Author: Garnik Tadevosian

On February 15, the first round of the EU-Armenia negotiations on trade and investment issues was launched within the process of forming a new legal basis for relations between the Republic of Armenia and European Union, the Armenin Ministry of Economy informs.
The negotiations were attended by the Armenian delegation headed by the First Deputy Minister of Economy of RA Garegin Melkonyan. The delegation comprises representatives of Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Central Bank, as well as other organizations.

The European delegation was led by Petros Sourmelis, head of unit, Russia, CIS, Ukraine, Western Balkan, EFTA, EEA, Turkey and Central Asia, the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE).

The negotiations are held around the fields and directions previously clarified with the European side, in particular trade of goods and services, trade protection measures, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property rights, competition, public procurement, sustainable development, transparency, current payments and movement of capital, investment cooperation and protection, dispute settlements, etc.

Generally, the first round of negotiations is quite comprehensive and extensive. Besides the plenary session of negotiations, more than 12 meetings of the negotiating subgroups are being scheduled. During those meetings the draft texts of the corresponding directions will be discussed.

Further negotiating processes, rounds, timetable/ schedule, as well as some sectoral issues of future cooperation will also be discussed.

Armenian midfielder Aras Ozbiliz will leave Spartak Moscow. The team’s head coach Dmitry Alenichev says “the footballer has lost the motivation to play for Spartak.”

“Ozbiliz has had little match practice. It was hard for him to get in shape after the injury. We decided that it would be better for him to change the team to have greater motivation to play,” Alenichev said.

Ozbiliz moved to Spartak Moscow from Kuban Krasnodar in 2013. He scored four goals in 38 matches for the red-whites. The player’s contract with Spartak runs until June 2018.

HayPost, the national postal operator of the Republic of Armenia, and Ria Money Transfer (“Ria”), the third largest money transfer company in the world, have announced a partnership to provide inbound and outbound money transfer services throughout Armenia.

The new agreement will allow HayPost customers to receive cash remittances in euro (EUR) and US dollars (USD) at any of HayPost’s 600+ onlinepost offices in Armenia. In addition to providing a secure and economical service, Ria’s rapid transfer system enables HayPost customers to receive transfers from family and friends abroad within minutes. HayPost customers can also send money through Ria’s global network which spans 147 countries and 287,000 locations.

HayPost has made strategic moves in the United States recently, where on July 21, 2015 the company opened its first international branch in Glendale, California. As well as providing courier and shipping services, HayPost recently launched “ShopInAmerica” which grants Armenian residents open and easy access to goods from the US market.

The new location, which serves as a bridge between Armenia and the USA, now also offers HayPost’s US-based customers the ability to send cash to their loved ones in Armenia using Ria Money Transfer. Customers can also send money online at with payout at any authorised HayPost post office in Armenia.

General Director of “HayPost Trust Management” BV Juan Pablo Gechidjian said, “The cooperation between HayPost and Ria Money Transfer is a great opportunity, enabling customers to send and receive cash remittances to and from different parts of the world. One of our missions is to provide quality, fast and affordable services to our customers. We are confident that our partnership with Ria Money Transfer fits within this mission and are hopeful our work together will yield tangible results in the near future.”

Ria’s President and CEO, Juan Bianchi added, “The launch of our new money transfer service with HayPost is especially timely given their recent expansion to the United States and we’re delighted to partner with Armenia’s National Postal Operator. Part of Ria’s global vision is to provide greater access to affordable remittances worldwide and post offices are an excellent channel to facilitate these flows. HayPost also has many strategically located branches in remote locations and we’re looking forward to better serving Armenians living abroad by giving them a secure and affordable alternative for sending money home to their families.”

In 2014, the World Bank estimated that Armenia received $2.2 billion in remittances and that remittances accounted for 21% of the country’s GDP in 2013. This data places Armenia in the top 10 countries most dependent on remittances globally.

THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, January 6, 2016

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

Dear Pious Faithful,

The Good News of Christmas has led us to our churches, so that with joy and spiritual awe we bow in front of the manger of baby Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Christ was born in the manger in Bethlehem, and through coming of the Savior to the world, the journey of return, reconciliation with God and of salvation, was initiated for those who fell away from Him because of sin. With the mystery of the incarnation of His Son, God turned mankind into heirs of the heavenly kingdom and through Him showed the path of being worthy of such glory in accord with the song of praises of the angels: “and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The incarnate Son of God with His saving mission changed the course of history by calling upon mankind to establish their life on the principle of love and peace. Christ is granting humanity the greatest gift of the world, His peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John14:27), says the Lord.

The most significant contemporary challenge responding to Christ’s call and invitation to a life of peace is the disruption of peace in the life of individuals, communities and governments. Humanity entered the 21st century with great unrest. Conflicts, clash of geopolitical interests, crises and humanitarian disasters continue to disrupt the world, sowing intolerance and mistrust and spreading devastation, poverty, and suffering. Across societies moral values are distorted. Lies, addiction, murder and vice are commonplace, and the foundations of social and family life are being shaken. The terrorist organizations who preach extremist ideologies in the name of faith spread death and destruction especially in the Middle East, where along with other nations the children of our nation also suffer.

