Author: nina hovnanian

LES FEMMES ARMENIENNES DEVRONT ATTENDRE 18 ANS AVANT DE SE MARIER
Gari

armenews.com
vendredi 13 juillet 2012

Le gouvernement armenien a engage une procedure en vue de relever de
17 a 18 ans l’âge legal du marriage pour les femmes, en mettant en
avant des facteurs juridiques, educatifs et de sante. La procedure
a ete engagee le 12 juillet, en vue d’amender le Code armenien de la
famille, selon lequel l’âge minimum legal du mariage pour les hommes
est de 18 ans. Selon le ministre de la Justice Hrayr Tovmasian,
les associations internationales de defense des droits de l’ homme
invoquent l’aspect discriminatoire de ce texte. “Les organisations
internationales ont appele a etablir une parite entre les sexes
devant le mariage”, a fait valoir M. Tovmasian, en presentant un
amendement ad hoc au code familial approuve par le gouvernement du
premier minister Tigrane Sarkissian. “L’experience internationale
a aussi montre que cet âge [pour les femmes] doit etre de 18 ans” ;
a-t-il ajoute. M.Tovmasian a explique que la mesure est aussi rendue
necessaire en raison du recent passage a un cycle educatif de 12
ans en Armenie, ce qui implique que les jeunes Armeniens terminent
generalement l’ecole a l’âge de 18 ans. Les jeunes filles doivent
pouvoir se marier a un âge tel qu’elles pourront aller jusqu’au bout
de leurs etudes. Jusque la, en vertu du système herite de l’epoque
sovietique, avec un cycle scolaire de 10 ans, la grande majorite des
lyceens armeniens terminaient leurs etudes avant leur majorite legale.

M.Tovmasian a aussi invoque des facteurs de sante pour justifier la
mesure qui doit etre soumise au Parlement bientôt. “Nous avons des
rapports du ministère de la sante qui confirment que pour les femmes,
lle mariage et a fortiori la maternite precoces pouvaient generer des
problèmes de sante graves par la suite”, a indique le ministre de la
justice en plaidant le texte devant les autres ministres. Selon les
chiffres du gouvernement, les jeunes filles mineures qui ont choisi de
se marier avant les 18 ans representent 1,5 % des mariages enregistres
dans le pays dans les annees 1990. Mais le phenomène s’est encore
considerablement reduit au cours des dernières annees.

IN SEPT 2012 ARMENIA TO BECOME FULL MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHONIE

arminfo
Saturday, July 14, 17:33

In Sept 2012 Armenia will become a full member of the International
Organization of La Francophonie, Ambassador of France to Armenia
Henri Reynaud said during a reception organized on Saturday on the
occasion of the Bastille Day.

He said that Armenia is quicker than its neighbors in meeting the
commitments stipulated by the EU Association membership program. The
Ambassador said that Armenia is changing every year and expressed
hope that after the presidential election in 2013 the country will
become even more democratic.

Reynaud reminded the audience that a few days ago the Francois
Hollande administration said that they are going to draft a new bill
criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

The Ambassador expressed hope for early opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In conclusion, he said that in the near future Armenia will restore
its status of a regional crossroads and a center of dialogues.

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN FM ENVISAGED ISSUES CONCERNING GEORGIAN ARMENIANS

ARMENPRESS
14 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: The Foreign Affairs Minister of the
Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan had a meeting with his Georgian
counterpart Grigol Vashadze on July 14.

As information and public relations department of the Ministry briefed
Armenpress, the Minister welcoming the high ranking quest stated
with gratitude that the high level contacts held in the atmosphere of
mutual understanding enable the sides to observe the implementation of
the acquired agreements , to exchange views pertain to international
issues, indicating new approaches of bilateral cooperation.

Georgian Foreign Minister in his turn stressed that Armenian-Georgian
relations have been in a very high level during the recent years,
which enable possibly call into life projects of mutual interest and
resolve problems.

