Business Latest Topics (2024)

Armenpress.am

This was predictable. I haven't flown on a plane mostly from Vienna to Yerevan that was not fully packed. Ryanair is doing a good job and they can become profitable solely by servicing the Armenia diaspora in Europe.

https://news.am/eng/news/552832.httwice-weeklyAR3BHxfVDVpJXCjRrehsGBStvD8aum4bokMGBbL-cDZXl8a2Wf9ouvLV6sk

Ryanair today announced Greece as its newest direct link with Armenia. Two new twice weekly routes from Gyumri to Athens and from Yerevan to Thessaloniki will start in May 2020, as part of Ryanair’s extended Armenia summer 2020 schedule.
Armenian consumers and visitors can now book their summer holidays to Greece as far out as October 2020, flying on the lowest fares and with the greenest/cleanest major airline in Europe, with the lowest CO2 emissions.
To celebrate its new Armenian routes, Ryanair has launched a massive seat sale with fares available from just €29.99, for travel between May and August 2020 which must be booked by Sunday (5 Jan), only on the Ryanair.com website.
“Ryanair is pleased to further develop direct EU links for Armenia with the announcement of brand-new routes from Gyumri to Athens and from Yerevan to Thessaloniki. The Armenian Government Departure Tax exemption for new, environmentally friendly direct routes has more than doubled the number of direct EU routes to Armenia from 6 to 16 in just one year. European tourists and business travellers prefer direct flights with Ryanair, Europe’s greenest airline, rather than high emission connecting flights through the polluting hubs of Germany, France and Holland,” said Ryanair’s David O’Brien.

I wonder if this is the same family (Kebabian) in the movie of Elia Kazan's "America, America" where Mr. Kebabian brings young men from Turkey for his establishment?

Panorama, Armenia

Feb 7 2019

Armenian family-run rug business in U.S. continues legacy of helping refugees

A rug business that's been run by an Armenian family in New Haven, U.S. for 137 years continues to grow and give back to its community.

Kebabian's Oriental Rugs has been woven into the fabric of the Elm City and its business is stretching overseas to help refugees, WFSB reports.

Hundreds of exotic runs are stacked up and hanging from the front windows to the back walls.

“We’re the oldest hand-made rug business in quarters in the United States," said John Kebabian, owner, Kebabian's Oriental Rugs.

The shop can be found on Elm Street underneath a neon sign.

“This is our 137th year," John Kebabian said. "We began in 1882, when my great great uncles came over from Turkey to go to Yale, and they set up shop first in order to sell rugs to finance their education.”

The legacy of the Armenian family that emigrated from Turkey is that they built a foundation and that nothing was given.

“It’s a lot of hard work and dedication, but we don’t inherit it. What we do is inherit the reputation," John Kebabian said.

John Kebabian said he bought the store from his father in 1992 and his son Joshua Kebabian will have to do the same.

“I’m 29 and I just want to steward this business and do this product the best that I can," said Joshua Kebabian

To get these hand-woven rugs, John Kebabian said he travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Joshua Kebabian covers India and Nepal.

“It’s done all by hand and our specialty [is] natural dye stuff so people search us out from actually all over the country," John Kebabian said.

Prices range anywhere from $25 for a small rug to more than $100,000 for high-end ones or antiques. Customers can also find a large rug on clearance for around $400.

Wednesday, more than 800 rugs were delivered to them from Afghanistan. It was the largest shipment in the store's history.

"So many rugs today that are being heavily marketed are machine made and they’re made of plastic," Joshua Kebabian said. “We prefer to use all natural products like the wool and silk.”

Their business helps employ hundreds of people overseas and they have some refugees working in their store as well.

“We work with an organization called IRIS in New Haven," John Kebabian said.

IRIS stands for Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services.

“We have two guys from there, they are phenomenal," said John Kebabian. "They are from Afghanistan.”

They've been growing the business with interior designers, online and with social media.

“Family, history, passion, style, quality hand-made rugs since 1882," Joshua Kebabian said. "I think that just sums up who we are.”

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2019/02/07/Armenian-family-rug-business/2069708

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/927315/first-smart-crossroad-in-yerevan-rules-out-traffic-jams.html

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. The Traffic Police of Armenia continues taking measures to ensure smooth traffic. ARMENPRESS reports an innovation has been put into operation in one of the crossroads of Yerevan. The Traffic Police have installed an ultrasound sensor at the crossroad of Etchmiadzin highway and the road to the airport that calculates the traffic flow and regulate the crossroad, as a result of which congestions are avoided.

Those devices are a novelty not only in Armenia, but also in the region. The ultrasound sensors are produced in Armenia. Its only a few days the sensors are put into operation, but according to the Police Traffic, positive change is already evident.

The ultrasound sensors do not allow congestions on the crossroads. Within a few seconds the device calculates the number of vehicles and changes the colors of the traffic light.

This is the first smart crossroad in Armenia. The Traffic Police rule out any congestion here.

The Traffic Police are studying other crossroads to install the devices. Soon there will be more smart crossroads without congestions.

18:52 03/09/2013 » Topic of the day

Source: Panorama.am

https://www.rferl.org/a/baku-tbilisi-kars-railway-line-officially-launched-azerbaijan-georgia-turkey/28824764.html

3 countries opened this railroad service China to Europe.

YEREVAN—An Armenian-made electric car debuted at the 13^th annual DigiTec tech expo, which opened in Yerevan earlier today. The electric-powered, self-driving car, which was assembled in Armenia by National Instruments, was unveiled at the “Engineering City” pavilion of the three-day exhibition.

An Armenian-made electric car debuted at the 13th annual DigiTec tech expo (Photo: Mediamax)

“The whole world is working on [electric cars] and we should do the same in Armenia,” National Instruments’ Ruben Simonyan told Yerevan-based Itel.am. “We need to increase the number of electric cars and the percentage of self-driving or driver assistance systems. We’re exhibiting the electric car we assembled in Armenia. Essentially, it’s a continuation of our engineering culture. This isn’t a novelty. The first electric car was assembled in Armenia back in 1975. Now we should extend that culture,” said Simonyan.

The car is equipped with several driver-assist devices, such as radars, a camera, and laser equipment. Though the sensors and equipment were not produced in Armenia, National Instruments worked on the design and testing of the entire system.

“To make sure that the car will operate smoothly in different situations, you need to drive millions of kilometers. Producers used to do exactly that and some of them still do,” Simonyan explained. “But that requires too much time and expense, which affects the car’s price. Our testing doesn’t require driving millions of kilometers in specialized areas. We can simulate the same scenario for several times to make sure the system is working fine.”

A team of around 20 engineers and designers worked on designing and testing the car, collaborating with several foreign companies.

DigiTec is the largest technological exhibition of the region and runs Sep. 29-Oct. 1 at the Yerevan Expo Center.

https://armenianweekly.com/2017/09/29/armenian-produced-electric-car-debuts-at-digitec-tech-expo-in-yerevan/

WASHINGTON—United States Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)—the top Congressional expert on international tax law – continues to lead the way toward a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, a major Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) advocacy priority aimed at expanding job-creation and poverty reduction through increased bilateral trade and investment.

http://armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/repsherman_anca-1024x768.jpg

ANCA Western Region Chair Nora Hovsepian Esq. and ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian discussing U.S.-Armenia bilateral trade relations with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).

