Category: 2017

Indian Oil and gas news
June 21, 2017


Alexey Miller and Serzh Sargsyan express appreciation for robust use
of natural gas in Armenia

New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun. 21 -- Yerevan on 16 June 2017, hosted working meetings
of Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian Prime Minister Karen
Karapetyan.


The meetings addressed the development of Armenia's gas industry.
Specifically, the meeting participants noted a high level of gas
penetration in the country, amounting to 96 per cent. They also
expressed their appreciation for a robust use of natural gas in
different economic sectors, including transportation. At present,
around 80 per cent of vehicles in the country run on natural gas.
Russian gas exports to Armenia stand at some 1.9 billion cubic metres
per year. Armenia's gas consumption is growing this year, with gas
supplies from Russia already exceeding 1 billion cubic metres over the
first five and a half months of 2017 (+35 per cent compared to 2016).

The meeting also touched upon the issues regarding Armenia's gas
supply network development and gas grid expansion, focusing, inter
alia, on the General Scheme prepared by Gazprom. The parties discussed
the prospects for the construction of a new compressor station at the
Abovyanskoye underground gas storage facility and gas trunklines
inside the country, as well as for the overhaul of Armenia's existing
gas transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Background

Gazprom Armenia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, is focused on
natural gas supplies to the Armenian market. In addition, the company
transports, stores, distributes and sells natural gas, as well as
upgrades and expands the gas transmission system and underground gas
storage facilities in the Republic of Armenia.

In 2013, Gazprom and Gazprom Armenia signed the contract for up to 2.5
billion cubic meters of Russian gas to be supplied annually to Armenia
in 2014-2018. On April 7, 2016, an addendum to the contract was
signed. Gas is delivered to the Armenian border by Gazprom Export.

The General Scheme of Gas Supply to and Gasification of the Armenian
Republic provides for large-scale overhaul, upgrade and modernisation
of the country's gas transmission infrastructure and underground gas
storage capacities.

Premium Official News
June 21, 2017 Wednesday


UNIDO project in Armenia helps train hundreds of young entrepreneurs,
create over 100 new jobs



Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization has issued
the following news release:

A total of 117 jobs have been created in Armenia and some 400 young
entrepreneurs trained – of which nearly half were women – under a
project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) and funded by Austria.


In addition, 85 loans were disbursed for a total of Euro 535,338, and
guarantees issued for a total of Euro 560,500. These are just some of
the results of the project, which was launched in 2013. Today it
received a final review and was highly commended during the closing
Project Steering Committee meeting in Yerevan.

Present at the meeting, Tigran Khachatryan, Deputy Minister of
Economic Development and Investment of the Republic of Armenia,
stressed the importance of the project for promoting inclusive and
sustainable industrial development. He pointed to the need to provide
further technical assistance to businesses that were funded under the
project to ensure their sustainability and expansion.

Thanking the Government of Austria and UNIDO for initiating and
successfully implementing the project, Khachatryan suggested that all
parties involved discuss the possibility of having a continuation of
the project.

“Unemployment and lack of state support for young people in the
implementation of new business ideas are the main problems that youth
in general face today in Armenia,” said Karen Ghazaryan, an Armenian
paper napkin producer. “That’s why the UNIDO Youth project has such
importance, especially in the peripheral regions of Armenia.”
“Young entrepreneurs often have smart business ideas but no access to
funding.” said Monica Carco who managed the project on behalf of
UNIDO. “This project gave tools to young entrepreneurs in Armenia so
they can find a way forward and contribute to their country’s
Armenia’s economic growth.”

The beneficiaries of the project came from four provinces in Armenia,
namely Gegharkunik, Lori, Shirak, and Tavush. They engaged in
different spheres of industrial production, including furniture,
shoes, pastry, women’s wear, and agro food, as well as in the
production of souvenirs, tiles and construction blocks. Some of the
entrepreneurs also worked in the field of dental services, fast food,
coffee store businesses, beauty and wedding salons, or specialized in
car maintenance or in the IT sphere.

“UNIDO’s youth project was a huge support to us. The access to funding
in combination with the constant assistance from the UNIDO team and
the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center of
Armenia gave us the opportunity to fund our start-up,” said Luiza
Nalbandyan, an Armenian peanut producer. “With the help of UNIDO we
were able to build a recognizable brand which was very helpful in
expanding sales. To boost exports and knowledge about our products, we
regularly participate in the exhibitions and fairs where our product
is presented to potential buyers.”