At the course of the meeting the Foreign Ministers envisaged the
development of legal field existing amid two states, the issues on
international and energy cooperation as well as Georgian-Armenian
state border.

The issues concerning Georgian Armenians and efforts made to their
solution were in the agenda. The interlocutors also exchanged views
on a number of regional issues.

ARMENIA’S URBAN DEVELOPMENT MINISTER DISCUSSES HOMELESS FAMILIES’ HOUSING IN LORI REGION

NEWS.AM
July 14, 2012 | 14:06

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Urban Development Minister Samvel Tadevosyan on
Friday paid a working visit to the Lori Region.

And in Vanadzor, the session was convened of the commission for the
distribution of houses being built with the state’s assistance. The
discussants examined the documentation packages of close to 95
registered Lori Region families who were left homeless as a result of
the 1988 earthquake, the Ministry’s Information and Public Relations
Department informs.

Prior to the session, however, a working group, led by Minister
Tadevosyan and Lori Governor Arthur Nalbandyan, visited the Region’s
Lernapat and Lernantsk villages, to get familiar with the construction
activities.

“With this [construction] program the state assists, for already
several years, not only in resolving the housing problem of the
homeless families, but also, through it, in lessening the job problem
in rural communities,” Samvel Tadevosyan said during his conversation
with the villagers.

In his turn, Governor Nalbandyan informed that, being inspired by
the idea of taking part in the building of their own homes, this year
the majority of village men did not go to outside work.

RUSSSIA SAYS OSCE PA REPORT ON GEORGIA “UNACCEPTABLE”

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 14, 2012 – 14:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The acceptance of a report on Georgia by the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) demonstrates its reluctance to recognize the new
realities resulting from the increasingly complex situation in the
Caucasus since 2008, preventing the OSCE from furthering peace in
the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, July 14,
according to RIA Novosti.

The resolution “uses worn-out propagandistic cliches about ‘occupied
Georgian territories,'” the Foreign Ministry said.

“The majority of deputies in the Assembly (Parliamentary Assembly of
the OSCE) once again don’t wish to objectively accept the realities
of the situation today in the Caucasus,” the Foreign Ministry said
on its website. “Such an approach, unfortunately, deprives the OSCE
of the ability to make a constructive contribution to boosting peace
and stability in the region,” the Ministry added.

“The Russian delegation firmly opposed this tendentious document,
declaring it absolutely unacceptable,” the Ministry said.

Abkhazia’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the OSCE resolution,
saying it did not take into account new realities and was based
on information presented only by the Georgian side. The call to
reintroduce European Union Mission observers in Abkhazia has no legal
basis and contradicts the text of the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement,
the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry said.

Georgian forces attacked the breakaway region of South Ossetia on
August 8, 2008. Russia sent its forces into the region to protect the
citizens of South Ossetia, many of whom held Russian passports, and
expelled the Georgian forces after a five-day conflict. Russia then
extended formal recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia on August 26, 2008. Georgia then broke off diplomatic relations
with Russia and declared the two regions as occupied territories.

Both regions had been de facto independent since breaking away from
Tbilisi in the early 1990’s after Georgia left the USSR in 1991.

The EU refuses to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia and supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty
of Georgia.

ARMENIAN CHEESE IS NOT COMPETITIVE AT FOREIGN MARKETS

arminfo
Friday, July 13, 19:07

Armenian cheese is not competitive at foreign markets, director of the
consulting fund “Hay Consult” Gagik Makaryan told journalists today.

He also added that the Armenian cheese cannot enter European markets
because it does not have international certification. It is not in
demand at the Russian market either because of its low quality. “The
Armenian cheese is watery, whereas dry cheese is in demand. Let the
Armenian cheese under the sun and you will see how it changes”, –
Makaryan said and added that transporting of cheese is very much
expensive.

To recall, in September 2010 the government of Armenia allocated 7,2
mln drams to the Armenian Development Agency to show aid to the CJSC
“Armenian cheese”, the purpose of which was to form the machinery
and marketing programmes which will stimulate export of the Armenian
cheese under the support of the government.