ANCA leaders from across the United States met recently with Congressman Sherman on Capitol Hill to consult with him about the steps needed to bring about the start of talks toward this bilateral accord, and, more broadly, to share the Armenian American community’s appreciation for his longstanding leadership on U.S.-Armenia economic relations. Rep. Sherman has worked closely with the Department Treasury, the Armenian Government, and other stakeholders on this matter.

“I am encouraged that Congressman Sherman, himself a former tax attorney, has taken the lead with respect to the negotiations needed to conclude a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty,” remarked ANCA Board member Aida Dimejian. “I am also encouraged that our ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian recently met with senior government officials in Yerevan, who are prepared to take the meaningful steps needed to conclude such a mutually-beneficial treaty. Working with relevant officials at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the U.S. Congress, and in Yerevan, the ANCA looks forward to making significant progress on this matter in the coming year,” Dimejian added.

In an opinion article printed last year, the ANCA made the clear case for why a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty is mutually beneficial: “A new tax treaty would represent a great way to give substance to the rhetoric—from both Washington and Yerevan—about improving U.S.-Armenia bilateral relations. This accord would both reflect and reinforce the progress we saw last year [2015] with the signing of a U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. It would, as well, create the conditions for the future growth of the U.S.-Armenia economic relationship, the continued development of bilateral government-to-government ties, and, of course, the strengthening of the enduring bonds of friendship that have long connected the American and Armenian peoples.”

The current treaty governing double taxation issues between the two countries is the 1973 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Tax Treaty, an outdated 40 year-old accord. The lack of a double tax treaty between the United States and Armenia creates legal uncertainty that deters potential U.S. investors, diverts investment flows and disadvantages American businesses seeking to invest in the Republic of Armenia.

Congressman Sherman represents a significant part of California’s San Fernando Valley—home to a large Armenian American community—and has been a friend of the ANCA since his election to Congress in 1996.

Before joining Congress, Sherman was on staff at one of the nations’ big-four CPA firms. Sherman is a Tax Law Specialist and a CPA. While at the firm, he audited large businesses and governmental entities, provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions, advised entrepreneurs and small businesses on tax and investment issues, and helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos. Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.

Shortly after being elected to Congress and being named to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Sherman authored an amendment that sought to direct U.S. aid to the then Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh). While the Sherman amendment failed to pass, it set the stage for later legislative action that led to funds being included for Artsakh in the Fiscal Year 1998 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

http://armenianweekly.com/2017/07/25/tax-law-expert-congressman-sherman-leads-the-way-toward-a-u-s-armenia-double-tax-treaty/

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received a delegation led by Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia who has arrived in Armenia to attend the Georgia Business Days. An agreement to that effect was reached between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia in February, 2017 on the margins of Karen Karapetyan’s official visit to Georgia.

The Head of the Armenian government welcomed the holding of Georgia Business Days in Armenia, which may boost bilateral trade and economic ties and create new opportunities for full realization of the existing potential. The Prime Minister highlighted the implementation of specific programs aimed at promoting economic and business ties within the framework of free economic zones on both bilateral and multilateral platforms, and for the development of cooperation in the fields of information technology, tourism and transport.

In turn, Giorgi Gakharia noted that given the current high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Georgia, efforts need to be made to intensify trade and economic exchanges, and that the Georgian side is fully supportive of the proposal to develop cooperation in those areas indicated by the Prime Minister of Armenia.

In this context, the Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development briefed Prime Minister Karapetyan on the results of today’s discussions with the Armenian Minister of Economic Development and Investments.

Karen Karapetyan and Giorgi Gakharia took the opportunity to stress the need for strengthening bilateral cultural ties, implementing tourism-oriented projects and joint programs aimed at raising awareness of each other among young people.

https://www.armradio.am/en/2017/06/29/armenia-georgia-looking-to-boost-economic-ties/

edward - are you building it in Palm Springs??? - i did not know we hed so many Armenian in Palm Springs.

us for the TUF ther is a place in Hollywood, the name is Holywood Marbul and granit, i remember years a go somone was tealing me that this place has Tuf or somthing like it. find this place it might help you...

Movses

The Armenians of Ottoman Ourfa - Master of Trades

Turkish Airlines’ Three Stooges

Onjig I added the whole article just in case it's deleted from the site. Yervant

Turkish Airlines’ Three Stooges

http://www.keghart.com/sites/default/files/images2/Keghart-Logo-Banner_1.jpg Jirair Tutunjian, Toronto, 28 June 2016

The appointment of actor Ben Affleck as Turkish Airlines’ (THY) most recent carny angered some Armenians. Several years ago similar outrage was expressed when Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant was hired by THY to do the same hustling job. Of course there’s nothing in the background of Affleck or Bryanthttp://www.keghart.com/sites/default/files/images2/Bryant1.jpg to suggest they know anything about airlines or THY. But that’s no handicap for celebrity-spokesmen. All they are expected to do is to bring their star power and unctuous heartiness in front of the camera. Their fame is their currency while faux sincerity comes with the territory.

While in recent years THY has spread its wings far and wide, and boasts an oxygen-sucking annual marketing budget of $1.2 billion, the airline has been scandalously inept in its choice of spokesmen. The celebrities THY has picked have been dubious characters with chequered careers. THY’s decision to pick morally questionable pitchmen is especially bizarre in light of fundamentalist President Erdogan’s edict that THY female flight attendants' uniforms look like modified hijabs. Erdogan the Couturier of Chez Taxim can have his tailoring effusions imposed especially since his authoritarian government owns more than 49% of THY shares.

Let’s take a look at the most recent North American THY spokesmen: actors Kevin Costner and Affleck, and basketball player Kobe Bryant.

KEVIN COSTNER

One of the fast-fading star’s early movies was the p*rnographic “Malibu Hot Summer”. Of the more than 50 movies he has made only three or four have been critically or commercially successful. He has made at least 20 straight-to-video stinkers (“The Daughter”, “Black and White”, “Swing Vote”) in addition to the almost-studio-bankrupting mega-disaster “Waterworld”. That movie’s budget ($175 million in 1995) ballooned many times over but no one could tell the prima donna star to slow the financial profligacy. Eventually it made the list of “Fiscal Times” all-time 12 most momentous flops.

Costner also produced, directed and starred in another genormous flop. “The Postman” cost $80 million to produce and grossed all of $8 million. Critic Gene Siskel called the movie “Dances with Myself” (in http://www.keghart.com/sites/default/files/images2/kevin2.jpgreference of Costner’s “Dances With Wolves”) while the “New York Times” described the movie as “bogus sentimentality” and “mawkish jingoism”.

Costner has two movies listed in “Fiasco—A History of Hollywood’s Iconic Flops” compiled by James Parish. The one-time THY salesman was also picked “Worst Actor” in 1991, 1994, and 1997—an unmatched record. As well, more than once he was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worse Picture. Years after the release of his “Dances with Wolves” it was revealed that the Native American tribe depicted by Costner as angelic, had a habit of massacring its peaceful neighbors.

Costner was accused in 2006 of performing a “disgusting sex act before a hotel masseuse” while actor Stephen Baldwin filed a lawsuit against Costner claiming that the actor had duped him in a business transaction.

A notorious serial womanizer—even when married—Costner was accused by close friend and baseball great Cal Ripken of having an affair with his wife. Costner’s wife divorced him because of his womanizing. Costner has had affairs with Mira Sorvino, Cheryl Tiegs, Courtney Cox, Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell and Marla Maples (one of the Mrs. Trumps) and has fathered an illegitimate son with heiress Bridget Rooney.

