Author: nina hovnanian

The treaty of creating CIS free trade zone will be presented in
Armenian Parliament in September

17:41, 16 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: The treaty between CIS (Commonwealth
of Independent States) member states on creating free trade zone will
be presented in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
during autumn session. Armenpress was informed from head of
information and public relations department of Ministry of Economy
Anahit Khechoyan that the treaty at present is in Constitutional Court
of Armenia and in September will be presented to the ratification of
the Parliament.

President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych on August 9 signed the law of
ratification of the treaty.

Russia and Belarus have also ratified it.

The treaty of creating free trade zone between CIS members was signed
on October 18, 2011 in Saint Petersburg. The treaty signed Armenia,
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Moldova and
Uzbekistan.

Armenia’s agricultural production jumps 8.1% to AMD 203.5 bln in Jan-June

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. The total volume of agricultural
production advanced 8.1% to nearly 203.5 billion drams in January-June
2012 from the same period a year earlier, according to the National
Statistical Service of Armenia.

The total volume of agricultural production and fishing industry in
Armenia increased by 8.5% to over 211.2 billion drams within the
reported period.

Cattle breeding rose by 2.9% to nearly 23 billion drams in June 2012
from a year earlier, crop cultivating- by 40.5% to around 30.4 billion
drams, fishing industry- by 15.2% to over 0.5 billion drams.

Sales of cattle and small livestock meat as well as poultry (live
weight) climbed 3.6% to 4,600 tons in Jan-June 2012 from the same
period in 2011. Of them Gegharkunik and Armavir regions sold 700 tons
each, and Yerevan- 200 tons.

Milk production increased by 3.7% to 74.7 thousand tons within the
reported period. Gegharkunik reported the highest milk production
(14.3 thousand tons).

At the same time, egg production upped by 1.3% to 90 million eggs
within the first six months compared to Jan-June 2011. Kotayk region
produced the highest number of eggs- 12.6 million eggs (growth by
0.3%).

The volume of fishing and fishing farming in Armenia increased by
15.2% to 330.8 tons (the whole volume was sold) within the reported
period, and slipped by 20.9% in June from May. ($1 – 411.59 drams).
– 0-

Wild animals can be multiplied in Armenia for hunting

news.am
August 16, 2012 | 14:29

YEREVAN. – The wild animals can be multiplied, under confined and
semi-confined conditions, for hunting. This is noted in the draft
changes for Armenia’s Law on the Animal World. To note, this draft is
introduced to the Government by the Ministry of Nature Protection.

The primary conditions for keeping wild animals are introduced in this
draft. And one of the key conditions is not harming their health.

Animals are allowed to be kept in Armenia for reproduction,
commercial, education and scientific purposes, and as food and as feed
for other animals.

In semi-confined conditions, the animals can be kept to be released to
nature, for aesthetic and cultural purposes, to receive animal skin
and other products, and for hunting.

Armenian government asks opposition to improve bill on Pontus Greeks genocide

NEWS.AM
August 16, 2012 | 14:31

YEREVAN.- The Armenian government issued positive opinion regarding
the opposition-proposed bill on genocide of Pontus Greeks.

During today’s government meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot
Hovakimyan said the bill is not drawing line between the definitions
of Pontus Greeks and Greeks of Anatolia, while the Greek parliament
set commemoration days for both.

`Unless the terms are distinguished there would be an impression that
Armenia condemns only the genocide of Pontus Greeks,’ Hovakimyan said.

The bill proposed by MPs from Heritage Party’s parliamentary faction
condemns the genocide of Pontus Greeks committed in the Ottoman Empire
during the World War I and calls it `a severe crime against humanity.’

Gyumri Mayor exhausted all his resources, RPA member says

August 16, 2012 – 15:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Gyumri mayor elections due September 9 won’t affect
Armenian presidential race in February, Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) parliamentary group member said.

Commenting on Prosperous Armenia’s victory in Gyumri at May
parliamentary elections, as well as expected victory of the party’s
candidate Samvel Balasanyan at mayoral race, Khosrov Harutyunyan noted
that even RPA’s defeat in Armenia’s second largest city won’t affect
the final results of the presidential race.

In this context, the MP voiced confidence in RPA leader, President
Serzh Sargsyan’s victory in Gyumri during the presidential race.

Dwelling on current Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan’s activity, Mr.
Harutyunyan said `he has exhausted all his resources.’

Super elite seeds to be imported to Armenia

tert.am
14:08 – 16.08.12

A high quality super elite seeds will be for the first imported to Armenia.

The decision was made at the cabinet sitting today. Minister of
Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan said 20 tons will be imported.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said if till now elite seeds
were imported to Armenia, now super elite will be brought.

Armenian govt. delays conclusion of Pontic genocide bill

August 16, 2012 – 14:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On August 16, Armenian government delayed conclusion
on the bill condemning the Pontic genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan noted that in February 1994,
the Greek parliament passed a decision to declare May 19 as Pontic
genocide remembrance day, with September 14 recognized as Asia Minor
Greeks’ genocide commemoration day in 1998.

`The draft law condemns only Pontic genocide, which may bring about
disagreements. Thus, Armenian government may draw its conclusion
solely after the issue is clarified,’ he said.