The Armenian Youth Revolving Fund was established as part of the
project to continue helping young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into
profitable businesses by offering them affordable loans. The project
also focused on the tourism and hospitality sector, including Bed and
Breakfast businesses, which was of particular importance to the
Government of Armenia,

“Overall, the project has helped promote inclusive and sustainable
industrial development in Armenia through funding, coaching and
sharing of technical expertise in marketing and sales. We managed to
teach young entrepreneurs to use the right combination of financial
and non-financial services, and as a result build sustainable
businesses and create jobs,” Carco added.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
June 21, 2017 Wednesday


Syria, Armenia discuss enhancing bilateral relations



Damascus, SANA- Speaker of the People's Assembly Hadiyeh Abbas
affirmed on Wednesday the importance of strengthening the historical
relations between the two peoples in Syria and Armenia and the need to
promote them at all levels to serve the interest of the two friendly
countries.

During a meeting with Armenia's Ambassador to Syria Arshak Poladian,
Speaker Abbas said that Syria appreciates greatly the Armenian support
for Syria in the face of the terrorist war imposed on it, pointing out
to the importance of the role of members of the Syrian-Armenian
Friendship Association at the People's Assembly in strengthening
bilateral relations and activating communication between the two
sides.

For his part, Ambassador Poladian said that Syria is a real home for
the Armenians in which they lived a golden historical stage and
integrated in the Syrian society, adding that start of running flights
between Damascus and Yerevan will enhance communication between the
two countries.

He pointed out that his country will participate in the upcoming
Damascus International Fair and that the Armenian-Syrian Friendship
Association will soon be formed in Armenia.

In turn, the head of Syrian-Armenian Friendship Association at the
People's Assembly Nour Arisan said that the meeting came to discuss
matters of mutual interest to both countries, especially in the field
of activating parliamentary relations after the establishment of the
Association two months ago.

Manar/Hazem Sabbagh

State Department Documents and Publications
June 21, 2017


Recent Violence and Casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 21, 2017

________________________________

The United States is deeply concerned over the recent violations of
the ceasefire, which have resulted in multiple casualties on the Line
of Contact over the last week. We urge the sides to avoid escalation
and encourage immediate consideration of measures to reduce tensions
along the Line of Contact and the international border between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

In their statement released June 19, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
called upon the parties to re-engage in negotiations on substance, in
good faith, and with political will. The Co-Chairs further underscored
that such negotiations are the only way to bring a lasting peace to
the people of the region, who expect and deserve progress toward
settlement of the conflict.

The United States continues to engage intensely with the sides. Our
longstanding policy, shared by the Minsk Group co-chairs, is that a
just settlement must be based on international law, which includes the
Helsinki Final Act, in particular the principles of non-use of force,
territorial integrity, and self-determination.

Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.westernprelacy.org


PONTIFICAL THANKSGIVING PRAYERS ON THE 22ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION AND
CONSECRATION OF HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I

        On Sunday, June 25, 2017, the 22nd anniversary of the election and
consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia will be celebrated with Pontifical Thanksgiving Prayers in Holy See
of Cilicia Prelacies worldwide, including within Western Prelacy Churches.
        We invite our faithful to join us in praying for long life and
pontificate for our beloved Pontiff.

*** 


PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR CHURCH
IN SAN FRANCISCO

- VERY REV. FR. BAROUYR SHERNEZIAN TO RECEIVE PECTORAL CROSS

        On Sunday, June 25, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will preside over Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
San Francisco, during which he will conduct Pontifical Thanksgiving Prayer
service and deliver the sermon. 
        During the service, the Prelate will present Parish Pastor, Very
Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I conferring the privilege of wearing a pectoral cross, as
well as the cross itself. 

***


COMMUNIQUE

VERY REV. FR. TORKOM DONOYAN APPOINTED VICAR GENERAL OF THE WESTERN PRELACY

        We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, during
the first joint session of the Religious and Executive Councils presided by
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan
was appointed Vicar General of the Western Prelacy.
        The Prelate had previously announced during the 45th Representative
Assembly that he would propose the candidature of Fr. Torkom for the post of
Vicar General at the first joint session. The proposal was unanimously
approved at Tuesday's meeting and has the blessing of His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I.
        The Joint Council wishes Fr. Torkom great successes in his service
and mission, with the confidence that he will contribute valuably to the
advancement of our Prelacy in collaboration with the Prelate and Councils'
members.
        The joint session also reviewed the decisions and proposals of the
Representative Assembly, among them a ten-year plan of action initiated by
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to renew and revitalize our mission, which
will serve as the groundwork for the Religious and Executive Councils'
future endeavors.  

