Author: nina hovnanian

FRANCE IS THE LEADER OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA

18:06, 28 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: According to last year’s statistics
France is the leader of direct foreign investments in Armenia.

“Armenpress” informs that according to the information provided
by National Statistical service in 2012 the sum of direct foreign
investment was 567.4 million USD and it is a 10.1 percent decrease
compared with 2011’s results. The investments from France have been
230 million USD which is 2.3 times more than in 2011, and Russian
investments were 88 million USD which is 3.83 less than in 2011. The
volume of direct investments has become less also in case of USA,
United Kingdom, Belgium and Cyprus.

The indicator of Argentinean direct investments has become 6 times
more – 51 million USD. Germany’s investments were 48 million USD
which is 2 times more compared with 2011, Swiss investments were 43
million USD which is 5.5 times more compared with 2011 results.

Armenian investment and trade policy is considered by international
organizations as the most open in CIS region. Foreign companies are
encouraged to make investmentsand have some advantages. The law on
foreign investment was accepted on July 199

Trees felled illegally in Ijevan

12:53 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

Police in Ijevan city have arrested Aram A. (born in 1992) for cutting 24
trees in one of the local forests on January 26 and 27. Aram A. caused an
estimated AMD 1,165,500 in damage.

Investigation is in progress.

The only land road from Syria to Armenia closed

14:36, 29 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. The last land road from Syria to Armenia
has been closed. In a conversation with `Armenpress’ Jirayr Reyisian –
the press-secretary of National Prelacy of the Aleppo Diocese – stated
this. `Due to the information I possess Kesab-Turkey border checkpoint
has been closed. I learnt from the local media that the checkpoint is
going to be closed for the time being,’ – Reyisyan said adding that
nothing is informed about the reasons but he thinks that the border
was closed for security considerations.

He also added that it is not mentioned when Kesab -Turkey border
checkpoint will reopen.

This checkpoint was the last land road with Turkey which was under
state control. After the closing of the border Armenia-Turkey-Syria
land road will be impossible to use as there threatens an imprisonment
of 5 years for the illegal use of the checkpoint. The Syria – Armenia
air communication is also paralyzed.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur miss out in race for £20m midfielder
Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) takes on Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel in 2012

BY SAM WALLACE – 29 JUNE 2013

The much sought-after Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Shakhtar
Donetsk looks likely to join Borussia Dortmund, leaving Tottenham Hotspur
and Liverpool disappointed.

The 24-year-old suited the profile of players both Premier League clubs
seek to sign – young and with the potential to increase in value – even
with a £20m price tag on him. While Liverpool’s pursuit of him has been
well-chronicled, Spurs also made significant efforts to do a deal for the
player.

Mkhitaryan is involved with the Italian-Dutch agent Mino Raiola, who also
represents Martin Jol, Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Spurs were
unable to come to an agreement for the player, who is also keen on the
Champions League football that Dortmund can offer. Mkhitaryan missed the
start of a training camp this month with Shakhtar, who have already sold
the Brazilians Fernandinho and Willian this summer.

Spurs’ deal to sign the Brazil international Paulinho for £17m is all but
complete. The player will have a medical next week after the Confederations
Cup final tomorrow and is expected to complete his move from Corinthians
once it is complete.

Spurs will listen to offers for Tom Huddlestone, who is interesting
Sunderland, Scott Parker, Jake Livermore and Benoît Assou-Ekotto.

Contest for national air carrier to be announced in Armenia in a week

12:49, 29 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. The chief department of civil aviation
of the Republic of Armenia is going to announce a competition in a
week in order to select a national air carrier. Nelli Cherchinyan –
the press-secretary of the chief department of the RA civil aviation –
informed this in a conversation with Armenpress.

`There are still points which are in the stage of clarification. When
all the preparatory activities are over the competition will be
announced,’ – she said. Nelly Cherchinyan informed that only those air
carriers which are registered in Armenia can take part in the
competition. She informed that only 3 air carriers will remain as a
result of the final selection.

