Author: nina hovnanian

UNE PETITION DEMANDANT LA RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN PAR WASHINGTON, SUR LE SITE OFFICIEL DU PRESIDENT AMERICAIN

Sur le site officiel du president des Etats-Unis, Barack Obama une
petition qui a debute le 10 fevrier demandant au president americain
de reconnaitre le genocide armenien a deja recueilli 6 532 signatures.

Neanmoins, afin que le president Obama puisse recevoir cette demande
les organisateurs de la petition doivent disposer d’un minimum de
100 000 signatures avant le 12 mars.

Le texte de la petition evoque que le 24 avril 2013 marquera le
98e anniversaire du genocide armenien dans l’Empire ottoman. Mais
Washington ne l’a pas encore officiellement reconnu malgre les
nombreuses promesses de Barack Obama. La petition evoque egalement le
100e anniversaire du genocide armenien dans deux ans. ” il est temps
que Washington reconnaisse officiellement le genocide des Armeniens ”
conclut le texte. Par ailleurs ce dernier rappelle que l’Uruguay l’a
reconnu en 1965, suivi par la Russie, la France, l’Italie, l’Allemagne,
les Pays Bas, la Belgique, la Pologne, la Lituanie, la Slovaquie, la
Suède, la Suisse, la Grèce, Chypre, le Liban, le Canada, le Venezuela,
l’Argentine, le Vatican et 42 Etats americains.

Ci-dessous l’adresse pour signer la petition :
… n/snYpjCy4

Krikor Amirzayan

mercredi 6 mars 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

COMMUNITY CENTER TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA’S BAVRA VILLAGE

March 6, 2013 – 18:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hayastan All Armenian Fund has initiated construction
of a community center in Bavra village of Shirak province. The
construction is financed by Argentina-based philanthropist Nshan
Devejian.

The two-story building will house the village administration, hall
for celebrations, a library and a computer room.

The village located on border with Georgia has a population of 570
residents. It’s noteworthy that the funds raised during 2012 telethon
are mainly aimed at the construction of community centers.

DOLPH-INISHED: CONTROVERSIAL AQUATIC ENTERTAINMENT CENTER BEING DISMANTLED

NEWS | 06.03.13 | 16:11

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

A dolphin tank in Yerevan that once became a point of contention
between authorities and local environmental and animal rights groups
is being quietly dismantled in the Armenian capital – just two years
after being constructed.

The only such entertainment facility in the Armenian capital that was
constructed and put into operation in 2010 stopped operating last
month.

An ArmeniaNow reporter on Wednesday witnessed builders dismantling the
roof of the tank situated near the City Pantheon in Yerevan’s southern
Shengavit district.

The facility built within just two months at the end of 2010 belongs
to the Ukrainian Nerum company, which owns a number of other similar
facilities in Russia and at home, in Ukraine.

Nemo Dolphinarium director Lilit Sahakyan told ArmeniaNow that the
term of their operation had expired. Therefore, she said, they stopped
their work and the building now has to be dismantled.

“The last performance at the dolphinarium was given on February 9,
after which all the animals were moved to Ukraine, as the term of the
facility’s operation was not extended,” said Sahakyan.

The construction and operation of the dolphin tank, where besides four
dolphins there were also one sea lion and two seals, caused protests
among environmentalists and animal rights champions at the early stage
(they insisted that the animals would not survive in the landlocked
country in secluded conditions, besides they claimed that such a
facility next to the City Pantheon was a sacrilege), but within a
short period of time it became a favorite attraction for many Yerevan
residents and guests of the capital.

The facility suspended its work last April, as the animals were then
taken for performances in Russia. It resumed operation in October,
only to close again last month.

The dolphinarium that offered not only an opportunity to watch shows
with sea animals, but also to swim and dive with dolphins and so on,
could accommodate up to 900 spectators at a time, with tickets priced
$8 to $12. It also provided about 30 jobs and indirectly helped some
catering businesses situated around it.

The city authorities have not disclosed their plans for the area yet.

PIRATED PRODUCTS REPRESENT SERIOUS THREAT TO COMPETITIVENESS OF ARMENIAN MARKET: SCPEC

YEREVAN, March 6. / ARKA /. Pirated products represent a serious threat
to the competitiveness of the Armenian market, Ashot Iskandaryan, a
member of the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition
(SCPEC), told a news conference today.

