Author: Kanayan Tamar

NO DANGEROUS FOOD MUST BE ON THE TABLES OF OUR FAMILIES: THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

11:27, 15 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. There will be no retreats in the
strict surveillance of food security. As reports “Armenpress” this
was announced by the by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan during the session of the Government of the Republic of
Armenia. The Prime Minister stated: “No dangerous food must be on the
tables of our families. We shall not permit cheese and other food,
which can be dangerous for the health of the people to penetrate
our families. We shall make surveillance in the food security much
stricter and we shall not yield.” The Head of the Government ordered
the members of the Government to introduce to the public all problems
and discoveries of this realm.

It was declared that intestine bacillus had been found in 18 of 59
companies engaged in the production of cheese at the session of the
Government on November 8. The Government banned the activity of all
18 companies, where intestine bacillus had been discovered. About 5,
5 tons of cheese have been abolished.

POLITICIANS EMPHASIZE THE POTENTIAL OF ARMENIA TO BE A MEDIATOR IN THE REGULATION OF THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS

10:29, 15 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBE 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is interested in the
regulation of relations of the fraternal countries of Russia and
Georgia. Armenia has a good chance to become a mediator in the
regulation of the Russian-Georgian relations. In a conversation with
“Armenpress” the Deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Armenia Khosrov Harutyunyan stated that the Russian-Georgian relations
are so intense and controversial that the presence of a dispassionate
mediator or at least one, who cares about the interests of both sides,
undoubtedly will have a positive impact on the regulation procedure.

According to the deputy Armenia is responsible for the steadfast
and peaceful development of the region. Khosrov Harutyunyan stated:
“In this respect Armenia can perform such a function.”

The Deputy of the National assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Shirak Torosyan is also confident that Armenia can be a potential
mediator in certain questions of the regulation procedure of the
Russian-Georgian ties, as in the context of the development of Southern
Caucasus springs from the interests of the whole region and Armenia
in particular. Torosyan stressed: “Armenia is a strategic partner of
the Russian Federation and is intensely interested in the regulation
of the Russian Georgian relations.”

Political scientist Alexander Manasyan is sure that Armenia can fit
the role of the mediator best in the regulation of the relations of
the East and West and two religious worlds. He stated: “We are not
a big country to scare others and be dangerous for the rest of the
world. Notwithstanding we have the historical experience and we are
receptive for both eastern and western cultures.”

AGBU YP BOSTON HOLDS FUNDRAISER FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF FUND

Armenian Weekly
November 15, 2012

WATERTOWN, Mass.-AGBU Young Professionals of Boston hosted a fundraiser
for the AGBU Syrian Armenian Relief Fund on Nov. 13.

Tickets were bought in advance for a dinner prepared by the Armenian
American Social Club in Watertown. Proceeds will direct help the
Syrian-Armenian community.

Participants in the event Months of political turmoil have
displaced many Armenians forcing them to flee their homes,
family, and businesses. Fighting and instability have caused
deaths and injuries. Some have relocated to Armenia and surrounding
communities. The AGBU has been providing basic needs such as food,
water, shelter, and medicine to thousands of Armenian families. The
event was well attended by many Armenian and non-Armenian professionals
and raised a substantial amount of money.

If you would like to donate to the Relief Fund, you may do so at

EX-PREMIER: ARMENIA’S DRAFT STATE BUDGET 2013 DOES NOT MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT ARMENIA’S ECONOMY MAY FACE

arminfo
Thursday, November 15, 15:54

Armenia’s draft state budget 2013 does not meet the challenges that
Armenia’s economy may face, Hrant Bagratyan, member of the opposition
Armenian National Congress Faction, ex-prime minister of Armenia,
said in Parliament on Thursday.