`Armavia’ Airlines – the national air carrier of Armenia – has stopped
flights since April 1, 2013 and started the process of bankruptcy. The
RA Parliament confirmed the strategy of stage by stage liberalization
in a June 6 session. This document stipulates that at least three
Armenian air carriers will act in the field.

ANCA-ER Executive Director calls for adoption of new Armenian Genocide
Truth and Justice Resolution

14:10 29.06.2013

The views and values of Armenian Americans from across the eastern
United States were represented on Capitol Hill this week in a series
of Member meetings and staff briefings by ANCA-ER Executive Director
Michelle Hagopian.

Over the past week, Hagopian met with legislative offices from
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New York,
building on the local relationships with Members of Congress from
across the Eastern Region. Among the main topics addressed in these
meetings was the recently introduced Armenian Genocide Truth and
Justice Resolution, H.Res.227, an innovative, new truth and
justice-based approach to improving Armenian-Turkish relations. Also
on the agenda were issues related to the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, stronger U.S.-Armenia ties, and the safety of
Armenian communities in Syria and across the Middle East.

`We’re pleased to see growing bipartisan awareness on Capitol Hill
that it’s time to try a new U.S. approach to the Armenian Genocide –
an authentically American approach – one that rejects Turkey’s
gag-rules, openly embraces the historical truth in our own archives,
and reflects our values as a nation,’ said Hagopian. ‘H.Res.227
represents a principled and practical effort – based on truth and
justice – to improving ties between Armenians and Turks and paving the
way to respectful relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and laying the
groundwork for a more tolerant and pluralist Turkey.’

Hagopian partnered up with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian to
meet with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), a meeting that included
discussion of H.Res.227 and U.S. policy on Nagorno Karabakh, among
other issues. Rep. Van Hollen’s district includes Bethesda, home to
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church. The Congressman attended the
church’s food festival in October 2012 and has been a longtime friend
to Maryland’s Armenian community.

Later in the week, Hagopian accompanied ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern
Taleen Lachinian of Massachusetts to a meeting with Rep. Niki Tsongas
(D-MA-3), whose district covers Lowell, home to one of the oldest
Armenian communities in America. The pair discussed the history of
Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. House, the peace process in
Nagorno Karabakh, and the warm ties that Rep. Tsgonas has long had
with her Armenian American constituents.

`It was wonderful to meet Rep. Tsongas considering all she’s done to
support Armenian issues. This was my first meeting with a
Representative on the Hill and it was really an insightful and
interesting opportunity. I look forward to holding more meetings like
this over the rest of the summer,’ said Lachinian.

Candlelight vigil for Vahe Avetyan

01:50 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held this evening in front of the
Harsnakar restaurant in Yerevan in commemoration of military physician Vahe
Avetyan.

Vahe Avetyan, an Armenian military doctor, father of two, was beaten to his
death at the restaurant owned by notorious oligarch Ruben Hayrapetyan
(Nemets Rubo), President of the Armenian Football Federation and a member
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.

This candlelight vigil starts at 7.00 p.m. it will be followed by a protest
march to the neighbouring Avan district, where Hayrapetyan lives.

Vahe Avetyan died on June 29, 2012 in coma, from brain injury. He was
assaulted at the Harsnakar Restaurant on June 17, allegedly first by a
waiter who refused to admit him because he was wearing sports gear, and
then by security guards, who also beat two other army doctors who were with
Avetyan. Avetyan died 12 days later in hospital without ever regaining
consciousness. His death received much publicity and media attention in
different circles. In September 2012, Hayrapetyan tendered his resignation
as a member of parliament following Avetyan’smurder at his Harsnakar
restaurant.