WESTERN PRELACY JOINT COUNCIL
        
***


PRELATE PRESENTS PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL AND PECTORAL CROSS TO VERY REV. FR.
DAJAD ASHEKIAN 

        On Sunday, June 18, 2017, the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin and Father's
Day, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine
Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Holy Trinity Church in Fresno, during
which he presented parish pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Ashekian, the
Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia, granting him the privilege of wearing a pectoral cross, as well
as the cross itself.
        During the service, after the choir sang the hymn "Oorakh Ler," the
Pontifical Encyclical was read by the Prelate and presented to Fr. Dajad
along with the pectoral cross. His Eminence congratulated Fr. Dajad on
receiving the privilege and also on the 5th anniversary of his ordination
into the priesthood, and commended his service to the Armenian Apostolic
Church and to the Fresno parish community in particular. As the day also
marked the 41st anniversary of the Prelate's ordination into the priesthood,
His Eminence spoke about the sacred calling of the priesthood and the mighty
responsibility of clergymen to be good shepherds, leaders, teachers,
counselors, and more. The Prelate commended Fr. Dajad for being faithful in
his calling thus far, wished him continued service with even greater drive
and dedication, and urged the parishioners to contribute to the advancement
of the parish community with their joint service. 
        Given that it was also Father's Day, the Prelate congratulated all
the fathers and highlighted the tremendous role of fathers as providers,
disciplinarians, teachers, role models, and an inspiration for their
children. He urged the fathers to recognize and comprehend their true value
and commit themselves to fulfilling their vast and worthwhile
responsibilities for the development and instruction of their children,
physically and spiritually. 
        Next, the Prelate delivered his sermon, beginning with the Feast of
Holy Etchmiadzin which was observed on that day, and the Feast of St.
Gregory the Illuminator's deliverance from the pit which was observed the
day before. His Eminence gave a background on the feast, which celebrates
the establishment of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin according to the
vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He relayed the familiar story St.
Gregory the Illuminator's vision, following the adoption of Christianity as
the official religion in 301, in which our Lord Jesus Christ descended from
heaven and with the strike of a golden hammer designated the site where the
Mother Cathedral of the Armenian nation was to be built, thus the name
Etchmiadzin, "the descent of the only begotten." The Prelate highlighted St.
Gregory the Illuminator's unyielding faith and absolute trust in God, which
gave him the strength to endure in the pit for thirteen years and granted
him the privilege of seeing our Lord Jesus Christ with His own eyes.
        Finally, His Eminence reflected on the day's Gospel reading from
John 10:22-30, where Jesus emphasizes true discipleship and invites us to
follow Him like sheep to a shepherd. "The Jews in today's reading heard His
words but did not believe, they saw His works but did not comprehend His
message. We too have heard His words and seen His works, through the Bible,
through sermons, through instruction by our church fathers, and more, and
so, we must trust in Him and follow Him as our true and good shepherd with
great conviction, as did St. Gregory the Illuminator and all of our saints
and forefathers," stressed the Prelate. "Our Lord Jesus Christ wants to
provide for us, He wants us to heed His voice, to surrender to Him and allow
Him to give direction to our lives. On this festive day, inspired by day's
feast, readings, and especially by the prime example of our patron saint St.
Gregory the Illuminator, let us renew and reinforce our faith and let God
lead the way," he concluded.
        The service concluded with Cilicia, after which faithful had the
opportunity to congratulate Fr. Dajad. A luncheon on this joyous occasion
followed. 

***


HOMENETMEN 42ND NAVASARTIAN GAMES AND FESTIVAL

        On Thursday, June 29, the 42nd annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games
and Festival will commence at Birmingham High School. This year's honorary
presidents are Mr. and Mrs. Vicken and Nono Apelian, and the Exemplary
Homenetmen member Dr. Shahe Yenikomshian. 
        On Sunday, July 2nd, the Prelate will attend the closing ceremony,
featuring the parade of athletes and scouts and the distribution of
championship trophies, and will deliver his message and blessings to the
Homenetmen family. 
        On Saturday, June 24, the Prelate will attend the Victory Ball at
the Beverly Hilton and deliver the invocation. 

