Author: Kanayan Tamar

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES KARABAKH AID

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Congress has made across-the-board cuts on the FY14 foreign aid bill

WASHINGTON-The House Appropriation Committee on Wednesday approved
assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh within the Fiscal Year 2014 Foreign Aid
Bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. The bill,
however, does not cite a specific level of aid to Armenia.

“Within the funds provided under this heading, the Secretary of State
should provide assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related
to the conflict,” reads the committee report attached to the bill
that will move through the house.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian welcomed the decision, stating:
“We are gratified that Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey
have, at the urging of Congressman Schiff, agreed to a manager’s
amendment to the full House Appropriations Committee’s version of
the FY14 foreign aid bill restoring language that, amid sharp cuts to
overall spending, prioritizes keeping aid levels for Nagorno Karabakh
consistent with prior years.”

“The priority the Committee attaches to America’s vital aid program for
Nagorno Karabakh, the only Caucasus aid program specifically mentioned
in the House report, is particularly meaningful given that this year’s
foreign aid bill is marked by deep, across-the-board cuts, the removal
of many country-specific aid level citations, and even the complete
elimination of a number of assistance programs,” said Hamparian.

“At the same time, we remain troubled that the version of the foreign
aid bill moving through the House, for the first time since Armenia’s
independence, does not cite a specific aid level for Armenia.”

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From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: House Panel Approves Karabakh Aid

House Panel Approves Karabakh Aid

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Congress has made across-the-board cuts on the FY14 foreign aid bill

WASHINGTON?The House Appropriation Committee on Wednesday approved
assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh within the Fiscal Year 2014 Foreign Aid
Bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. The bill,
however, does not cite a specific level of aid to Armenia.

?Within the funds provided under this heading, the Secretary of State
should provide assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related
to the conflict,? reads the committee report attached to the bill that
will move through the house.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian welcomed the decision, stating:
?We are gratified that Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey
have, at the urging of Congressman Schiff, agreed to a manager?s
amendment to the full House Appropriations Committee?s version of the
FY14 foreign aid bill restoring language that, amid sharp cuts to
overall spending, prioritizes keeping aid levels for Nagorno Karabakh
consistent with prior years.?

?The priority the Committee attaches to America?s vital aid program
for Nagorno Karabakh, the only Caucasus aid program specifically
mentioned in the House report, is particularly meaningful given that
this year?s foreign aid bill is marked by deep, across-the-board cuts,
the removal of many country-specific aid level citations, and even the
complete elimination of a number of assistance programs,? said
Hamparian.

?At the same time, we remain troubled that the version of the foreign
aid bill moving through the House, for the first time since Armenia?s
independence, does not cite a specific aid level for Armenia.?

L’UE ET L’ARMENIE CONCLUENT UN ACCORD SUR LEURS RELATIONS COMMERCIALES

COMMUNIQUE

L’Union europeenne (UE) et la Republique d’Armenie se sont
mises d’accord, aujourd’hui ( mercredi 24 juillet 2013 ndlr), sur
l’instauration, dans le cadre d’un accord d’association, d’une zone
de libre-echange approfondi et complet.

Lors de la septième (et dernière) session de negociations qui a eu
lieu a Erevan, les deux parties ont approuve les termes essentiels
d’un accord qui redefinira les relations commerciales entre l’UE et
l’Armenie. La zone de libre-echange favorisera l’integration economique
de l’Armenie dans l’UE en permettant aux entreprises armeniennes et
europeennes d’acceder plus facilement au marche des biens et des
services de l’autre partie. L’accord offre a l’Armenie le cadre
necessaire a la modernisation de ses relations commerciales et au
developpement de son economie grâce a l’harmonisation poussee de sa
legislation et de sa reglementation dans divers domaines touchant au
commerce. Ces reformes donneront a l’Armenie les moyens d’adapter des
secteurs essentiels de son economie aux normes de l’UE. L’amelioration
des possibilites commerciales qu’entraînera la creation de la zone
de libre-echange devrait avoir des effets economiques positifs tant
pour l’UE que pour l’Armenie.

