Author: nina hovnanian

Head of Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia blames banking system for
ruining villagers

by Gayane Isahakyan

Friday, May 30, 17:30

The banking system of Armenia has led the Armenian villagers to ruin,
Head of the Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia Hrachya Berberyan said
at a press conference in Yerevan.

“By my calculations, over the period of independence, Armenia has
received from international structures almost 50 mln USD loans for
various agrarian purposes”, said Berberyan. He has no idea of how and
how effectively those funds have been used. “The loans were provided
to the banks at a low interest rate. For instance, the World Bank
provided the Government of Armenia with loans at LIBOR 0.5-0.75%, and
the latter provided the loans to the banks at 7% p.a. The banks, in
turn, lent the money to the villagers at 24%- 30% p.a.”, he said.

“As a result, the villagers owe big funds to the banks now. I think a
special commission must immediately be set up to find out whether the
banks properly used the credit facilities meant for agriculture or
not”, said Berberyan. He recalled that the Credit Yerevan Bank, for
instance, borrowed money from the World Bank for development of the
agrarian sector and God knows how it spent the money. Another example
of Berberyan concerned the state program subsidizing the agriculture
loan rates. “The Government provides preferential loans to the farm
entities, but in Shirak region only 40 farmers have received loans.
Today farmers badly need loans, but the banks fail to satisfy the
villagers’ needs and agree to lend them at high rates – no lower than
18-20%. Cheap loans are extremely limited today”, he said.

He also added that besides suffering of the credits, rural people have
also suffered of frost and hail. “Incidentally, the losses of the
agriculture facilities because of hail grow parallel to the growth of
the anti-hail stations at the territory of the country. The
agriculture sector needs immediate radical reforms. First, not
functionaries should create agriculture cooperatives but the farmers
themselves. Secondly, state functionaries have to draw out the law “On
producers of agriculture production”. The next, it is necessary to
fully upgrade the irrigation system. Moreover, the anti-hail services
should become more responsible for the losses of the agriculture
facilities because of hail. We also need the net anti-hail system
similar to the one functioning in the European countries. And finally,
the rates of the banking agro credits should be decreased and the
terms of their repayment increased up to 15 years”, – Berberyan said.

CHRISTIAN RAPPER SAVED BY CIRCUMCISION–TWICE

ChristianityToday.com
May 30 2014

After a childhood encounter with terrorists, hip-hop artist raps for
religious freedom.

Timothy C. Morgan and David Daniels/ May 30, 2014

Back in the 1980s, a doctor in a remote clinic performed an emergency
circumcision to treat a young boy’s severe urinary tract infection
in Azerbaijan, on the Caspian Sea. Ruslan Karaoglanov was cured from
potentially fatal infection that day. But the Karaoglanov family
had no inkling that five years later, that circumcision would save
Ruslan’s life during a bloody pogrom led by Muslim terrorists.

Ruslan, a rising talent in the Christian hip-hop world (known
professionally by his first name), retold the story to Christianity
Today. It was during the historic period in which the Berlin Wall
came down and the Soviet empire collapsed. In Azerbaijan, Christians
lived in daily fear for their lives as Islamic terrorists sought to
purge non-Muslims from the region.

Black January

The worst occurred in the early days of 1990 (today known as “Black
January”). Over seven days that month, violence between Azerbaijani
Muslims and the Soviet Red Army left an estimated 220 people dead
and 1,500 injured in Baku, the capital.

One day, armed men crashed through the door at the home where the
Karaoglanov family was living in Baku. They were seeking to find and
murder any Armenian males. Ruslan’s Armenian father and uncles had
already fled to Moscow for safety. But Ruslan, about 5 years old,
had stayed with his ethnic Russian mother, Marina, and grandparents.

As three rebels with automatic weapons prepared to kill him, his
mother quickly exposed her son’s circumcised penis to prove that his
was not Armenian. “No! No! No!” Marina shouted in Russian.

“We’re not Armenians. Look, my son is circumcised!”