Through these destructive and deadly situations humanity is trying to find a way out, and in the state of uncertainty we hear in our souls the hopeful words of our Savior born in Bethlehem: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” The peace given to us by Christ is not the peace of this world which is uncertain and unstable. Christ’s peace is the peace of souls, which, anchored in the faith in God and in God’s word and commandments, transforms life. It dwells in a righteous heart, in truth, in justice, and it strengthens in the hearts of those who live with the of hope of eternity. Accordingly, the Apostle writes, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7).Truly, life is steady with the peace of a spirit filled with the love of God. Nothing is stable when the feeling of the presence of the Lord is diminished in mankind, and when everything from personal relationships to relations between nations is solely built on personal gains or coercion. Finding the peace of Christ means having love and happiness in families, and having solidarity and prosperity in civil society and countries. The Incarnate Son of God has given strength throughout the centuries to all nations in order to realize the joyous message of reconciliation with God and good will toward men. He gives us the strength to accept the heavenly saving grace which lives within us when we are joined to establishing peace, justice and to provide support and comfort.  “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:18).

Dear pious children, in our national life as well it is an imperative to uphold the command of peace. For years our country has found itself blockaded between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The latter is committing provocations at our borders in order to trample the rights of the people of Artsakh to live freely. We believe that through initiation of peace and through strengthening of our faith in Christ, our people will turn their peaceful spirit into a stronghold against the aggression of the enemy, an indestructible shield against the encroachment of the borders of our homeland by heroically protecting our country and sacred values, and by a solid and united spirit, investing its efforts to overcome difficulties, to build our country, and our lives and communities around the world. Beloved, Christ is our might! Let us follow the messages of our Lord without doubt. According to the inspiring words of our Savior, let our hearts not be troubled or afraid. Let us not only take refuge in our weak human strength, but let us take refuge unto the blessing of God which can make the impossible possible for us. Let our guide be the spirit of service, love and devotion and our deeds born of the same spirit are a necessity to fulfill our visions of national awakening and the luminous future.

On this holy day of the birth of our Savior, let us send prayers together to heaven from our spirits, filled with joy, so that Christ our Lord may empower the souls of people with heavenly grace, faith, hope and love, in order to build a safe, peaceful and prosperous world.  May the Lord also keep our nation and people in peace, bless our lives in this world and lead us into the everlasting light.

We say once more, as an exhortation, the perpetual prayer of the Holy Church of Christ: Peace be unto all!

With the marvelous good news of the Holy Nativity we greet the incumbents of the hierarchical sees our Apostolic Church Sees; His Holiness, Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; the Armenian Patriarch of Jersualem, Archbishop Nurhan Manoogian; the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian; and to all the oath-bound clergy of our Church. We convey our greetings to the heads of our Sister Churches. With Pontifical blessings we greet the President of Armenia, Serj Sarkissian and the first lady present here today for the Divine Liturgy. We extend our greetings to President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh; Armenia’s state officials, and the representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. We bring our pontifical blessing to our entire nation by greeting you with a spirit of joy.

Christ is born and revealed,

Blessed is the revelation of Christ.

The artillery of the Syrian Army shelled a convoy of ISIS oil tankers near the ancient city of Palmyra and destroyed most of the motorcade.

Armen Amiryan, Executive Director of the Public Radio of Armenia, has submitted his resignation. He revealed the news in a Facebook post. In an address to the staff of Public Radio of Armenia, Mr. Amiryan wrote:

“Dear employees of the Public Radio  of Armenia,

We have passed a long way since 1997. We have had a number of achievements, received awards, and earned the warm and thankful appraisal of the audience. We have lived through inspiration and despair.

For over 19 years we have lived like a family, have supported each other at moments of difficulty and have rejoiced together for the achievements of our children, relatives and families.

Dear colleagues, I’ve submitted my resignation and will apply for a vacant position of the member of the Council of Public Television and Radio Company.

I hope our work will not end here, but will continue in a slightly different format.

I’d like to thank everyone at a meeting, but considering that I’m too emotional, let me write all I have not managed to tell you.

Thank you for investing all your high professional qualities and skills in the programs of the Public Radio of Armenia.

Thank you for your kindness and appreciation, for your honest, unbiased and devoted attitude towards the listeners.

I’m confident you’ll continue to provide unbiased information to the listeners of the Public Radio, will open the doors of the rich cultural treasury, will guide the younger generation on the path of realization of their goals and wishes, will continue to seed kindness, beauty and patriotism in the hearts and souls of our people.

Thank you,
Always yours,
Armen Amiryan”

Sputnik/ Mihail Mokrushin

A S-400 missile defense system has been deployed in Syria on Thursday, Sputnik News reports.

The S-400 Triumf next generation surface-to-air missile systems has been deployed to the Hmeymim airbase in Syria where the Russian Aerospace Forces group is stationed.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the deployment of the S-400 systems on Wednesday, a day after Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber, which was taking part in Russia’s anti-terror campaign in Syria.

The S-400, an upgrade of the S-300 Growler family, is a new-generation anti-aircraft defense system operated solely by the Russian military. The S-400 ensures air defense using long- and medium-range missiles that can hit aerial targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometers (almost 250 miles).

French PM Manuel Valls has warned that France could face chemical or biological attack from terror groups, as MPs debate extending the state of emergency after the Paris attacks, the BBC reports.

Belgian police are meanwhile raiding six properties in and around Brussels, linked to suspected Paris attackers Bilal Hadfi and Salah Abdeslam.

It remains unclear whether the suspected organiser of the attacks was killed in Wednesday’s raid in Paris.

Friday’s attacks killed 129 people.

Most of the Belgian raids are targeting properties in Jette and Molenbeek connected to Bilal Hadfi, a Frenchman living in Belgium who was one of the seven suicide attackers who died in the attacks in Paris, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reports.

A further raid, in Laeken, is also linked to the Paris attacks.

Mr Valls is addressing the French parliament ahead of a vote to extend the state of emergency by three months.