Movie “Parajanov” introduced at the Karloff Vari international film festival

11:39, 29 June, 2013

PARIS, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. “Parajanov – Lover of Beauty” fulllength
movie participates in the Karloff Vari international film
festival, which is held in the Czech Republic from June 28 to July 6.
Serge Avédikian – the co-director and the main actor of the movie
mentioned from Paris in a conversation with the “Armenpress” reporter
that “Parajanov” will not be introduced at the “Locarno”
festival as it is introduced in the competition program of the Karloff
Vari festival.

“After the Karloff Vari festival the movie can participate in
festivals which are not of class A. After this festival it will be
presented at the
international film festival of Odessa,’ – Serge Avédikian underscored.

The movie will be introduced to the Armenian public for the first time
within the framework of “Golden Apricot” 10th International
Film Festival, which will launch on July 7-14 but not as a competitive
movie but with a special screening. Serge Avédikian – also engaged
in `Golden Apricot’ as a member of the jury – informed that the movie
“Parajanov – Lover of Beauty” is most likely to show in
cinemas in September.

Article by Tatevik Grigoryan

ALLEMAGNE
Angela Merkel rappelle à la Turquie que « les valeurs européennes ne
sont pas négociables »

La chancelière allemande Angela Merkel a martelé jeudi à l’adresse de
la Turquie que les valeurs défendues par l’Europe, liberté
d’expression en tête, n’étaient « pas négociables ». L’accord mardi
entre l’Union européenne et Ankara sur l’ouverture d’un nouveau
chapitre de négociations d’adhésion « montre clairement que la Turquie
est un partenaire important », a dit Mme Merkel dans une allocution
aux députés du Bundestag. Mais elle a aussi assuré que « les valeurs
européennes (…) s’appliquent tout le temps, ne sont pas négociables
». « Je me réjouis du résultat » trouvé mardi qui fait avancer ce
dossier mais dans le même temps « ne fait pas comme si de rien n’était
», a-t-elle ajouté.

Pas de négociations avant l’automne

Berlin a sévèrement critiqué les violences des forces de l’ordre
turques contre les manifestants en Turquie ces dernières semaines, les
responsables allemands se disant inquiets et même choqués de la
situation dans le pays. L’Allemagne accueille la plus importante
communauté turque à l’étranger, avec environ trois millions de
personnes ayant des racines turques sur son territoire.

L’Union européenne a décidé mardi de relancer les négociations
d’adhésion avec la Turquie, un processus au point mort depuis
plusieurs années, malgré les réticences de l’Allemagne après la
répression des manifestations contre le gouvernement turc. L’ouverture
effective d’un nouveau chapitre de ces négociations ne devrait
cependant pas intervenir avant l’automne, et non mercredi comme prévu
initialement. Ce compromis a été trouvé après d’intenses discussions
entre ministres européens réunis à Luxembourg sur fond de divergences
sur le message à envoyer aux autorités turques après les troubles
politiques. L’Allemagne, soutenue par les Pays-Bas et l’Autriche,
prônait la fermeté. Les autres pays de l’UE étaient favorables à la
relance des négociations.

samedi 29 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY VA ACHETER 35000 TONNES DE RAISIN CETTE ANNEE

La societe Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) va acheter cette annee les
35000 tonnes de raisins a declare son directeur general, Ara Grigorian,
lors d’une conference de presse. Le record precedent avait ete etabli
en 1998 quand la societe a achete 32000 tonnes, a-t-il dit.

En 2012, la production de l’entreprise a augmente de 25% compare
a 2011 avec 3,5 millions de litres de brandy contre 2,7 millions de
litres produits en 2011. La production a augmente de 27 pour cent entre
juillet 2012 et fevrier 2013. M. Grigorian a decrit cette croissance
comme ” enorme “.

Ara Grigoryan a declare que les produits de la societe compte pour
18 a 19% du marche national.

Yerevan Brandy Company a ete fondee en 1887. En 1998, elle a ete
vendu au francais Pernod Ricard pour 30 millions de dollars.

vendredi 28 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com