***


WESTERN PRELACY PARTICIPATION IN NORTH AMERICAN YOUTH SEMINAR IN CANADA

        From June 9 - 11, 2017, the seventh annual North American Youth
Seminar was held at Camp Iawah in Kingston, Ontario, under the auspices of
H.E. Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of Canada, and organized by the
Prelacy of Canada's Armenian Religious Education Council. Over one hundred
youth attended, including youth group members of Holy Trinity Church of
Fresno, Menas Arisian and Alina Arakelian.
        The retreat is held each year with the purpose of strengthening the
faith of the youth, to form a spiritual bond with God, meet and make friends
with other Armenians, and enjoy a weekend of fellowship. 
        The seminar officially convened on Friday evening with prayer and
welcoming remarks by Archbishop Tcharian. The next day began with Sunrise
Service and continued with spiritual reflections, lectures, and round table
discussions on various topics led by Very Rev. Fr. Keghard Khusbegian, Very
Rev. Fr. Vartan Tashjian, Rev. Fr. Paul Guirguis, and Deacon Dr. George
Leylegian.
        On Sunday morning, participants attended Divine Liturgy celebrated
by Very Rev. Fr. Vartan Tashjian. Archbishop Tcharian delivered his message
to the youth during the service.
        The weekend also included activities such as hiking, canoeing,
basketball, soccer, picnics, song and dance, and more. 

***

                                        Friday, 

Dissenters Defy Armenian Opposition Party


 . Anush Muradian


Armenia - Zaruhi Postanjian, an opposition mayoral candidate,
campaigns in Yerevan, 8May2017.

Two members of Yerevan's municipal assembly representing a radical
opposition party made clear on Wednesday that they will not resign
their seats after being accused by the party leadership of "treason."

The Yerkir Tsirani party headed by Zaurhi Postanjian, an outspoken
opposition politician, won 5 seats in the 65-member city elected on
May 14. It decided to take up those seats despite accusing the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) of rigging the municipal elections.

Postanjian and two other Yerkir Tsirani councilors clashed with
Yerevan's Republican Mayor Taron Markarian and his allies at a June 16
session of the council. The two other councilors, Hayk Petrosian and
Mnatsakan Parakshiev, kept a low profile during the heated debate.

The party's leadership accused the two men of "treason" and demanded
that they give up their council seats the following day. In a
statement, it charged that Petrosian and Parakshiev "deviated from the
party line, failed to fulfill their obligations, undermined teamwork,
and betrayed the party and the people of Yerevan."

Another Yerkir Tsirani statement released on Friday condemned their
"inactivity" during the June 16 meeting of the council.

The dissenters rejected the accusations at a news conference held
earlier in the day. They said they simply favor a different style of
political activity.


Armenia - Mnatsakan Parakshiev and Hayk Petrosian, members of
Yerevan's municipal council at a news conference, .

"We fight against vicious phenomena such as cynicism, arrogance,
intolerance and complete absence of a sense of realism," said
Petrosian. "It's very important that we ourselves do not become like
that and that we stay open to pluralism and healthy criticism."

"Our primary task should have been the implementation of Yerevan's
[development] program," he added. "But our colleagues sought to add
emotional elements to every issue, something which we believe is not
productive."

"In my view, work in the municipality must not be turned into a
theatrical performance," Parakshiev said for his part, referring to
his colleagues' behavior at the council session.

Accordingly, both men said that they will continue to serve in the
municipal council as independent members. They also said they have no
plans to join another faction or set up their own party.

The ruling HHK holds 46 seats in the council. The remaining 15 seats
are controlled by the mainstream opposition Yelk alliance.

Postanjian lambasted Yelk last week, saying that it was created by the
Armenian authorities to weaken their genuine political
opponents. Davit Khazhakian, the young leader of the Yelk faction in
the Yerevan council, shrugged off the allegation.



Minister Claims Rising Investments In Armenia


 . Nane Sahakian


Armenia - Prime Minister Karen Karapetian (C) and Economic Development
Minister Suren Karayan (R) visit a textile factory in Yerevan, 19
June, 2017.

The Armenian government has already secured more than a third of
around $850 million in investments which it promised to attract into
the domestic economy this year, Minister for Economic Development
Suren Karayan claimed on Friday.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetian repeatedly gave such promises during
campaigning for last April's parliamentary elections. He said the sum
equivalent to over 7 percent of Armenia's Gross Domestic Product will
come from foreign and local private investors as well as the state
budget and foreign loans extended to his government.

Karayan insisted that "approximately 37-40 percent" of the promised
investments are already in progress. But he declined to specify their
sources.

"We can't publicize names, it's a commercial secret," he told
reporters. "I can only specify the sectors where those investments
have been made."