“Bona fide companies which sell PCs are forced to include in the cost
of products also the cost of licensed software, while unscrupulous
economic entities using pirated software can sell their goods at a
low price, which creates unequal competitive conditions. This distorts
the market,”-Iskandaryan said Wednesday

as part of Microsoft’s Play It Safe campaign, a global initiative to
bring awareness to issues related to software piracy.

According to him, the same principle is used in public procurements,
where organizations using pirated software get an advantage over
other bidders because they can supply goods at low prices.

Play It Safe is a traditional annual event of Microsoft, designed for
representatives of businesses and consumers, which aims to warn about
the many risks and dangers inherent in the use of pirated software.

It also aims at improving the understanding of the benefits of using
legal software, and at the establishment of universal respect for
intellectual property. -0-

ARMENIA’S AUTHORITIES DECEIVERS IN ANY CASE – OPPOSITION REP

TERT.AM
15:12 ~U 06.03.13

Larisa Alaverdyan, Chairwoman of the Foundation against Violation
of Law, believes Armenia’s authorities are primarily responsible for
election frauds and must make concessions.

On the other hand, being ready for more transparent negotiations is
a challenge for Armenia’s opposition.

“Let us hope that Raffi Hovannisian and the forces round him will
choose this way. This way is clear. It requires consent by the
healthy forces within the Republican Party of Armenia. In any case,
it is the authorities that will prove deceivers,” she said.

With respect to Raffi Hovannisian not specifying the ways, Ms
Alaverdyan said: “But have the political forces claiming uncertainty
suggested a way or advised anything?”

“Uncertainty has its strong points,” she added.

She commended the people consistently complaining about election
frauds. No one has doubts that the Feb.18 presidential election was
rigged as well.

“They have calmed down after the horrible action in 2008 and thought
the people will not be able to rise. Of importance is who the people
voted against rather than who they voted for,” Ms Alaverdyan said.

Her message is mainly intended for Armenia’s authorities. She stressed
the priority of solving the “March 1 murder crimes.”

MAROUKHIAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS STUDY ON ARMENIA MONOPOLIES

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

Conference focuses on effects of monopolies in Armenia

YEREVAN-The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, with the financial support
of the Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung of Germany last month presented
its research on monopolies and its effects on the domestic market
of Armenia to over seventy economists, scholars, researchers, and
representatives of relevant state bodies in Yerevan.

In 2012, the HMF had invited a working group of experts to undertake
this groundbreaking study, which included Ara Nranyan, former Member
of Parliament and economist; Hayk Hovhanissyan, economist and Arsen
Petrosyan, economist.

Prior to the presentation of the study, “Monopolies in Armenia,”
welcoming remarks were made by the Director of the Hrayr
Maroukhian Foundation, Maria Titizian, Regional Director of the
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Michael Weichart and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Bureau member, David Lokyan.

The event was moderated by Artsvik Minasyan, current National Assembly
member of the Republic of Armenia.

Following opening remarks, the HMF Working Group presented its findings
that included a theoretical and practical analysis of monopolies
in a global context, the current state of markets in Armenia,
international best practices implemented to regulate monopolies, the
effect of domestic monopolies on the Armenian economy, they analyzed
the activities of the Republic of Armenia’s State Commission for
the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) and made specific
recommendations for the implementation of a model for tighter
regulation of monopolies in the country. The overriding premise of the
study strived to illustrate that to ensure a competitive atmosphere
in the country’s domestic market, something which is essential for
economic growth Armenia must demonstrate the political will to ensure
regulation and compliance for the management of monopolies.

A question and answer session followed the presentation.

Click to read the full electronic version of the study in English.

KAREN HAROUTYUNYAN: “WE WILL CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT RAFFI DOES”
Grisha Balasanyan

14:39, March 6, 2013

Karen Haroutyunyan is one of the activists who interrupted a press
conference of the OSCE/ODIHR election monitors in the Armenia Marriott
Hotel on February 19.

Karen and his friends are still participating in post-election protest
actions in Armenia.

“We knew that the election would be rigged from the start. None of us
accept the election results and the fake president. That’s why we’ve
declared a series of civil disobedience actions. We shall cooperate
with all those fighting in the name of the public interest, democracy
and in defense of the constitution,” Karen told Hetq.

Karen said he placed no hope in Armenia’s Constitutional Court which
must review the petitions of Raffi Hovannisian and Andreas Ghoukasyan
to get the vote annulled.