KOBE BRYANT

He was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel concierge. He cut a check to silence his accuser.

Bryant feuded with his coach and team mates who eventually nicknamed him The Black Mamba. The mamba is a deadly snake. He also “threw teammate Shaquille O’Neal under the bus,” according to newspapers. In 2011 Bryant’s wife sought divorce because of his frequent affairs but later changed her mind.

BEN AFFLECK

When Affleck and Matt Damon acted/wrote “Good Will Hunting”, the movie’s marketers claimed that the two were novices who had, in a creative burst, written the screenplay. There was no mention that Affleck had been acting since his childhood. To this day rumours persist that the script was written by William Goldman (“All the President’s Men”).

Of the 40 or so movies Affleck has made only a few have been critical and commercial successes. He has made more than a dozen screen-ripping bombs such as “Gigli”, “Paycheck”, “Daredevil”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Armageddon” and “Jersey Girl”. His straight-to-video opus includes “Joseph: King of Dreams”, “Clerks II”, “Extract”… “Gigli” (2003), co-starring his paramour at the time Jennifer Lopez, cost $75.6 million and grossed $7.2 million. It too made the “Fiscal Times” all-time flop list.

Affleck won the 2003 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture and was nominated for the award in 2001 and 2004.

Affleck has been tabloid fodder for years. He was involved with a Vancouver exotic dancer and was photographed partying at a strip tease joint. He has made the rounds at alcohol rehabs. A friend of outrageous Charlie Sheen, Affleck has had affairs with groupies and actresses including erratic Lindsay Lohan.

After his tempestuous engagement to Jennifer Lopez broke up, he married Jennifer Garner. The second marriage ended when he was caught carrying an affair with nanny Christine Ouzounian.

A recent Affleck-directed and -starred movie was “Argo” about American diplomats who hid in the Canadian embassy during the Iranian Revolution. The plot minimized the role of the Canadian diplomats andhttp://www.keghart.com/sites/default/files/images2/affleck1.jpg enhanced the role of the fictional Affleck character. A U.S. intelligence expert said the film’s purpose was to “convince the American people to go along with Israel’s plan to draw America into a war with Iran.”

See Also

DOCUMENT RESUME - ERIC · DOCUMENT RESUME ED Pcs5 468 UD 014 028 AUTHOR Sanday, Peggy R. ... until Cassidy left Carnegie-Mellon in the Spring of 1972 and Sanday left ... Daniel Rosen - [PDF Document]Here Comes a New Challenger!Daily National Intelligencer and Washington Express from Washington, District of ColumbiaCarte postale photo - MÉMORIAL DE L'AÉRODROME DE TEALING • EUR 5,65

Since Turkey’s Prime Ministry Privatization Administration owns 49.2% of THY shares, it means Affleck is working for Turkey—a major human rights violator, main supporter of ISIS, killer of the Kurds, a pariah state, a bellicose neighbour and a state which threatens its long-time guardian Germany.

And now Affleck is Batman chasing Gotham bad guys. Perhaps Erdogan should play the Joker and the pixelated moonbeam Erdogan-appointed prime minister should don the Robin cape.

There you have it: the three shiny gems of THY. But THY is not just another airline. It’s the flag carrier of fundamentalist Turkey. It’s a propaganda arm of Ankara and the most visible Turkish presence in the world, right behind Mad Bad Erdogan and his bon mots.

Who will be the next THY spokesperson?

Rocker Gene Simmons of KISS?

Foul-mouthed Amy Schumer?

p*rno queen Jenna Jameson?

Only Sultan Erdogan of the $600-million Presidential Palace knows for sure.

http://civilnet.am/2015/12/23/impact-hub-yerevan-sara-anjargolian-vahe-keushgerian/#.VnrQ7V7Uicx

Turkish MP: Sarin Materials Brought via Turkey, Mixed in Syrian ISIL Camps

TEHRAN (FNA)- ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Syria received all necessary materials to produce deadly sarin gas via Turkey, Turkish MP Eren Erdem said, insisting there are grounds to believe a cover up has taken place.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) member, Erdem, brought up the issue for public discussion in parliament last week, citing evidence from an abruptly-closed criminal case. He accused Ankara of failing to investigate Turkish supply routes used to provide terrorists with toxic sarin gas ingredients, RT reported.

“There is data in this indictment. Chemical weapon materials are being brought to Turkey and being put together in Syria in camps of ISIL which was known as Iraqi Al-Qaeda during that time," Erdem told RT.

Sarin gas is a military-grade chemical that was used in a notorious attack on Ghouta and several other neighborhoods near the Syrian capital of Damascus in 2013. The attacks were pinned on the Syrian leadership, who in turn agreed to get rid of all chemical weapons stockpiles under a UN-brokered deal amid an imminent threat of US intervention.

Addressing parliamentarians on Thursday, Erdem showed a copy of the criminal case number 2013/120 that was opened by the General Prosecutor's Office in the city of Adana in southern Turkey.

The investigation revealed that a number of Turkish citizens took part in negotiations with ISIL representatives on the supply of sarin gas. Pointing to evidence cited in the criminal case, he said that wiretapped phone conversations proved that an Al-Qaeda militant, Hayyam Kasap, acquired sarin.

“These are all detected. There are phone recordings of this shipment like ‘don't worry about the border, we’ll take care of it' and we also see the bureaucracy is being used,” continued Erdem.

Based on the gathered evidence Adana authorities conducted raids and arrested 13 suspects in the case. But a week later, inexplicably, the case was closed and all the suspects immediately crossed the Turkish-Syrian border, Erdem said.

“About the shipment, Republic prosecutor of Adana, Mehmet Arıkan, made an operation and the related people were detained. But as far as I understand he was not an influential person in bureaucracy. A week after, another public prosecutor was assigned, took over the indictment and all the detainees were released. And they left Turkey crossing the Syrian border,” he said.

“The phone recordings in the indictment showed all the details from how the shipment was going to be made to how it was prepared, from the content of the labs to the source of the materials. Which trucks were going to be used, all dates etc. From A to Z, everything was discussed and recorded. Despite all of this evidence, the suspects were released,” he said.

“And the shipment happened,” Erdem added. “Because no one stopped them. That’s why maybe the sarin gas used in Syria is a result of this.”

Erdem said that according to some evidence Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation was also involved, with some unconfirmed reports pointing in the direction of a government cover up, with Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag’s involvement.

Certain evidence suggests Bozdag wanted to know beforehand from the sarin gas producer when and if the Takfiri radicals will use the chemical weapon.

“When I read the indictment, I saw clearly that these people have relationships with The Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution of Turkey and they don’t have any worries about crossing the border. For example in Hayyam Kasap's phone records, you hear him saying sarin gas many times, saying that the ateliers are ready for production, materials are waiting in trucks which were supposedly carrying club soda,” he told RT.

The parliamentarian said that now he feels like there is a witch hunt against him, after he confronted the justice minister. Bozdag, according to Erdem denied only the part that he wanted to get notified about the operations beforehand.

Furthermore, Erdem argues that the West purposely blamed the regime of Bashar Assad for the August 2013 attacks and used it as part of the pretext to make US military intervention in Syria possible. The MP said that evidence in Adana’s case, according to his judgment, proves that IS was responsible.