Armenian Christians traditionally do not practice circumcision, while
Muslims typically do. The militants were persuaded the Karaoglanovs
were fellow Muslims. After the harrowing episode, the Karaoglanov
family was reunited in Moscow at the end of 1990. They applied for
visas to the United States, and the family landed in San Diego to
build a new life.

Growing up on the fringes of American culture, Ruslan turned to
hip-hop to express himself. As an adult rap artist, Ruslan has opened
for Lecrae, Mobb Deep, Raekwon, and other top acts. He says his keen
awareness of God’s protection of religious minorities has found a
place in his music, which he describes as “positive hip-hop.”

Birthed in the late 1970s, hip-hop now generates a $10 billion a year
in revenue. Surveys show there are 45 million hip-hop consumers, ages
13 to 34, and 80 percent are white. Christian hip-hop artists, such
as Lecrae, often place their recordings at or near the top of the rap
album chart. Billboard magazine recently described Christian hip-hop
as a “welcome bright spot” for the religious music market, which has
seen sales decline 31 percent since 2009. Traffic to Rapzilla.com, a
leading Christian hip-hop webzine, grew fifteen-fold from 2008 to 2013.

Master of His Craft

Ruslan believes music is an overlooked way to reach a younger audience
with a message about the fight for religious freedom. He began the
first verse of song off his debut solo album, Carry On, rapping, “I
was supposed to die–no one would’ve noticed it.” Later in a video,
“Please Pronounce My Name Right,” he tells the story of the 1990
pogrom and how he survived.

Derek “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins, a recording artist who has worked
alongside Sean “P Diddy” Combs and Kanye West, told CT he sees the
missionary pulse in Ruslan’s music. “You cannot influence that which
you are not in proximity to,” said Watkins. “A lot of Christian
artists . . . will not interact at a deeper level with folks whose
hearts have not been won by God. [But] Jesus went to those people.

That’s something Ruslan really brings to the table.

KHUMALO TOLD TO HONOUR FRENCH ARBITRATION AWARD

The Sunday Independent (South Africa)
May 25, 2014

by LOYISO SIDIMBA

TOP businessman Mzi Khumalo has been ordered to pay more than |R53
million to his Lebanese associate over the sale of shares and a mining
deal that went wrong in Armenia.

Lebanese businessman Pierre Fattouch won a bid in the South Gauteng
High Court to have a Parisian arbitration award recognised and enforced
in South Africa.

Court papers filed by Fattouch say he and Khumalo reached an agreement
in March 2009 for Khumalo to pay US$5m in four instalments of US$1.25m.

Khumalo’s bill is likely to top R77m as he has also been ordered to
pay |9 percent in annual interest from April 2009 until the date of
final payment.

He must pay Fattouch’s legal costs, according to the ruling, delivered
by Judge Sherise Weiner on May 6.

Fattouch approached the high court in South Africa in 2012 after
Khumalo failed to pay him in accordance with the award. Khumalo had
between April and September 2009 to pay Fattouch.

The battle between the two millionaires dates back to May 2006 when
Fattouch and Khumalo, through Rosario International Investments,
entered into a written sale of shares agreement. Two years later,
there was a dispute and the matter was referred to arbitration.

After winning the French arbitration, Fattouch applied to the South
Gauteng High Court to have the award made an order of the court.

Khumalo, one of South Africa’s richest businessmen and a former
Umkhonto we Sizwe operative, then insisted that Fattouch put up
security for costs with the high court’s registrar and the Lebanese
tycoon complied.

In court Khumalo claimed he had a pactum de non petendo (agreement not
to sue) with Fattouch who had undertaken not to proceed with litigation
until he, Fattouch, had obtained two mining licences in Armenia.

Khumalo said it did not make sense for him to pay the amount Fattouch
claimed if Fattouch was unable to obtain the licences.

Fattouch is president of the Armenia-Lebanon Friendship Association
and owns Armenia’s Karabakh Telecom, which trades as VivaCell,
through the Fattouch Investment Group.