MKHITARYAN HAS GREAT FUTURE IN SHAKHTAR: MIRCEA LUCESCU

ARMENPRESS
14 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: Head coach of “Shakhtar” Donetsk Mircea
Lucescu thinks that midfielder of Armenian national team Henrikh
Mkhitaryan has great future in his team. Armenpress reports calling
the official website of “Shakhtar” that during the interview the
head coach reverberated to the possible new signings. “We won the
championship, the Cup and the Super Cup. We are a young team, so I
believe more in those who have remained here. Everyone is saying that
we will have new signings. I have always thought to prepare another
player in place of the one who may leave. We don’t have problems in
this regard. New players, who join our team, still need a period
of adaptation in order to understand the game. There is no point
in changing the players who still have great future at Shakhtar:
Mkhitaryan, Teixeira, Adriano, Willian, Fernandinho” said Lucescu.

The head coach assured that his team would have more successful
performance this year than last year.

ARMENIAN BUSINESSWOMEN SIGN AGREEMENT WITH TURKISH COLLEAGUES

news.am
July 14, 2012 | 00:04

Armenian businesswomen signed a cooperation agreement with Turkish
colleagues representing Southeastern Businesswomen Association
“DOGUNKAD” (photos).

A group of Armenian businesswomen from “Women’s Forum” NGO arrived
in Turkey’s Diyarbakir to meet with their Turkish colleagues, the
Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reports from Turkey.

The sides signed an agreement as a result of talks held on July 11-13
in trade chamber of Diyarbakir.

The Armenian NGO and Turkish association established contacts in 2011.

Since then both sides got an opportunity to study business environment
in the countries, in particular work of the companies headed by
businesswomen.

“Businesswomen for Armenia-Turkey Cooperation” program funded by
USAID is implemented by Eurasia Partnership.

51% OF FRENCH ONLINE SURVEY RESPONDENTS FAVOR BILL PENALIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S DENIAL

news.am
July 14, 2012 | 04:13

The French public continues discussing the matter as to whether
their country needs a draft law that criminalizes the denial of the
Armenian Genocide.

Newsring website of France continues its online opinion poll, whose
current results are virtually split. From the 16,990 respondents who
have participated so far, 51 percent are in favor of and 49 percent
are against the passing of such bill in France.

To note, French President Francois Hollande recently confirmed
his pledge to adopt this law, when French FM Laurent Fabius’
announcement-that his country might not pass a new bill on
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide’s denial-had caused concern among
the Armenian community.

But the President’s office was careful with respect to this legal
measure, which the Government will use in order to fulfill Holland’s
promise, and it notes that this matter is being studied.

So, the French Presidential Palace did not clarify as to whether or
not the obligation which Hollande assumed will actually become a law,
and stressed that everything will depend on the study results.

ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPRESENTATIVES TOGETHER SING FOR PEACE

ARMENPRESS
14 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Azerbaijani young people
call for an end all the contradictions existing between the two
neighboring countries. As Armenpress reports citing “Golos Russia”
radio channel, Armenian and Azerbaijani young people have jointly
undertaken cultural actions, wrote songs about friendship in different
languages.

” After the latest clashes in Armenian-Azerbaijani border the song
called “Peace” performed by Mher from Armenia, Leyla Mamedova
(Azerbaiajan) and Hayk Ghulyan ( NK) immediately appeared in
Youtube. These young people together call for peace. They ignore the
phenomena of war. The performers sang in Russia, cause it would be
more understandable in the region, yet in the refrain they utilize
native tongue and even English” Golos Russia wrote.

2011 October young musicians, writers, designers, PR specialists,
photographers simultaneously from Armenia, Azerbaijan in Karabakh
decided to unite in order to brisk the dialogue between the sides. ”
The young people established “Together” movement, cultural program,
which is aimed to bring peace to everybody” the radio station notes.