Results of Armenian athletes at London Olympics predictable, Heritage rep says

tert.am
22:20 – 15.08.12

The outcome of the 2012 London Olympics for us was predictable, member
of Armenia’s opposition Heritage party Armen Martirosyan, who
currently gives lectures at Yerevan State Physical Culture Institute,
said speaking to Tert.am.

He stressed the necessary work for the improvement of sport in Armenia
has not been carried out for over a decade. `If we want to have a gold
in Olympic games after 8,12 years we must undertake concrete steps
today,’ he said, adding that even eight years are not enough for
having a good athlete.

Armenian athletes won one silver and two bronze medals at the London Olympics.

Martirosyan said though the Armenian athletes performed better at this
Olympics bringing silver, he was expecting a gold medal.

The former MP said sport must be available for country’s citizens. He
said the government should provide subsidies for the so-called
expensive kinds of sport like tennis, swimming. Martirosyan also
claimed that with their salaries the coaches cannot make both ends
meet and leave the country.

Syrian Armenian community is more than united’ react the Syrian Armenians

11:31, 16 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: There are not anti Armenian moods in
Syria and Armenian community now is more than united. The coordinating
body of the community – three primacies, parties and representatives
of the union are near the representatives of the community at this
difficult moment and support them as they can.

Armenpress reports that such declaration spread a group of Syrian
Armenians. The iam of the statement is to give adequate response to
one of Armenian journalists who lately visited Aleppo and after
returning because of unawareness or in order to create provocation
during the press conference told the Syrian Armenians suffer because
of responsible persons of the community who do not let the community
to make their own decisions. `The Minister of Diaspora presents the
moods of the majority of Syrian Armenians as she forms her opinion in
result of everyday phone calls, meetings and consultations’ was said
in the statement.

According to Syrian centre of Human Rights Defense Organization the
ongoing clashes have resulted in the death of over 19000 people. By
the info of Arab mass media more than 12000 were peaceful civilians,
while more than 5000 were security officers. Among the victims there
were 7 Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because
of lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

Hurriyet, Turkey
Aug 16 2012

Can Netanyahu rescue Romney?

Ã`MÄ°T ENGÄ°NSOY

ANKARA – Mitt Romney’s long-awaited vice presidential candidate Paul
Ryan is a representative from Wisconsin. He is vilified by the
Democrats as a `budget hawk,’ prepared to do all evil to the American
people through his financial responsibilities. But at least on paper,
he might be a better pick than Vice President Joe Biden, a former
senator.

Compared to Biden, who is turning 70, Ryan is just 42 years old and is
sure to energize the campaign of the 65-year-old Romney. The latter
committed one of his gaffes announcing Ryan as `the next president of
the United States.’ Doing so, he implied that he would become the
president but then be killed at some point doing his job.

He was quick to correct himself but was ridiculous. Actually, Ryan is
probably not the person to decide whether Romney becomes president.
But there’s another person who can decide the Republican candidate’s
fate, and it’s Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

The two men, Netanyahu and Romney, have been quite close from early
ages, and Romney visited Israel as part of his only tour to Europe and
the region. Barack Obama and Netanyahu are archenemies, with Netanyahu
constantly looking at his watch to see Obama as a one-term president.

On the other side of the U.S. equation, he would possibly do anything
to see Romney as the next U.S. president. The two are very close
ideologically and he knows that Romney would do everything to support
him when he becomes president.

Now consider a worst-case scenario in which Netanyahu badly hits Iran,
his existential enemy, which would force Obama to take sides with
Israel. Obama, himself, has always disliked Netanyahu and the
possibility that he may hit Iran in a unilateral decision. But he
cannot stay away the situation, in the eyes of the U.S. public, and
would in one way or another side with Israel in the face of Iranian
attacks on their best friend in the region.

A hit by Israel is what the Iranians also would love to see: being
struck by its enemy at the worst time in history. The Iranian regime
would not be toppled by this attack, and its nuclear arsenal would
stay intact. They would love to see a situation in which their
American enemies would be involved in a dramatic dilemma over Israel.

Obama, despite his dislike for Netanyahu and his reluctance to stand
by Israel, would definitely stand with Netanyahu. And in this case
Romney would definitely call for a deadly strike on Iran. Consider the
effect of this situation on international effects and the sympathy the
United States has gathered through its stance on the Arabic Spring.

In fact Netanyahu has the power to affect this U.S. election by
striking Iran, shortly before the election. The effect of the strike
on Iran would be unimportant compared to the election results. Romney
would definitely be elected.

The best would be for Netanyahu to stay clear of this kind of a risk
to Israel and the U.S. election. But this is a possibility it can play
in the region. In this way in return for taking a certain risk on
Israel, he would get rid of the president he has hated the most in
recent years and could replace him with someone he and his country
mostly respect.

Let’s hope that this kind of a situation does not take place.

For Turkish-American Republicans one more word: Paul Ryan got the
grades A-, A- and B from the Armenian National Committee of America
for becoming a cosponsor to a number of the latest `Armenian genocide’
resolutions. But he still is not considered one of the most cherished
representatives.
August/16/2012