VivaCell is one of two mobile operators in Armenia and has been
operating there since July 2005.

Khumalo had also undertaken to pay Fattouch in terms of the arbitral
award, according to court papers.

Weiner said in her judgment: “There is no mention of any agreement
that the applicant (Fattouch) would not proceed pending the obtaining
of the licences in Armenia”.

Khumalo also argued that Fattouch needed Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan’s permission to enforce foreign arbitration awards in terms
of the Protection of Businesses Act.

Weiner said the requirement to seek Gordhan’s permission needed to be
analysed to ascertain whether it was in conflict with the constitution.

She said she would be able to decide on the facts before her and
that to adjudicate on the constitutionality of the Protection of
Businesses Act Gordhan and his justice and international relations
and co-operation counterparts, Jeff Radebe and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
respectively, would have to joined in the matter.

Fattouch’s lawyer Pumzo Mbana could not be reached for comment.

Last month, The Sunday Independent reported that Khumalo’s palatial
Zimbali mansion escaped its second scheduled auction after he entered
into yet another settlement agreement with RMB Private Bank.

Khumalo owes the bank millions |of rands after it won a case against
him for the payment of more than R16.6m including 10 percent annual
interest in 2012.

He had also managed to save the property from being sold off in
October last year.

TOP businessman Mzi Khumalo has been ordered to pay over R53 million
to his Lebanese associate over the sale of shares and a mining deal
that went wrong in Armenia.

OPINION: INFLOW OF SYRIAN ARMENIANS IN ARMENIA MAY CONTRIBUTE TO SOLUTION OF COUNTRY’S DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. The inflow of Syrian Armenians in Armenia
may contribute to solution of the country’s demographic problems,
Gagik Harutyunyan, director of Noravank scientific and educational
foundation, said Friday at a discussion of Syrian things.

“I find it still premature to send our guys there,” he said. “This is
not our war, but we ought to create conditions for our compatriots’
come to settle in Armenia, since they have no other place.”

The expert stressed that Armenian community in Syria was one of the
most powerful Armenian communities in the Middle East and its role
was very important.

The Armenian community in Syria numbers at various estimates 100,000
people. The largest community is in Aleppo (60,000). Armenians also
live in Damascus, Latakia and other cities. Clashes between government
troops and armed opposition in Syria have forced many Armenians to
flee their homes there.

According to Armenian Diaspora Ministry, 8,000 Syrian Armenians
applied for Armenian citizenship in 2011 and 2012, and 3,000 of them
have already got it. -0—-

– See more at:

ARMENIA, BELARUS PMS HAIL THE LEVEL OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

16:05 30.05.2014

Armenian and Belarusian Prime Ministers Hovik Abrahamyan and Mikhail
Myasnikovich had a meeting in Minsk on the sidelines of the sitting
of the Heads of government of CIS participating countries.

The Prime Ministers of the two countries discussed a number of issues
on the agenda of Armenian-Belarusian economic cooperation. The parties
hailed the results of implementation of the agreements. They highly
appreciated the current level of relations and attached importance
to the further expansion of the volume of commodity turnover.

PMs Abrahamyan and Myasnikovich referred to the import of agricultural
machinery to Armenia and the export of Armenian agricultural products
to Belarus, as well as a number of issues related to cooperation
within the framework of the CIS.

During the meeting the interlocutors exchanged views on Armenia’s
membership in the Customs Union. Mikhail Myasnikovich underlined that
Belarus fully supports Armenia in the process.

DOOR IS AJAR FOR KARABAKH WAR II

Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments – Friday, 30 May 2014, 15:11

NATO has realized that its charter is outdated and does not reflect
the reality, and it is time to revise the present stiff framework of
development of the alliance. At present, NATO is not making any effort
to avoid the current conditions of cooperation with different states
and combine “Point 5” and the resolution of defense and security
issues. Most probably, either “Point 5” will be reviewed or a new
format of cooperation with non-NATO members will be established.