He said that the wealthy people do not replenish the budget and do
not pay taxes. This reduces the consumption level in the country, and
businessmen get interested in taking their capital abroad. Bagratyan
pointed out that according to the Central Bank’s data, the annual
outflow of capital from Armenia totals 1 bln USD. One more problem of
the country’s economy is the oligarchic structure, which also hinders
development of economy, he said.

He meant that the economy is controlled by those who have a decisive
impact on the budget drafting. They adopt a document, which is
beneficial to them. Bagratyan also stressed that the development of the
banking system over the past ten years has resulted in the fact that
the banks receive not only an ordinary profit, but also a rent from
the real sector of economy, which abruptly reduces the internal stimuli
for the economic development. “All these factors cause migration that
has reached unprecedented sizes”, the ex- premier stressed and added
that the ANC Faction submitted about 40 specific offers to introduce
amendments in the draft budget, but has received no response.

To note, the Government suggests approving the revenues of the
consolidated state budget of 2013 at 1 trillion 31 billion AMD,
spending – at 1 trillion 151 billion AMD. The deficit is set at about
120 bln AMD, or 2.6% of GDP. The 12-month inflation is forecasted
with the range 4+1.5%, and GDP growth – 6.2%. ($1 – 406.57 AMD). The
revenues of the budget will exceed the indices of 2012 by 13.2%. Taxes
and duties will constitute a big part of the state budget revenues –
96.25%. Official grants and other revenues will be 1.6% and 2.16%
respectively. The proceeds from taxes and state duties will total
992.9 bln AMD, which is by 118 bln AMD more than in 2012.

The share of taxes and duties in Armenia’s GDP will be 21.88%, which is
by 0.6- 0.8% more that in 2012. Official grants from foreign states
and international organizations will total 16.4 bln AMD, of which
82% – from the European Union. In additions grants are expected from
the Government of Germany, international financial institutions and
a number of states. Other revenues will total 22.3 bln AMD. It is
envisaged to receive these funds from the Central Bank. Spending of
the budget will be by 16.9% or by 190 bln AMD higher than in 2012.

83.1% of these funds will be operating costs and 16.9% or 190 bln AMD –
capital expenditure.

NO CONTRADICTION BETWEEN ARMENIA’S COOPERATION WITH NATO AND CSTO

news.am
November 15, 2012 | 16:15

YEREVAN.- There is no contradiction between Armenia’s cooperation
with NATO and CSTO, head of the Armenian delegation to NATO Koryun
Nahapetyan told reporters on Thursday.

Armenia’s CSTO membership is a part of country’s military-political
strategy but it is not damaging the relationship with NATO.

“We believe such cooperation is advantageous to Armenia. The ongoing
reforms are carried out in separate directions with NATO’s assistance,”
he said, pointing out defense and security reforms.

Nahapetyan is hopeful that concrete moves will be taken in the future
to state progress in Armenia-NATO relations.

“There is no contradiction between cooperation with two blocs. We
will continue developing steps defined by the President of Armenia
as the main foreign policy directions,” Nahapetyan added.

Speaking about the Alliance’s cooperation with the South Caucasus,
the Armenian delegate said Georgia-NATO and Armenia-NATO relations
differ radically.

“Georgia wants to become a NATO member. As for Armenia, NATO membership
is not on the agenda,” he emphasized.

WOMAN, 30, DIES OF BOTULISM IN ARMENIA

tert.am
15.11.12

A 30-year-old female resident of Armenia’s second largest city,
Gyumri, died of botulism poisoning at the Republican Medical Center
Armenia on Tuesday.

Commenting on the causes of her death, a chief specialist at the
Health Ministry’s Hygiene and Epidemic Inspection, told our reported
that the patient, A. Amiryan, was hospitalized in a critical condition.

“They did not immediately realize what was going on. The patient
thought she was feeling bad because of catching a cold. She had
washed a carpet a few days before. Only after diagnostic check-ups
that lasted four days did the doctors learn that conserved food had
caused the woman to feel bad,” Lilit Hunanyan told Tert.am.