“For example the chemical attack in Ghouta. Remember. It was claimed that the regime forces were behind it. This attack was conducted just days before the sarin operation in Turkey. It’s a high probability that this attack was carried out with those basic materials shipped through Turkey. It is said the regime forces are responsible but the indictment says it’s ISIS. UN inspectors went to the site but they couldn’t find any evidence. But in this indictment, we’ve found the evidence. We know who used the sarin gas, and our government knows it too,” he said.

At the same time, Erdem also accused the West and Europe in particular for providing “basic materials” to create such a powerful chemical weapon.

“All basic materials are purchased from Europe. Western institutions should question themselves about these relations. Western sources know very well who carried out the sarin gas attack in Syria. They know these people, they know who these people are working with, they know that these people are working for Al-Qaeda. I think is Westerns are hypocrats about the situation,” he concluded.

German Sterligov To Start Eco-Friendly Food Production in Nagorno-Karabakh

11 hours ago

Always wanted to try honey from Armenia. Any places to buy from online?

Russia to Build Black Sea Pipeline to Turkeyhttp://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2014/12/rus-tork.jpg

MOSCOW (Russia Today)—Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller said the energy giant will build a massive gas pipeline that will travel from Russia, transit through Turkey, and stop at the Greek border – giving Russia access to the Southern European market.

The new pipeline to Turkey will have an annual capacity of 63 billion cubic meters. A total of 14 billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey, which is Gazprom’s second biggest customer in the region after Germany.

Russia’s energy minister Aleksandr Novak said that the new project will include a specially-constructed hub on the Turkish-Greek border for customers in southern Europe.

While the pipeline will be registered as a Russian company, Miller said that Gazprom will “consider offers from Turkish partners if they express an interest in buying into the project.”

For now, the supply of Russian gas to Turkey will be raised by 3 billion cubic meters via the already operating Blue Stream pipeline, Vladimir Putin said during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Last year, 13.7 BCM of gas was supplied to Turkey via Blue Stream, according to Reuters.

From a political point of view, Turkey and Russia are “poles apart,” but from an economic point of view the gas deal between the two states has united Moscow and Ankara in a common interest.

“Turkey would in fact like the gas pipelines to go through Turkey, because they can collect rent from it,” Martin McCauley, an economics specialist from the University of London, told RT. “Turkey sees itself, if you like, as a partner – the in-between partner – who will take gas from Iran and Russia to Europe.”

Moscow will also reduce the gas price for Turkish customers by 6 percent from January 1, 2015, Putin said. Later, Novak said the discount could reach 15 percent, subject to negotiations.

Novak later confirmed that Vladimir Putin personally ordered for the South Stream project to be mothballed, and its existing facilities to be repurposed for the new Turkish pipeline.

The much-delayed South Stream was supposed to connect underwater Black Sea pipelines with a network in Eastern Europe, with Bulgaria as the entry point.

The project had run into difficulties, as it violated EU regulations on the same company owning the pipelines and the gas they transported. While several previous governments in Bulgaria, which is wholly dependent on Russian gas lobbied Brussels to make an exception, the current government said it would not give Gazprom a building permit. The cost of the underwater and Eastern European segments of the project was estimated at 23.5 billion euros, by a senior Gazprom official last month.

The new project will include a specially-constructed hub on the Turkish-Greek border. Russia’s energy minister Aleksandr Novak said it will supply customers in Eastern and Southern Europe.

By Serouj Aprahamian on October 20, 2014 in Armenia, Featured, Headline // 0 Comments // http://armenianweekly.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-email/images/email_famfamfam.png // http://armenianweekly.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-print/images/printer_famfamfam.gif

http://armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ayrum-Fruit-2-1024x683.jpg

Oxfam in Armenia Country Director Margarita Hakobyan (center) visits workers at the Ayrum fruits factory prior to its grand opening.

On Fri., Oct. 3, the northern Armenian town of Ayrum celebrated the opening of a brand new, 1,200-square meter fruit processing plant. With the support of Oxfam in Armenia, the factory is providing thousands of local producers not only with much-needed income, but a sense of solidarity and empowerment.

“For the first time ever, we are instituting a social enterprise business that will create jobs and address challenges facing our remote border communities,” said Margarita Hakobyan, the country director for Oxfam in Armenia. “In addition to fighting poverty through this enterprise, we hope to put forward a practical model that can be duplicated throughout the country.”

Members of the co-op democratically decide the direction of the enterprise through an annual general meeting, while an elected executive runs daily affairs. Workers also share in the profit accordingly, giving them an incentive to work harder to make the business thrive. For Armenia, this is an unprecedented level of employee voice and ownership that is helping foster a greater sense of community and participation.

During the Soviet years, Ayrum was famous for its canned food factory, which employed over 1,800 workers and supplied countless cities with quality jams and preserves. But production at the factory stopped after the collapse of the Soviet Union, taking with it the region’s economic lifeline

Local residents essentially had two options left: either look for work abroad or sell seasonal crops along the roadside.

Things began to change in 2011 when a group of agricultural producers in Ayrum and Lchkadzor established an Oxfam-sponsored cooperative. They began pooling their resources and working together to restore the town’s legacy of canned food production.

In addition to helping with start-up capital for the plant—which stands directly across from the old Soviet factory—Oxfam provided the co-op everything from training and technical assistance, to guidance on marketing and developing a sound business model.

The factory is now in full swing with a core, mostly female, workforce of nearly two-dozen employees from the surrounding 10 communities involved as fruit pickers.

“This is a very big achievement,” said factory technologist Sveta Aghayan. “We had a lot of unemployed people who needed a place to work and now they have that.”

Aghayan is one of two remaining experts from the Soviet canning factory working at the new plant. At 75 years old, she came out of retirement specifically to help the co-op succeed in its endeavor.

“I don’t need to work here,” she explained. “I’m merely here to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.”

Several potential buyers have already been identified along with plans for getting the goods to market quickly. The co-op has its sights set on selling consumer-ready jams and juices both locally and to countries such as Georgia (whose border is only one mile away) and Russia. Additional financial supporters have also come on board alongside Oxfam.

By the time the factory reaches capacity, it is projected to employ 60 workers and provide a regular source of income to nearly 2,000 people in the area.

Perhaps just as important as the economic activity, however, is the immeasurable social value being generated.

Members of the co-op democratically decide the direction of the enterprise through an annual general meeting, while an elected executive runs daily affairs. Workers also share

Perhaps just as important as the economic activity, however, is the immeasurable social value being generated.

Members of the co-op democratically decide the direction of the enterprise through an annual general meeting, while an elected executive runs daily affairs. Workers also share in the profit accordingly, giving them an incentive to work harder to make the business thrive. For Armenia, this is an unprecedented level of employee voice and ownership that is helping foster a greater sense of community and participation.

From the onset, the co-op has also highlighted the essential role of women in local agricultural life. Special effort has been made to strengthen their voices, provide them with leadership skills, and involve them in all aspects of the production process.

Of course, the whole concept of the cooperative is rooted in people coming together to find their way out of poverty. Rather than struggling in isolation, participants have realized that they can accomplish a great deal more when they join forces and assist one another.

“I want the concept and culture of teamwork to be established in Armenia,” said Ruslan Antonyan, co-founder of the Lchkadzor co-op and director of operations at the factory. “There is a very important psychological and educational factor at play here.”

