On June 16 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who pays an official
visit to Germany, met the President of Bundestag Norbert Lammert.

Welcoming Edward Nalbandian, Norbert Lammert recalled with warmth
his visit to Armenia made a year ago and the meetings held with the
leadership of the Republic as well as stressed the subsequent expansion
of the Armenian-German cooperation in political, inter-parliamentary,
economic and cultural areas.

Expressing gratitude for the reception Minister Nalbandian
mentioned that parliamentary cooperation format has major input in
the development of bilateral relations and that active contacts are
established in this framework. “During these very days, in parallel to
my visit, parliamentarians representing various Bundestag Committees
are in Armenia which is an evidence of the efficient cooperation
between the Parliaments”, highlighted the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

The sides attached importance to the collaboration at Parliamentary
Assemblies. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia attached
significance and expressed thanks for the enrollment of the
representatives of Armenia to the Bundestag International Parliamentary
Scholarships (IPS).

During the meeting, the sides touched upon the works towards the
development of the Armenian-German relations, exchanged views on
Armenia-EU affairs, cooperation within the Eastern Partnership. In
this respect, Edward Nalbandian stressed that via joint statement
by the EU and the RA at Vilnius the sides reassured their commitment
to develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all areas of
mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership framework.

Welcoming Armenia’s willingness to expand and deepen the relations with
the EU, the President of Bundestag noted, that it was expedient to
draw up such a framework of cooperation that would take into account
Armenia’s commitments within other integration processes.

Ideas were exchanged over the regional issues. Both sides expressed
satisfaction with the Armenian-German cooperation in International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.