Selon une etude independante, l’accord pourrait rapporter a long
terme 146 millions d’euros par an a l’economie armenienne, ce qui
representerait une augmentation de 2,3 % du PIB. Cette progression
dependrait en particulier de la suppression des barrières non
tarifaires. Pour l’UE, les retombees economiques de l’accord devraient
s’elever a quelque 74 millions d’euros.

La zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet aura une incidence
considerable sur le commerce armenien. Selon les previsions, la
croissance des exportations (15,2 %) et des importations (8,2 %)
armeniennes entraînera a terme un reequilibrage de la balance
commercial du pays (en termes relatifs).

Contexte

L’UE a entame des negociations avec l’Armenie en juillet 2010 en
vue de conclure un accord d’association. Il s’agissait de remplacer
l’accord de partenariat et de cooperation en vigueur par un accord
plus ambitieux. Les negociations sur le volet commercial de l’accord
– la zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet – ont commence en
mai 2012 et elles ont abouti le 24 juillet 2013, au terme de sept
sessions. La Commission va maintenant rendre compte aux Etats membres
du texte de l’accord negocie. Ensuite, l’UE et l’Armenie poursuivront
les procedures devant aboutir a la creation officielle de la zone de
libre-echange dans le cadre de l’accord d’association.

L’UE est le premier partenaire commercial de l’Armenie : elle
represente 32 % des echanges du pays. Les echanges bilateraux de
biens ont represente 951 millions d’euros en 2012.

L’UE accorde deja a l’Armenie un accès preferentiel a son marche
en lui appliquant le système de preferences generalisees ” SPG +
“, qui promeut en particulier le developpement durable et la bonne
gouvernance. En consequence, les droits percus a l’importation sont
deja très bas, de sorte que l’accord sur la zone de libre-echange –
meme s’il prevoit egalement des reductions tarifaires – fera surtout
sentir ses effets positifs a l’interieur des frontières du pays. La
reforme de la reglementation portera principalement sur les domaines
sanitaire et phytosanitaire et visera a assurer l’equivalence les
normes de securite alimentaire armeniennes et europeennes. L’Armenie
adaptera egalement plusieurs legislations relatives aux produits
industriels afin de renforcer la securite et la protection des
consommateurs.

Informations complementaires

Evaluation independante de l’impact du commerce sur le developpement
durable – zone de libre-echange approfondi et complet UE-Armenie
:

Site de la Commission Europeenne concernant les relations commerciales
avec l’Armenie (en anglais)

Site de la Commission Europeenne concernant les relations avec
l’Armenie en cadre de la politique europeenne de voisinage

Site du Service europeen pour l’action exterieure concernant les
relations avec l’Armenie

Voir lien plus bas

jeudi 25 juillet 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

D´autres informations disponibles : UNION EUROPEENNE

THIS ARMENIAN LIFE

New York Times
July 24 2013

By MARK BITTMAN
Published: July 24, 2013

Greater Los Angeles is a collection of not just smaller cities but
also exotic populations. Among those cities is Glendale (not so small:
it would be the second-most-populous city in New England), a center of
the Armenian diaspora and home to one of the world’s largest Armenian
populations outside Armenia. Fleeing religious violence in the late
19th century, genocide in the early 20th or the Soviet Union after
that, Armenian Californians became integral in the development of
the fig, raisin and bulgur businesses.

Edward Khechemyan came to Burbank, which borders on Glendale, in 1991 –
the same year Armenia left the U.S.S.R. He was 17 then, and of the
move, he says simply, “We didn’t like the Communist system.” His
father, who left Iran for Armenia – the home of his ancestors – in
1974, was a chef who dreamed of opening a restaurant, and in 1997,
he did just that.