In this way, the Ayrum fruit-processing plant is an important development for those seeking a new economic model in Armenia—one that is based on values of participation, empowerment, andsolidarity.

Over the last decade we have seen how growth alone is not enough to tackle the fundamental challenges affecting the country. The GDP can reach double-digit figures, yet only benefit a small segment of the elite. Problems such as the lack of a stable middle class, unequal distribution of power, and extreme individualism can only be tackled by a new notion of development that places as much value on the quality of economic growth as on the quantity.

Workers at the Ayrum factory hope to be the harbingers of this alternative vision. They are determined to make their business a success so that others will emulate their example throughout Armenia. In fact, another Oxfam-supported cooperative factory is already scheduled to open next month in the Tavush village of Sevkar.

There are countless challenges yet to be overcome—not the least of which are securing financial support, overcoming the legacy of Soviet top-down structures, and competing viably in the marketplace—but there is no doubt that such people-centered solutions are essential for a more democratic and durable form of development in Armenia.

http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1262673224/g00025800000000000094d67ee8f51b26d97db2251d1c5adefe2517b675.jpg

Hand-made aprones and similars for use in kitcken or dinner table by rural Armenian women

http://travelingev.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vardenis-sewing-women-products.jpg

Are you taking blood-thinner medications? I do not but once in a while I buy some ginseng

roots, boil them in plenty of water for more than a hour then drain the liquid and keep it

in the refrigerator. I drink a cup each day from it, it is said to be the best natural

blood-tinner.

=======================

Usually "potatoes" is referred to as "earth apples", sometimes "Jerusalem artichoke", with

the article below there a picture of ginseng roots, so I am not sure what is meant by "earth apples"

in this articles from armenpress.

======================

as to "inulins":

Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants,

industrially most often extracted from chicory.[2] The inulins belong to a class of dietary

fibersknown as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is

typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants that synthesize and store inulin do not

store other forms of carbohydrate such as starch

================

ARMENIAN COMPANY TO START MASS SALE OF EARTH APPLE

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/740046/armenian-company-to-start-mass-sale-of-

earth-apple.html

13:40, 14 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: The first Armenian company in the South Caucasus, involved

in the mass processing of the earth apple, completed the harvesting and intends to start the

network sale works. The Director of the CJSC "Agro Corporation" Vahan Shirkhanyan stated about it

in the talk with Armenpress. "We are going to add another 40 hectares and to make the crop lands

ot less than 1000 hectares in autumn", - said the Director. Vahan Shirkhanyan informed that in 2015

the lands are intended to make 3000 hectares and start the reprocessing of the earth apple.

Shirkhanyan noted that the harvest of the earth apple is carried out

twice a year, during which about 100 working places are created.

The earth apple will appear in the markets in 15-20 days.

The Government of the Republic of Armenia is engaged in the activity

aiming to find investments for the realization of the program of the

Armenian-Chinese enterprise of inulin production.

The Head of the Industrial Policy Department of the Ministry of

Economy of the Republic of Armenia Armen Yeganyan stated this earlier

in a conversation with Armenpress. "The Government of the Republic

of Armenia provided resources. We have published the invitation

in an international periodical to find investors," the Head of the

Department underscored. The preliminary total price of the program

is USD 33 million.

Among other things the Head of the Industrial Policy Department of

the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Armen Yeganyan

emphasized that the Chinese side took the obligation to make an

investment of 5 percent, to provide the relevant technology, and

conduct the installation works. In addition Armen Yeganyan noted

that there is a company from the Armenian side, which is willing to

provide acreage for the cultivation of earth apple.

Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced

by many types of plants, industrially most often extracted from

chicory. The inulins belong to a class of dietary fibers known

as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing

energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants that

synthesize and store inulin do not store other forms of carbohydrate

such as starch.

Inulin is increasingly used in processed foods because it has unusually

adaptable characteristics. Its flavor ranges from bland to subtly sweet

(approx. 10% sweetness of sugar/sucrose). It can be used to replace

sugar, fat, and flour. This is advantageous because inulin contains

25-35% of the food energy of carbohydrates (starch, sugar).

Non-hydrolyzed inulin can also be directly converted to ethanol in

a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process, which may

have great potential for converting crops high in inulin into ethanol

for fuel.

Inulin and its analog sinistrin are used to help measure kidney

function by determining the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR

is the volume of fluid filtered from the renal (kidney) glomerular

capillaries into the Bowman's capsule per unit time. Inulin is of

particular use as it is not secreted or reabsorbed in any appreciable

amount at the nephron, allowing GFR to be calculated. However, due to

clinical limitations, inulin and sinistrin, although characterized

by better handling features, are rarely used for this purpose and

creatinine values are the standard for determining an approximate

GFR. It is also used for rehydration and remineralization following

important loss of water, like diarrhea and diaphoresis. Inulin can

also be used as a vaccine adjuvant.

Agricultural and food industry products, juice and drinking water, and cigarettes are exported to Iraq; the list soon may include IT services, jewelry, construction and other areas.

http://www.armradio.am/en/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Air-Armenia-10-620x300.jpg

23 Oct. 2013

Air Armenia operated its first passenger flight from Rostov-on-Don to Yerevan. The flight was made by a leased Boing 737-500. A newly-wed couple was among the passengers.

The regular flights to Moscow will be launched on October 27.

So far, Air Armenia has been operating charter flights to various destinations in the CIS, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa.

According to the company’s official website, it has been operating scheduled cargo flights with Antonov-12 full-freighter aircraft to Frankfurt Hahn Airport in Germany, which has been used as a cargo hub for all inbound and outbound cargo shipped between Armenia and various points worldwide.

==========================

Armenia liberalizes air traffic market

5 large hotels are being built in JermukNews.amOctober 05, 2013 Five large hotels are being built in the Armenian resort town of Jermuk, Mayor VardanHovhannisyan said during the forum of village communities.He is confident that the opening of new hotels will bring more tourists to the town.Hotels will provide different services . They are designed for different consumers. Jermuk is a part of Yerevan-Noravanq-Tatev-Karabakh tourist corridor. Tourists who aretraveling along this route, would be happy to spend a day or two at our resort,' he emphasized.

http://walkaboutblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/valencia.jpg

ARMENIA PLANS TO EXPORT UAVS TO DENMARK

October, 02, 2013

Armenian will export unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Denmark for agronomic research and

aerial surveys of sown areas, CEO of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises of

Armenia (UITE) Karen Vardanian said today.

According to Telecom.arca.am, such UAVs were displayed at ArmRobotics exhibition organized

by UITE in June 2013. Karen Vardanian said the winner of the unmanned aircraft competition

has already registered an enterprise that will manufacture commercial drones. Under a

preliminary agreement, 10 drones will be manufactured a month.

Aysor.am

StartUp Cup is an international business model competition, which provides local entrepreneurs with community-based long-term support during their early growth phase. The competition is open to any type of business idea and is a proven model to build businesses and create jobs.

"As one of the first StartUp Cups held outside the United States in 2012 it is inspiring to see the growing impact that Armenia StartUp Cup is having on Armenia's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The increased number of submissions received and community partners engaged this year is a testament to Armenia's growing commitment to entrepreneurship as a powerful path to economic growth and improving lives," said Sean Griffin, CEO and Founder of StartUp Cup.