This form of poisoning, caused predominantly by home-made preserved
food, commonly occurs in winter.

“Hard though housewives may try, the preserved products they make
at home cannot be safe enough,” he said, adding that 120 0C heat is
necessary to kill the harmful substances contained in those products.

“But if, nonetheless, our housewives have prepared conserved products
at home, they must at least boil them for 20-25 minutes before eating,”
she said, pointing out to dizziness, nausea, weakness, vomiting and
defecation disorders as the most frequently occurring symptoms of
the disease.

“Once these symptoms occur, it is necessary to immediately turn to a
doctor, avoiding self-treatment. It may have irrevocable consequences,”
the specialist warned.

The botulism rate in Armenia is down from the 29 cases in 2011 to 20
cases in 2012. Three people died of the disease this year.

POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS IN ARMENIA: ARF-D, PAP, FREE DEMOCRATS JOIN ANC’S INITIATIVE

tert.am
15.11.12

The parliamentary group of the opposition bloc Armenian National
Congress (ANC) has taken an application form for convening a special
session of Armenia’s parliament.

The form has been signed by MPs of the ANC, Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP),
as well as by two MPs of the Free Democrats party.

The Heritage group has not yet responded, Levon Zurabyan, Head of
the ANC parliamentary group, told journalists on Thursday.

The ANC group has collected signatures, and the document represents
the expectations of Armenia’s political opposition and large sections
of the population.

The decision on the Parliament’s special session is the result of
political consultations between the PAP, ANC, ARF-D and Heritage party,
which is necessary for making a number of amendments to Armenia’s
election law and Criminal Code. The amendments are supposed to impose
severer punishment for election frauds.

If the necessary number of signatures is available within 24 hours,
the parliament will hold a special session on Nov. 21.

ENVIRONMENTALIST ATTACKS ARMENIA’S NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER

tert.am
15.11.12

Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection must allocate funds to
the company that implemented a construction project in the Khosrov
forest reserve to enable it to remove the building, according to the
environmentalist Silva Adamyan.

Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan’s permission for the
construction is business, she says.

At her meeting with journalists on Thursday, Ms Adamyan addressed the
minister, saying: “Excuse me Mr Harutyunyan, are you a businessman
or minister of nature protection?”

With respect to the current situation, Ms Adamyan said
environmentalists keep on receiving reports on poaching.

“We cannot understand what our law-enforcement agencies are doing to
resolve the poaching problem,” Ms Adamyan said. She demands Minister
Harutyunyan’s resignation as “to hold this post a person must at
heart be an environmentalist rather than a businessman.”

EMERGENCY MINISTRY: YOUNG MAN COMMITS SUICIDE BY JUMPING FROM BRIDGE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 15. /ARKA/. An unidentified young man at age 20 to
25 killed himself today in Yerevan by jumping from Davitashen Bridge.

Armenian Emergency Ministry reports on its website that a response
group and the police rushed to the site immediately after a call was
received at 14:51 local time

USA AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA AND ARAM SARGSYAN PRESIDENT OF “REPUBLIC” PARTY DISCUSSED SOME ISSUES RELATED TO UPCOMING ELECTIONS

18:45, 15 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Chairman of political council
of “Republic” party Aram Sargsyan has had a meeting with USA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary John Heffern on November
15. As Armenpress was informed from the party, during the meeting
interlocutors have referred to Aram Sargsyan’s latest visit to USA
and the meetings which took place in its framework. The developments
of Armenian democracy, economy, regional issues and NKR settlement
have been also spoken about.

Interlocutors have mainly stressed the importance of public trust issue
over the political and electoral process in Armenia. Aram Sargsyan
shared with his and his party’s expectations over the upcoming 2013
presidential elections.

Chris Anderson political officer at the US Embassy, political expert
Tatevik Melikyan and Artak Zeinalyan member of “Republic” part were
also present at the meeting.