The name of the restaurant, which is on the terminally unhip San
Fernando Road right near the Burbank border, has changed twice;
it is now called Adana. The food-and-travel writer David Latt,
a friend who has never steered me wrong, listed it as among his
favorite restaurants when I was picking his brain last year, and we
ate there together last fall. It was so good that I’ve visited Adana
on each of my four subsequent trips to Los Angeles.

Khechemyan is now the chef, and the food is not easily categorized. He
learned to cook from his father, but given that that man was from
Iran, that his upbringing was Armenian-American and that the Russian
influence was strong everywhere, the menu is a hodgepodge in the best
sense of the word, boasting of innumerable kebabs and more than a few
intriguing salads and dishes of beans, and of rice and other grains.

There are unfamiliar ingredients and preparations, and it’s all done
well, in a tiny and unpretentious kitchen.

One of my trips to L.A. was actually a trip to Glendale, arranged so
that I could cook with Khechemyan. I was immediately impressed with
his facility and his ease and especially his grilling technique. In his
kitchen, Khechemyan moves quickly, and within 30 minutes, we had done
four kebabs. The marinades are simple (he uses a lot of mild dried red
chili powder, the kind you can most easily buy in Korean markets),
and the grilling technique is not difficult. But it’s unusual: he
grills slowly (over briquettes fired with gas, by the way), not too
close to the fire, he insists, until gorgeously browned.

The fire is not superhot, but it’s even – gas is good for that –
and he keeps the grill grate a good six inches above the fire.

It wasn’t all grilling. Two of the best dishes we cooked were Iranian
(“Persian,” Khechemyan clarifies). The first was baghali polo,
extra-long basmati rice boiled halfway then steamed with garlic powder
(an ingredient I haven’t used in 20 years or so, but hey . . . ),
fava or lima beans and an infield’s worth of fresh dill. The other,
a salad, is something I’ve been making all summer; if I were you,
I’d just start chopping.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DID NOT TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS ON HRACHYA HARUTYUNYAN’S CASE

July 24, 2013 | 16:34

YEREVAN. – From the very beginning, the Armenian Foreign Ministry
did not take appropriate steps on the case of a truck driver Hrachya
Harutyunyan, head of Greek Armenians organization said.

To note, a truck crashed into a passenger bus on July 13 outside
Moscow, and it was found out that the truck driver was an Armenian
citizen by the name of Hrachya Harutyunyan.

The accident claimed 18 lives and about 50 others were hospitalized.

Hrachya was brought to the courtroom with slippers and a women’s robe.

This fact caused widespread discontent among the Armenian public,
and protests were staged across the Russian Embassy in Armenia.

Eduard Polatov, Karabakh war veteran and chairman of organization of
Greeks of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, said Russian law enforcers
that were conducting preliminary investigation and Armenian diplomatic
representation in Russia are responsible for everything that happened
in Moscow court.

Another participant of the press conference, the chairman of the
Assyrians’ Union of Armenia Razmik Khosroyev said that it is the
matter of human rights.

“The positive fact is that the society was able to raise a voice for
the Armenian. For the first Armenian felt that the state is behind
him,” he said.

Representative of the Yezidi community Amo Sharoyan expressed his
condolences to the families of 18 victims.

“Different types of expertise should prove whether the driver was
guilty. In this case, the presumption of innocence was violated by
both law enforcers and media representatives,” he said.

ARMEN CHAKHALIAN FEELS WELL. CLERGYMEN VISIT HIM IN JAIL

Wednesday,
July 24

Imprisoned Javakheti Armenian Armen Chakhalian is feeling well and has
no health problems, Aysor.am was informed by Armen’s brother, Javakheti
Armenian political figure, former political prisoner Vahagn Chakhalian.

“We are not allowed to see him until the trial, which is due to start
on August 9, but Armen’s lawyers visit him. They say he is in good
health,” Vahagn said, adding that clergymen are also allowed to visit
his brother.

“We are preparing for the trial. The lawyers say there were no
sufficient grounds for Armen’s arrest,” Vahagn Chakhalian noted.