From July to November 2013, participating entrepreneurs will receive coaching and mentoring from 20 local seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders. The participants will design a viable business model, build teams, and enhance investor outreach efforts, as well as a number of other business skills from sales to finance. An award celebration will be held in November to announce the winners during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

More in link:

http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-07-21-u-s--programs-facilitate-entrepreneurial-development-in-armenia

July 10, 2013

BY VICTORIA ARARATIAN

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/interviews/164707/

YEREVAN (PanArmenian)—Armenia is moving forward with its western style banking system – the use of debit/credit cards now being very much in style. Presently, all commercial banks in Armenia offer various types of plastic cards yet the quality of service varies. The customers do get tempting offers. Many banks manage to attract new clients, yet very few are able to maintain the relationship by meeting their needs with affordable pricing. Hrachya Malkhasyan, the Head of Ameriabank’s Regional Branches, in this interview with a PanARMENIAN.net journalist, shares his professional insight on clients’ needs and some of the ways that banks succeed or fail to support them.

PANARMENIAN: Currently, all commercial banks in Armenia offer various plastic cards. How do you meet the competition in this market?

HRACHYA MALKHASYAN: The competition in this field isn’t just tough – we are seeing “price wars.” Ameriabank follows its course, trying to avoid these wars as they seem to be ineffective in attracting clients. We eye the business through the prism of each client’s needs and thereby build communication channels and product line. First, we value quickness and quality of service, as well as profitable lending conditions. We also try to develop infrastructure, specifically by increasing the number of ATMs and POS terminals. Here, a unique role is given to the bank’s image and the brand, which helps attract clients without being dragged into the so-called price struggle. Special attention is paid to bolstering security to rule out any possibility of leaks, a condition highly appreciated by the clients. I would like to emphasize that Ameriabank highlights quality, starting with the presentation of an application and through the entire service process.

Also, Ameriabank card holders now profit from a special deal Ameriabank has with more than 250 sales outlets. With their Ameriabank cards our clients are able to get a 50% discount in all of the 250 sales outlets that Ameria has partnered with.

PA: What does Ameriabank do to make credit and debit cards more available for the population?

HM: Ameriabank is one of the leaders in Armenia’s banking system in terms of its ATMs and POS terminals. Now our customers have access to 90 ATMs across the country – 68 in Yerevan and 22 ATMs conveniently located outside the capital. We work with many tourists from the Diaspora. We want to make sure they have western style banking support when they visit our historic sites, be it Dilijan, Tatev or Tsaghkadzor. They can easily have access to an ATM when needed at these sites. When in Yerevan, we welcome our customers to one of our six branches in the capital. In addition, we have three branches in the regions. Ameriabank also has an established branch in Stepanakert, Artsakh.

PA: Western style banking also suggests the use of apps on smart phones. Is Ameriabank there yet?

HM: I would like to note that Ameriabank is the first Armenian bank to have an application available via the Apple Store. Once you download the Ameriabank app, you are immediately connected to currency exchange rates, news, and the locations of the bank’s branches and ATMs. The Ameriabank app also has an interactive map.

AP: With cashless payments gaining popularity in Armenia, what results did the bank achieve for card transactions for the first half of 2013?

HM: In the second quarter of 2013, we have witnessed 8% growth for card use versus the first quarter. In total we have released 42,000 cards. With the new app, increased ATMs, guaranteed quality of service, and visits by Diaspora Armenians, we are looking at 50% growth in cards for the rest of the year.

PA: What are some of the new programs and services that the bank offers or will offer to its card holders?

HM: Now our customers can have both debit and credit cards with advantageous interest rates versus single-type cards. Also the service fees for credit and debit cards have been considerably reduced, and we offer an overdraft protection service. In the mid-term we’re planning to develop loyalty programs that will give additional incentives to our clients for using Ameriabank’s services.

Despite the challenges and severe competition in the market of bank cards, Ameriabank is stepping up to develop the plastic card culture among the Armenian population, offering new approaches and secure terms of use.

Ameriabank is a leading universal and retail bank with 68 ATMs in Yerevan and 22 ATMs outside the capital of Armenia. The bank has branches in Yerevan, provincial regions, and Stepanakert, Artsakh. Ameriabank, a member company of Ameria Group, is a winner of multiple global financial awards. It is the only financial institution in the South Caucasus to be recognized as a Global Growth Champion at the DAVOS World Economic Forum for its exceptional growth and expertise. With more than 500 employees, $600 million in assets, and branches across the country, Ameria is performing the most aggressive development in Armenia’s financial and advisory market.

“They want us to pay for our own raisins that we grew,” says Raisin Valley Farms owner Marvin Horne. “We have to buy them back!”

Feds vs. Raisins: Small Farmers Stand Up to the USDA
Reason TV
July 22nd, 2013

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/feds-vs-raisins-small-farmers-stand-up-to-the-usda_072013#sthash.NTIpTjfk.iHH5MZ49.dpuf

Armenia is hard at work establishing itself as a country with a strong technical talent to invest in. The Soviet Union left a university environment strong in maths and engineering, talent that is scare in today's economy. Synopsys, Microsoft and VMW are already in the country, and others like Disney and IBM are opening offices or offshore locations. Though these larger companies have subsidiaries in Armenia, the Diaspora is coming back to open offshore development centers to service companies in US, Europe and even India, a known leader in offshore development. At the same time, Armenia is also growing as a place where repatriates from Diaspora as well as the locals are capitalizing on the existing starup industry in the country. Investors from Silicon Valley, Europe and other places are pouring money into the ideas of young entrepreneurs to make a global impact on the world economy.

Opportunity is abundant in Armenia, and it is the reason many Armenians who have left the Motherland for other ventures are moving back to the country, along with next generation Armenians from the diaspora. Armenian citizens who left to go other places are returning home to work on their own ideas. Armen Kchachikyan, 24, launched a startup while studying for his masters degree in information technology at Hong kong University.
From the article "Silicon Armenia" by Joanna Buickians in Yerevan magazine May/June 2013

http://armenpress.am...wsâ€.html

10 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 10, ARMENPRESS: The Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are interested in the seismic "pillows" produced in the Republic of Armenia. At present negotiations are held with the organizations from these countries.

This was reported to Armenpress by the Acting Director of the "RETINE NORUYT" Limited Liability Company Hakob Galstyan. "The rubber-metallic seismic bases or the seismic "pillows" produced by our company have been exported by now only to Iran", - said Hakob Galstyan, adding that in Armenia there is certain inactivity in the seismic market towards the "pillows". As stated by the specialist, though the use

of the rubber-metallic seismic bases is quite important and crucial for Armenia, many builders and customers avoid of them, as they are not aware of their use "culture".

The Acting Director of the "RETINE NORUYT" Limited Liability Company Hakob Galstyan informed that the seismic "pillows" produced by their company have been placed in the bases of 10 structures of Yerevan,

ordered mainly by the "Elite Group" Closed Joint Stock Company.

The seismic "pillows" are special rubber devices, which are put in the bases of the buildings to make them quake-proof. They allow to resist up to 9,5 magnitude earthquakes. The "pillows" can be placed not only in the base of the newly built structures, but also in the old buildings. Armenia is one of the leading countries in the world producing the rubber-metallic seismic bases or the seismic "pillows".

Armenia posts 90,6% increase in diamond production

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/161/935/photo/161935.jpg

June 12, 2013 - 14:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - 32 342 carats of diamond were produced in Armenia in January-April 2013 against 16 971 carats from the year-earlier period (90,6% growth).