“The Court isn’t an independent body. It’s part of the chain of
electoral fraud machine, like the Central Electoral Commission. It
doesn’t serve its official function. The Court’s mission is simply to
verify the fraudulent election and that is exactly what it will do if
there isn’t a public reaction. The public will definitely call all the
judges on the Court to account for their crimes against the people,”
Karen said.

He said that Raffi Hovannisian had assumed a heavy burden of
responsibility and that the people would not forgive him if he backed
down in the fight for democracy.

“A situation has been created where many citizens have understood
that they should no longer look for saviours but take responsibility
themselves. They are ready to continue the struggle regardless of
what Raffi does. That’s what I have pledged to do,” Karen said.

TIGRAN KARAPETYAN: “RAFFI HOVANNISIAN IS GOVERNMENT’S OFFICIAL.”

2013-03-06 12:41:34

Presidential candidate Raffi Hovhannisyan, who took the second place
in the presidential elections, continues his “Hello” revolution. The
latter is having rallies both in Yerevan and regions of Armenia.

Lurer.com spoke with the leader of “People’s Party” Tigran Karapetyan
and tried to check from him, whether the rallies are capable of
changing something in Armenia.

According to Karapetyan, goals of rallies should be clean.

“You know that it is impossible to change the situation, you call
people, but there is no result, people become disappointed. That
was the reason why we left and did not participate in any matter,
there is no result, it is a complete fake, we remember, how Levon
Ter-Petrosyan was shouting. He destroyed the opposition and now there
is no opposition.

The same case is also with Raffi Hovannisian. Power praised him saying
that he had come with the new methods, and now whom praises the power?

He is an official of Government, he has worked with them, he was the
Minister of Foreign Affairs. I do not want to be engaged in all this,
I left politics,” Karapetyan said.

ARMENIA REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, INCREASED COMPETITION AND IMPROVED PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: EBRD REPORT

YEREVAN, March 7. /ARKA/. As a landlocked country with limited access
to neighbouring markets, Armenia requires significant reforms of its
business environment, increased competition and improved physical
infrastructure, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
said it its Transition report 2012.

“The country’s relatively monopolised economy remains overly dependent
on low value added commodity exports, which makes it vulnerable to
negative shocks suffered by its trading partners,” the report states.

Economic prospects are doomed by the uncertain situation in the world,
according to the report. In order to confirm economic growth rates at
nearly 4% in 2012 and 2013 it will be necessary to increase monetary
transfers and demands from international partners, particularly
Russia. It is also important to have prices of main raw commodities
export quite high.

The experts highlighted in the document that economic rally rates
boosted after the crisis and the main growth catalysts remain mining
and processing industry sectors.

Agricultural sector also rallied from the sharp economic slowdown in
2010 due to more favorable weather conditions and increasing monetary
transfers. Construction growth rates also accelerated after the crisis
of 2009.

According to the report, the government continues fulfilling measures
on budget consolidation to maintain the state debt at the acceptable
level within IMF program.

Lending growth was significant and reflected some low level of
financial mediation. Imbalances dropped however negative deficit on
the current balance remains high at nearly 11% of GDP.

As main priorities for 2012 the experts highlight the importance of
improving the business environment, boost domestic and foreign trade
through modernization of transport and communication infrastructure
which will foster the development of export-oriented sectors of
economy.

The EBRD also recommended to the government to go on with the efforts
to advance the local capital markets.

“The ambitious de-dollarisation agenda should be supported by a
consistent shift of the monetary policy framework from de facto peg
to inflation targeting. The upcoming pension reform should serve as
a strategic opportunity to develop domestic markets for government
securities, bank deposits and equities through an active institutional
investor base providing steady demand for long-term investments,”
the report stated.-0-

LA REVUE HISTOIRE DU CHRISTIANISME CONSACRE UN DOSSIER SUR ” FEMMES ET ENFANTS ARMENIENS, LES RESCAPES DU GENOCIDE ”

En vente ce jour, mercredi 6 mars, en kiosque (marchands de journaux,
Relais H) la revue ” Histoire du christianisme magazine ” n° 65
(mars-avril, 7,90 euros) consacre un dossier inedit sur les femmes
et les orphelins rescapes du genocide armenien. A lire.

Voir lier sur Facebook : Histoire du Christianisme magazine

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 7 mars 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com