Otherwise it is impossible to ensure the security of the countries
of Eastern Europe, Maghreb and the Near East without which European
security cannot be imagined. A more global system of security cannot
be limited to regional, European objectives, and even the toughest
of supporters of isolation, primarily Germany, have recognized this.

Of course, it would be far more effective to stop “praying” to the
NATO charter and rules and accept the countries of Eastern Europe
which do not differ from Western Europe much in terms of politics,
history, religion and culture.

NATO is having an intensive discussion not only on the upcoming summit
in the UK but on a much broader range of issues because many people
do not understand how they can resolve security issues when Eastern
Europe has been demagogically farmed to Moscow which would not hide its
contempt for the Western community and is undermining its positions.

Russia is an aggressive state, and this factor will be definitive in
the development of the alliance over the next two decades, especially
that NATO has understand that in order to curb Russian expansion it
must boost its military presence along the length of borders rather
than develop relations with Russia.

NATO is close to the decision on fulfillment of the objectives of
boosting its military presence in Georgia, Ukraine, the Black and
Baltic seas. The agreements with Russia in place on NATO military
presence in East Europe are obsolete. These agreements were an
important condition for the Russian expansion in its toughest form.

In addition, NATO understands that fulfillment of objectives of
military and political isolation of Russia is the most acceptable
and cheapest means of resolution of issues of European security. In a
long-term perspective, it would have been more costly to continue the
policy of concessions to Russia and alignment of security interests
to interests of some commercial banks and companies. These decisions
are already in place and have been agreed with all the NATO members,
and in this case Germany was one of the key initiators because it
fears the prospect of being an outsider in Atlantic policy despite
its economic capacity.

What is awaiting the “zone” in this situation and in a long-term
perspective? Though, in fact, deliberations on the destiny of the
“zone” do not have a political meaning, there is still a meaning in
the existence of the “zone” and its population.

One should first of all be aware that reanimation of Turkey’s role
in the strategies of NATO and Russia will at least lead to oblivion
of the “zone’s” interests which marks the end of the period of any
responsibility and interest of NATO and the United States for the
destiny and security of the “zone”. NATO and the United States
have already identified their goals and priorities in the Black
Sea-Caucasian region, and there is no place for the “zone” in this
strategy, which is the best scenario.

In reality, the “zone” is hindering the policy of NATO and the United
States, and its interests will be constantly ignored, especially in the
context of the increasing role of Turkey and Azerbaijan in blockade and
isolation of Russia. This situation automatically leads to Russia’s
readiness to give up on the “zone’s” interests in a trade-off with
Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The international isolation into which the leaders of the zone have
led their country consciously and unconsciously allows all the foreign
sides to sacrifice its interests. Isolation is a universal situation of
the country in terms of its international helplessness and suppression
of its rights. The door is ajar for Karabakh War II. The minister of
defense Seiran Ohanyan has stated that he has no right to discuss
Russia’s behavior, thereby conveying that the Armenian military
circles hate Russia but there is hardly anything to do. The “zone”
has irrecoverably lost its sovereignty.

At the same time, there are possible alternative that inspire little
hope for survival, if not a successful and secure existence. Modern
politics is moving on along a bumpy road rather than a railway, and
the deeper the confrontation in Eastern Europe, the more complicated
NATO’s policy will be.

The most important issue in this regard is whether a “third force”
will emerge in the Black Sea-Caucasian region, and if yes, how long
it will function in this region. Only the intensification of the
military-political presence of NATO in this region will help prevent
rapprochement and plot between Russia and Turkey.

NATO and the United States have twice been close to this solution
but illusions in some political circles in the United States and
the UK have twice thwarted these plans. One way or another, the new
geopolitical situation in the Black Sea-Caucasian region must take
place or, otherwise, the policy of the United States and NATO in
Eurasia will be futile. Dislocation of American military bases in,
say, Georgia will be objectively aimed at supporting the ambitions
of Russia and Turkey.