Asked to describe the general mood in Javakhk, Vahagn Chakhalian said:
“There has been a change in the mood. When I was set free, people were
inspired. Now everyone is embarrassed. We are waiting for the trial”.

TODAY, 18:12

Aysor.am

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY GIFTS A BIBLE TO THE ROYAL BABY

16:55 24.07.2013

On July 24, the British Ambassador to Armenia Catherine Leach
visited the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the MOD,
RA. The Head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the
MOD, RA, Advisor to the Defense Minister, Major General, Doctor of
Political Science Hayk Kontanjian hosted the Ambassador. Research
fellows of the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the MOD,
RA, as well as the Executive Director of the Political Science
Association of Armenia Beniamin Poghosyan also participated in the
meeting. Doctor Kotanjian presented the priorities of the Institute,
as well as its transformation project toward the National Defense
(Research) University.

The Executive Director of the Political Science Association of Armenia
Beniamin Poghosyan briefly presented the plans of the Association in
the context of developing political science in Armenia.

Taking into account the fact, that the British Embassy on the occasion
of the birth of the Prince of Cambridge announced the gift receiving
week, on behalf of the Ministry of Defense MG Hayk Kotanjian presented
Children’s Bible illustrated by the children of the Armenian Children’s
center for the aesthetic education to the newborn Prince of Cambridge
with the following inscription:

“To: THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKE AND THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE

Please accept our heartfelt congratulations, best wishes and
this unique Bible for children on the occasion of the birth of the
Prince of Cambridge! The Bible’s illustrations were made by Armenian
children from the Center for Aesthetic Education in Yerevan, which was
established and led by my friend and renowned art guru Henrikh Igityan
for many years; it carries an exceptional message of love and peace.

Let this Holy Bible crafted by the talented Armenian children keep
a healthy and happy long life of the newborn Prince of Cambridge to
the Glory of the Crown of Great Britain and her Great British People”.

MG, Dr. Hayk Kotanjian, Head, Institute for National Strategic Studies,
MOD – on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

YEREVAN POLICE RELEASING ACTIVISTS PROTESTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARE HIKE

July 23, 2013 | 15:10

YEREVAN. – Maksim Sargsyan, who is one of the detained youth that are
protesting against the recent rise in the public transport fare in
capital city Yerevan, was released from a Police precinct, informs
the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter.

Sargsyan said he was detained on suspicion of beating a police
officer. But when the attorney had arrived at the precinct, he refused
to testify.

Later, the activist was told that he is released.

Sargsyan also informed that he has not seen the others that were
detained, but, there are four or five activists that are still detained
at the police precinct.

To note, the detained protesters also include two activists from the
opposition Armenian National Congress.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

MILITANTS ATTACKED ALEPPO ARMENIANS-TRANSFERRING BUS: VIDEO

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

13:37, 24 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: The video showing the attacks of the
Syrian armed militants on the bus going from Aleppo to Beirut was
published. As reported by Armenpress, in the video, published in
youtube, it is clearly seen how the civil transport means are shot
by the armed militants.

17 Armenian passengers were wounded in the result of the attack by the
militants in the Aleppo-Beirut highway, two of which are in critical
condition. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia, informing that according to the data provided
by the Armenian Embassy to Damascus, the killed Tamar Sirunyan was
40 years old.

As earlier was reported by Armenpress, a bomb was exploded near the
attacked bus following by shooting, which caused the death of
the driver and four passengers, one of which was the mother of
two children, Tamar Sirunyan. The wounded were taken to the hospitals
of Aleppo.  The accident took place near the entrance to Aleppo,
in the region of Khanaser, where heated collisions were held between
the Syrian army and the  armed opposition. Because of the blockade
of Aleppo, the Aleppo-Beirut highway was closed for months. Recently,
though, the blockade was rifted  and a way was opened for the
traffic to transfer food to Aleppo.