According to the National Statistical Service, 319 kg of jewelry was produced during the reporting period against 273,2 kg in 2012 with 16,8% increase posted.

http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-482828-galleryV9-lvnn.jpg

I say Armenia can, if not already doing, because 90% of world's Saffron used to come from Iran. If it grows in Iran then most likely will do in Armenia.

That two red strings are the saffron, they are known as delicate stigmas of the Saffron crocus, or crocus sativus: a crocus plant with bluish purple flowers in the iris family, they grow from bulbs, few bulbs can mutlipy into many in time. A kilo of those best Krokus saffrons from Greece sells for $2600 a kilo. To produce one kilogram of saffron, about 150,000 crocus flowers have to be picked by hand and the precious stigmas carefully plucked from the flowers.

Here is an article that gives the reader an idea of what the beef is about:

Red Gold: Saffron Cooperative Thrives amid Greek Crisis

By Manfred Ertel

As the economic crisis ravages their country, a community of Greek farmers is prospering. Their cooperative specializes in saffron, the world's most expensive spice, which is keeping the community afloat and attracting global attention.

In these hard times, it's hard to find a place in Greece where people still look forward to the future, except perhaps in the country's far north, in Krokos on the Macedonian plain.

Nikolaos Patsiouras is one of the satisfied residents in the town of about 5,000 people, which is surrounded by rocky fields. "We have no debt, our exports are doing well and we are healthy," he says proudly. "We are pioneers for Europe."

They used to call him "little German boy" when he was a child, because of his blonde hair and blue eyes. His hair is now silver-gray, and the 57-year-old is the president of the local cooperative of about 1,000 saffron producers, the only one of its kind in the country. The area around Krokos is world-famous for its red saffron, known as "red gold," the rarest and most precious spice on earth.

Krokos produces 1.5 to 2 tons of saffron a year, which sells for up to €2,000 ($2,600) a kilo. The farmers export the highly delicate stigmas of the saffron crocus to the United States, France, Germany, Canada and Australia. With world production at about 200 tons, Greece's share is relatively small. But about 90 percent of total production comes from Iran, which is having export difficulties because of its nuclear policy and Western sanctions.

Besides, the red saffron from Krokos is prized among top chefs. "We are the best," says Patsiouras, a stout, amiable man with rimless glasses. Medals from international awards are stacked on the cabinet behind him, and certificates hang on the walls. "Why else does our saffron fetch up to €500 more per kilo than saffron from Iran?" he asks.

Hard Work

Patsiouras' job is an unpaid position. He has no privileges and plays no special role. The cooperative pays 90 percent of its proceeds directly to the farmers. This is rare in a country where nepotism and corruption plunged an entire nation into crisis.

To become president of the cooperative, one must be a saffron producer. Patsiouras grows crocus sativus, a crocus plant with bluish purple flowers in the iris family, on about a hectare (2.47 acres) of land.

He used to be one of 2,500 spice farmers in the region, but many young people moved to the city over the years. There was a huge exodus around the 2004 Summer Olympics, when the entire country was experiencing an economic boom. Three years ago, there were only 580 saffron producers left in Krokos.

Part of the reason is that it's very hard work. To produce one kilogram of saffron, about 150,000 crocus flowers have to be picked by hand and the precious stigmas carefully plucked from the flowers. The harvest is concentrated in a two-week period in late October and early November. "Each time you ask yourself: Why am I doing this?" says the cooperative's president.

But he also delights in the harvest every year. "There is something magical about saffron," he says. His family has been growing crocuses for at least four generations. The plant was considered extinct in Greece until a few bulbs were brought to the area from Vienna about 300 years ago. There has been documented cultivation on the Macedonian plain since then.

Farmers Return to amid Crisis

Why the precious flower with expensive stigmas does so well in the region is a mystery. Is it the climate, with the Vourinos Mountains providing protection from the wind, the persistent fog and the unique, sandy soil? "To this day, we still don't know what is so special about our location," says Patsiouras.

Now that the debt crisis and austerity measures have forced the entire country to its knees, young people and former farmers are returning to Krokos. There are now as many saffron farmers as there were 10 years ago, when the Krokos region produced six tons a year, making it the world's second-largest producer. Thefarmers hope to regain that position in the next two years by doubling the amount of land devoted to the crocuses and tripling production.

In Germany, red saffron from northern Greece sells for up to €13 per gram. Chefs are scrambling to get it, especially now that British food inspectors concluded that saffron from Spain was of lesser quality, in terms of color, aroma and taste. It was also the British media that exposed Spanish exporters who had been repackaging and relabeling cheaper Iranian saffron.

Europe still works in Krokos, and Patsiouras believes in a common future. With bulbs from Austria, praise from London and the usual agricultural subsidies from Brussels, he says, "we are a European project; we are nothing without Europe."

SOURCE:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/saffron-farming-cooperative-thrives-in-greece-despite-crisis-a-893527.html

To those who don't believe in success stories. Well, this is one!

Bloomberg News

Armenian National Airline Armavia Goes Bankrupt, Grounds Flights

By Sara Khojoyan on March 29, 2013

Armenian businessmen Mikayel Baghdasarov’s Armavia, the country’s only carrier, declared bankruptcy today and will cease flights starting April 1.

The company founded in 1996 was unable to pay debt accumulated to the Zvartnots airport in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, and to its contractors, Armavia said in an e-mailed statement today. The total debt was less than $50 million, Baghdasarov told the Arminfo news service on March 15.

Europe’s debt crisis has curbed travel and made governments reluctant to prop up airlines amid the region’s deepest cost cuts in a generation. Hungary’s Malev folded in February 2012, while LOT Polish Airlines SA last week said it needs a“painful” cost-cutting program to stay afloat. Aerosvit, Ukraine’s biggest private airline, entered bankruptcy in December.

Armavia’s owners have been diverting funds from other businesses to fund the airline in the past three years, the company said in its statement.

Armavia has 14 aircraft and was the first operator of Sukhoi’s Superjet 100.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sara Khojoyan in Yerevan at skhojoyan@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net

Azeris worried that they failed to undermine Van-Yerevan flights

http://armenpress.am/static/news/b/2013/03/711724.jpg15:23, 16 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The official circles of Azerbaijan are worried and angry with the fact that they failed to undermine the operation of Van-Yerevan direct flights between Turkey and Armenia. As reports "Armenpress" citing Azerbaijani media, the head of public-political affairs department of Azerbaijani president’s staff Ali Hasanov, referring to the operation of the flights stated: "Thus Ankara supports a country which continues the occupation of Azerbaijani lands."

Also Hasanov did not conceal the concern of official Baku that "brother country Turkey is establishing relations with Armenia". Among other things he noted: "We treat it with double jealousy, when those countries, with which we have fraternal and strategic relations, deepen tiess with Armenia."

Van-Yerevan-Van direct flights will be implemented from April 3, 2013. Twice in a week the flights will be implemented from Yerevan to Van and in the opposite direction. The flights become reality due to "Narekavank" Travel Agency and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia.

Armenia ready for joint car assembly line

Zawya.com

Jan 16 2013

An Armenian provincial official said his country is ready for

auto-making cooperation with Iran's northwestern province of East

Azarbaijan.