It was mentioned in the publications in Lragir six years ago when
the United States and NATO were close to this solution. It make one
aware that this time too these plans may not come true. However,
even if more favorable conditions for the “zone” occur, one has to
remember that renegade and vassal states will have no “honorary”
place on the political map in the future geopolitical arrangement of
forces of the region. These countries which preferred loss of their
sovereignty will hardly be able to expect preferences.

Nevertheless, one has to understand that the expectations are
better, and the Americans and Europeans understand who is who in the
“establishment” of the “zone”. Primarily, the military circles may
be bidden which only formally remain loyal to the political leadership.

The West understands that with the total capitulation of the “zone”
and its society to the Russian dictate any future government will need
a credit not only to fix the economy and administration but also to
dissect the society which has signed off its sentence.

In any case, the “zone” will have to pay for and always be reminded
of its degenerative mentality and hope that the sentence will not be
too severe.

– See more at:

IT IS TIME SERZH SARGSYAN MADE THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN HIS LIFE, SAYS LAWMAKER (VIDEO)

18:09 | May 30,2014 | Politics

It is nonsense; a deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) said when commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Ilyev’s
statement that Armenia should side with the Eurasian Economic Union
(EaU) without Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are one united country,” said Armen
Ashotyan.

The Republican official is convinced that Armenian will do everything
for its accession to the EaU and will finally join the economic union
in 2015.

Earlier, Ilham Aliyev wrote a letter to presidents of three countries,
which was read out by Kazakhstan’s president at the Supreme Eurasian
Economic Council’s meeting on Thursday. In the letter, Aliyev ruled out
the possibility of Karabakh’s membership in the common economic area.

“And who is Aliyev to write such a letter to the heads of other
countries?” said HHK lawmaker Manvel Badeyan. “No matter how many
letters Aliyev writes and [Kazakhstan’s President] Norsultan Nazarbaev
reads… Similarly, the Ukraine’s president can write a letter to
Nazarbaev on the issue of Crimea but Russia will remain indifferent
to it.”

The Minister of Diaspora, Hranush Hakobyan, says Serzh Sargsyan was
aware of Aliyev’s letter: the minister knows Armenia’s enemies very
well. She also knows that Karabakh is not Diaspora for Armenians,
it is our homeland.

Head of the Heritage faction Ruben Hakobyan advises looking for those
guilty for the letter in Armenia. “It [the letter] emerged in the
result of our foreign policy.”

While the lawmaker cannot say whether Armenian will reconsider
its membership with the EaU or not [because of the letter], he is
convinced that Kazakhstan will not leave the letter unanswered. “At
least, they will demand that Karabakh should not join any structure
Armenia is a member of.”

Mr Hakobyan says if international forces neglect Artsakh, Armenia
should decide on its future steps.

Commenting on the infamous letter, Aram Manukyan, Secretary of the
Armenian National Congress (HAK), said, “Serzh Sargsyan has appeared
in an awkward situation. He was ashamed like a pupil who had not
learned his lessons. Therefore, Serzh Sargsyan had better take the
most important step in his life and resign.”

Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK),
invites Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to the National Assembly
‘to tell the lawmakers the story of the letter.’ “Why should the
president of the host country – Nazarbaev – read out Aliyev’s letter?

Not only did he cite Aliyev’s words, but he also urged the
participants of the Astana-hosted summit not to annoy the president
of Azerbaijan. Who should respect the interests of our country if
Nazarbaev announces that the Union reflects the interests of its
three founding countries? I wonder where we are going and why…”

Orange UK News, UK
May 31 2014

Algeria too strong for Armenia

Algeria produced an impressive first-half performance en route to a
3-1 win over Armenia in a World Cup warm-up game in Sion, Switzerland.

Essaid Belkalem, Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani all scored in the
first half for Algeria before Armenia replied early in the second half
through Artur Sarkisov.

Defender Belkalem, who spent last season on loan at Watford, gave
Algeria a 13th minute lead when he scored from close range following a
corner.

Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez marked his Algeria debut by
creating the second goal on 22 minutes when he supplied Ghilas with
the chance to thump home a shot.