According to UN data because of clashes which last in Syria for more
than two years more than 100,000 people died including nearly 50
Armenians. The number of refugees is 1.5 million.

ROBOTICS STARTS AT SCHOOL PROJECT

23-07-2013 17:56:09 | Armenia | Science and Technology

One-month training course for trainers hosted in the
kindergarten-school of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex
was launched today within the framework of the Robotics Starts at
School project. 55 trainers from the regions of Armenia will get
skills of teaching robotics to children. The courses will be held by
the National Instruments, Instigate and Symotech companies.

To coordinate the project, as well as to expand it and apply the
accumulated knowledge in all the schools, a memorandum of understanding
was signed between VivaCell-MTS, Union of Information Technology
Enterprises, World Vision International charity organization Yerevan
office, Chronimet charity fund, USAID Counterpart International
project, National Instruments, Instigate and Symotech companies. The
memorandum is open to organizations, which share the aim and are
willing to join the project.

“By signing the memorandum we aim to inspire the school-aged children
for an interest in the contemporary high tech and the robotics in
particular, develop technical set of mind from the young age and
steer more purposeful and qualified students to universities,” said
the Executive Manager of the UITE Karen Vardanyan.

“Science is an engine and the human mind is the lever that makes the
engine work. We aim at giving the schoolchildren maximum opportunity to
serve the science to the best of the humanity. After all, to provide
a smart turn of generations both the engine and its performance need
to be continuously improved. Development of technologies gives an
opportunity for that. This cooperation will let us make serious steps
to grow the robotics from a mere preference into a serious vocation,”
said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

The Union of Information Technology Enterprises, in cooperation
with VivaCell-MTS, Chronimet Charity Fund, World Vision Armenia and
Counterpart International Armenia, has initiated creation of robotics
groups in 55 schools across Armenia. The lessons at schools will
kick off in September 2013. The trainers will have robots designed
and provided by the union as a teaching aid.

At the moment robotics classes are organized at the “Ayb” school,
“Qvant” and “Politechic” colleges in Yerevan. Classes are organized
also in Lori (Akhtala), Syunik (Sisian, Kapan), Shirak (Gyumri)
and Aragatsotn (Talin).

The organizer of the ArmRobotics is the UITE, the General Sponsor
is VivaCell-MTS, and the technical sponsor is the “Artin Varujan”
Company. Partners of the school classes are the Chronimet charity fund,
World Vision Armenia and the Counterpart International Armenia.

News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan – See more at:

L’ECONOMIE SOUTERRAINE EN ARMENIE EST ENCORE ELEVEE SELON LE PRESIDENT

ARMENIE

La partie de l’economie souterraine en Armenie est encore eleve a
declare le president Serge Sarkissian lors de la reunion avec le
Comite des recettes d’Etat.

” Nous savons que, malgre nos efforts pour reduire l’economie
souterraine, elle est encore elevee par rapport a celui des pays
developpes”, a-t-il dit après l’ouverture du nouveau bâtiment pour
les contrôles fiscaux.

Sarkissian a note que meme si les recettes budgetaires ont augmente
deux fois au cours des dernières 4-5 ans, ce n’est toujours pas assez.

“Tout d’abord, nous n’avons pas d’autres revenus et d’autres occasions
de ramasser de l’argent pour garder l’armee, payer les salaires des
enseignants et des medecins. Nous devrions constamment augmenter les
recettes fiscales “, a dit le president.

Selon Serge Sarkissian, les organes fiscaux et douaniers doivent tout
d’abord soutenir et d’encourager la concurrence par la creation de
conditions d’egalites.

” Si une entreprise travaille dans l’ombre, une autre en payant
les taxes fiscales les conditions de leur developpement ne sont
pas egales.”

Le president a exprime l’espoir que lors de la prochaine reunion le
Comite fera un rapport sur la reussite du processus de resolution
d’un certain nombre de ces questions.

mercredi 24 juillet 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com