The minister stated earlier that at least 10,000 new jobs will be
created in Armenia, mostly in the manufacturing sector, in the course
of this year.

The government's political opponents and other critics are skeptical
about these pledges.Speaking in the Armenian parliament earlier this
week, Edmon Marukian, a leader of the opposition Yelk alliance,
pointed out that Karapetian has not visited any western European
country since he became prime minister in September.

"What is being done to attract those investments?" Marukian
asked. "Who is supposed to go [to Europe,] meet those people and bring
the investments?"

Karayan dismissed that argument, saying that "many" potential European
investors have visited Armenia in recent months. "Just a few days ago,
French partners were visiting," he said. "They are going to invest in
our light industry and place production orders. And on Monday our
partners from Denmark will arrive."

The Armenian economy was essentially stagnant last year amid a
continuing recession in Russia, Armenia's leading trading
partner. Karapetian's cabinet expects that it will grow by at least
3.2 percent in 2017. The World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund have forecast slightly lower growth rates.



Hovannisian Seeks Opposition Consolidation


 . Astghik Bedevian


Armenia -- Opposition leaders Raffi Hovannisian (C), Vartan Oskanian
(L) and Seyran Ohanian lead a pre-election march in Yerevan,
28Mar2017.

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian will again call on Armenia's
opposition groups to join forces during Sunday's congress of his
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, which is no longer represented in the
national parliament.

A senior Zharangutyun member, Susanna Muradian, said on Friday that
the appeal will be addressed to both "parliamentary and
extraparliamentary" forces opposed to President Serzh
Sarkisian. Hovannisian's party is already negotiating with some of
them, she said.

"Zharangutyun does not expect them to rally around it," Muradian told
RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). "If it turns out as a result
of discussions that it's better to rally around someone else # we will
be ready to rally around someone else who will come up with a better
action plan."

Zharangutyun already teamed up with former Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanian and former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian's Consolidation
party to run in the April 2 parliamentary elections. Their ORO
alliance polled only 2 percent of the vote, falling well short of a 7
percent threshold for having seats in Armenia's new parliament.

The ORO leaders rejected the official vote results as fraudulent but
refrained from staging post-election street protests. But they have
kept a low profile since then.

So far Hovannisian's proposal has not met with a positive response
from other opposition forces, including those that won seats in the
National Assembly.

Earlier this month, Ohanian did not rule out the possibility of ORO's
transformation into a single political party. He also said that the
Armenian opposition must be prepared for "a force majeure situation"
that would require anti-government protests.

Zharangutyun's Muradian similarly said that street protests could be
the only realistic way for the opposition to challenge the
government. "If the so-called constitutional reforms [enacted in 2015]
were supposed to lead to such `elections' then we will have to opt for
other methods and ways of struggle," he said.

In a separate development, Hovannisian met on Friday with the
U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills. "Mills and Hovannisian
discussed a broad array of matters relating to American-Armenian
relations, regional security, and pressing global developments," read
a short statement released by the U.S.-born opposition leader's
office.



Press Review



"The Republicans no longer deny that Serzh Sarkisian will remain at
the helm of power after his presidential term expires in April 2018,"
writes "Zhoghovurd." "They hinted at that during the parliamentary
debates on the government program." The paper speculates that senior
representatives of the ruling HHK thus responded to Prime Minister
Karen Karapetian's latest statement that he is "prepared" to retain
his post next year.

"Aravot" disapproves of the fact that the government formulated its
policies for the next five years. "Five governments may change within
the next five years," argues the paper. "And given that every new
government is not held answerable for what the previous one did or did
not do, we won't know what to demand from whom. For example, the
former government promised to raise the minimum national wage to
65,000 drams ($135) by 2017, which did not happen. The current
government is promising to do the same by 2022. A new government that
may be installed tomorrow will give a different number or won't give
any numbers at all. All this does not contribute to the emergence of
an atmosphere of public trust, to say the least."

"Armenia badly needs this government to succeed because we have
reached the final point of a bad situation," writes "Azg." "There is
no longer room for any deterioration. On top of that, there is an
unfavorable regional environment # We need to get out of this vicious
circle more than ever before: to break up the state of economic gloom,
inject blood into the economy and, by extension, the Armenian state
and statehood. Everyone -- and the government in particular --
realizes this."

"Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that the Russian ruble is again
depreciating due to falling oil prices, threatening to slash the value
of dollar-denominated remittances from Armenian migrant workers in
Russia. "A large part of Armenia's population lives off the
remittances," the paper says.

(Tigran Avetisian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

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