Slimani, who had missed two earlier chances, increased Algeria’s lead
further three minutes before the interval when he nodded home the
rebound after Ghilas had been denied by the crossbar.

Half-time substitute Sarkisov made an immediate impact for Armenia by
scoring within a minute of being introduced as he fired a low shot
past Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche.

Algeria have been drawn in Group H in the World Cup in Brazil, where
they will face Belgium in their opening game on June 17 before
tackling South Korea and Russia.

Sargsyan reacts to Astana statements: Nazarbayev remarks, he says,
“can’t harm us”

NEWS | 31.05.14 | 19:27

RELATED NEWS

Eurasian Style: Armenia urged to join Russia-led union within its
UN-recognized borders

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has put a brave face on the
statements made by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarvayev at an
Astana-hosted summit regarding Nagorno-Karabakh’s status in the
emerging Eurasian Union, saying that albeit unpleasant, these remarks
still “can’t harm us”.

During the May 29 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council
during which Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on the
establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union beginning on January 1,
2015 (and Armenia is an aspiring member of this Union), Nazarbayev
cited a letter addressed by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to all the
three leaders of the current Customs Union, saying that Armenia should
be admitted to the Union only within its United Nations-recognized
borders, i.e. without Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian president did not reply to the statements of the summit
host immediately, which drew criticism at home. Members of the
Armenian opposition denounced the passivity of Armenia on the
interference of Azerbaijan into the process of Armenia’s accession to
a trade bloc involving third countries and Yerevan’s allowing its
allies to yield to Baku’s pressure.

Attended a gathering of young members of his ruling Republican Party
of Armenia at the resort town of Tsaghkadzor on Saturday, Sargsyan
answered a question from a young Republican regarding the Astana
summit and Armenia’s position on the matter.

“First of all, I must say that there are no obstacles to Armenia’s
membership in the Customs Union. And when we speak here about two or
three issues, these two or three issues are of purely technical nature
and concern our trade relations,” Sargsyan said, as quoted by his
press office.

“As for what was voiced by Nazarbayev, first, from the outset it is
wrong to talk about borders. What borders are we talking about? The
Karabakh problem is not being solved in the Customs Union,” said the
Armenian president. And who said that we are joining the Customs Union
together with Karabakh? There has been no such thing and could not be,
because at least under our laws and in accordance with our ideas,
Karabakh today is not part of Armenia. And the fact that membership in
the Customs Union will contribute to the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem is unequivocal.”

Interestingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that
consultations with the participation of senior representatives of the
Ministry and heads of Armenian diplomatic missions abroad will be held
in Yerevan on Monday. The participants of the consultations to be
chaired by President Sargsyan are also due to meet with Parliament
Speaker Galust Sahakyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and travel
to Nagorno-Karabakh where their meeting with the second Armenian
republic’s President Bako Sahakyan is planned. The agenda of the
consultations has not been revealed but Armenia’s planned membership
in the Eurasian Union and related matters are likely to be the focal
point.

PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CENTER in YEREVAN
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June 2, 12:00: The Media Center will hold a panel discussion on the
erection of a monument to Anastas Mikoyan, Soviet statesman.

The panelists include:

Sahak Poghosyan, architect, art specialist;

Nazareth Karoyan, art critic, founder/director of Institute for
Contemporary Art;

Arayik Harutyunyan, historian;

Zaruhi Muradyan, artist.

The panelists will discuss the plans to erect a monument to Bolshevik
and Soviet statesman Anastas Mikoyan, as well as the policy of
monuments erection in Yerevan.

On April 30, Yerevan Council of Elders made a scandalous decision to
erect a monument to Anastas Mikoyan, who is considered to have a
controversial biography. The decision was made upon the proposal of
Tigran Barseghyan, Chief Architect of Yerevan. Bolshevik Mikoyan’s
bronze monument is planned to be erected in the center of Yerevan,
specifically, in the park lying between Isahakyan and Koryun streets.

Copyright © 2014 Media Center, All rights reserved.