Governor general of Armenia's Syunik province, Suren Khachatrian, made

the statement in a meeting with his East Azarbaijan counterpart,

Alireza Beigi, in Tabriz on Tuesday, Fars News Agency reported.

"Syunik province can pave the way for the presence of East

Azarbaijan's auto industry in global markets by setting up the

assembly lines of Iranian cars," Khachatrian said.

He noted that the two countries have considerable capacities for

boosting joint investments.

Armenia is a member of the World Trade Organization and its per capita

income is $5,700. Foreign investment reached $570 million last year.

Last month, Iranian Ambassador in Yerevan Mohammad Raeesi stressed the

age-old and close ties between Tehran and Yerevan, and said relations

with Armenia are of great importance to Iran.

"Iran welcomes expansion of ties with Armenia," Raeesi said in

December, adding that Iran is willing to develop cooperation with

Armenia in all areas of mutual interest.

He made the remark during his tour of Yerevan College for

International Relations Studies.

In recent years, Iran and its northern neighbor Armenia have boosted

ties, signed energy agreements and agreed to cooperate in technology

and research, and enhance economic relations.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart pledged in

December 2011 to further expand "high-level relations" between their

nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of

joint energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.

In early October, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his

Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian met at the UN Headquarters in

New York to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international

issues.

Armtech Congress 2012 Highlights

• December 13, 2012
  
• By Jason Paul Kazarian
  

http://blog.farusa.org/2012/12/13/armtech-congress-2012-highlights/

I had the good fortune to attend Armtech Congress 2012 on December 10 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The conference is an annual discussion about the health of the Armenian IT industry. Here are some of the more salient points, noted in the order presented:

• Last year Armenia had 7% GDP growth with 2% inflation. The general economy fared well through and since the global crisis of 2008.
  
• According to World Bank reports, Armenia now ranks as the 32nd easiest country for foreign business investment. That doesn’t sound like much, except it’s a rise of about eight points from last year, just behind The Netherlands.
  
• Within the Commonwealth of Independent States, Armenia is number one in per-capita patents issued. We are quite creative!
  
• The Armenian National Engineering Laboratory has been launched, and will offer four floors of R&D facilities to engineering students.
  
• Pension reforms starting in 2014 will mandate 5% employer, 5% employee contributions to a 401K-style self-directed retirement account. This will result in about 1B USD of savings by 2024.
  
• Also starting in 2014, businesses will be able to use electronic invoicing and tax filing. This is a big change from the paper invoicing system I saw mandated as late as 2009.
  
• About 26M USD of venture capital will be available to Armenian entrepreneurs from new sources. This is in addition to the 24M USD the World Bank has already invested to date.
  
• Armenia’s wireless broadband infrastructure is faster and more competitive than that of India’s, thanks to licensing of three carriers (Beeline, Orange, VivaCell) as well as a minimum 3G network speed.
  

Was this year’s Congress just another mutual admiration society? No, thanks to an intellectually honest panel session hosted by Raffi Kassarjian of Congress Bank. Raffi brought together a panel of on-the-ground realists (as opposed to feel-good cheerleaders) to discuss the future of “hye”-tech. It’s this kind of forthright discussion that made the entire Congress worth attending.

Richard Bezjian, a serial entrepreneur in the best sense of the term, said future Armenian start-ups will face a number of challenges on multiple fronts. The era of cheap labor outsourcing is over. First-world countries are facing extreme resistance to sending work outside their borders. “Low handing fruit” is now gone. And to attract more direct foreign investment, Armenia must provide a market by consuming on a much larger scale the goods and services it produces. Thus Armenia will need to do more to grow in the future than perform contract work as we have in the past.

Dr. John Kibarian, CEO of PDF Solutions (having nothing to do with Adobe or its Portable Document Format), was invited to discuss why his company was not doing business in Armenia. He said these factors include the difficulty finding Diaspora employees willing to work for extended periods in-country, the lack of local Armenian project management talent, and an ecosystem that is not competitive with other countries.

But not all is doom and gloom. Bezjian also presented the basis for being optimistic about Armenia’s IT future: countries are including Armenia in forming alliances among themselves, Armenia knows and can present a highly skilled labor force, and growth in new deployment technologies such as cloud services can cross the geo-political obstacles that have previously kept Armenia out of some markets.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think about Armenia’s IT future? Positive or Negative? And more importantly, why? Tell us in the comments!

Iraq intends to replace Exxon with Russian companies - reports

Iraq, Shaikan

Iraq is reportedly considering replacing US oil major ExxonMobil with Russian companies in the West Qurna-1 project, as the authorities are angered by ExxonMobil’s deal signed with the Kurdistan regional government without Baghdad’s approval.

Baghdad is considering inviting Russia's LUKOIL and Gazprom Neft – both already operating a number of projects in the country, instead of Exxon Mobil to develop the West Qurna-1, Nefte Compass weekly reported on Thursday. With the step Baghdad would signal international companies operating in Kurdistan that it rejects any agreements with the semi-autonomous region’s government, sources in the industry told RT.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has reportedly offered the deal to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the meeting Wednesday, the newspaper said. However, no such offers have been officially announced.

Russia's second-largest oil producer LUKOIL has refrained from comment. But Lukoil sources told RT that the company hasn’t received any official offers. Currently the oil major is developing the West Qurna-2 oil field in partnership with Iraqi state-run North Oil Company after Norway’s Statoil left the project. LUKOIL holds a dominant 75% share.

On Wednesday Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom, froze two contracts for oil development in the Kurdistan region, according to the Iraqi PM. In August the company signed two production sharing contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government directly avoiding Iraqi Oil Ministry approval. The company declined to comment, though a source told Reuters that Gazprom Neft is still interested in Kurdistan’s oil.

The Russian oil major is already developing the 300 million barrel Badra deposit near the Iranian border. It holds a 30% stake in the project, along with South Korea's Kogas with 22.5%, Malaysia's Petronas with 15% and Iraq's state-owned Oil Exploration Company with 25% in the project. Production is due to start by 2013.

in 2012 Armenia has exported a lot of crayfish.

France is an importing country.

FIRST CHANCE TO BUY BRANDY THAT STALIN SERVED CHURCHILL

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/uk/first-chance-to-buy-brandy-that-stalin-served-churchill-7582925.html

23 March 2012

Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill at Yalta, where the prime minister

first tasted Stalin later sent him 400 bottles a year

Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor

Sir Winston Churchill's favourite Armenian brandy - said to have

played a key role in the shaping of postwar Europe - has gone on sale

in Britain for the first time.

The prime minister developed a taste for the ArArAt brandy when it

was served by Stalin at the Yalta conference in February 1945. After

the Second World War, the Soviet leader arranged for Churchill to be

sent 400 bottles every year.

However, it was not available to the British public because the

Soviet government only allowed a small number of spirit brands, such

as Stolichnaya, to be exported. Most supplies of ArArAt were reserved

for the Communist Party elite.

Now, more than 20 years after the collapse of the Iron Curtain, East

European drinks distributor Vinorium has brought 10,000 bottles to

London, to be sold from Monday in the city's specialist wine merchants,

such as

Gerry's of Soho, priced at about £29. Vinorium's Laszlow Puskas hopes

eventually to sell ArArAt throughout Britain and Ireland if it proves

a success. He said: "Everyone seems very surprised that it is finally

coming to the British market. Liquor shops told us they were getting

regular requests for it, but nobody knew where to get it."

The company is also bringing other "lost" Eastern European spirit

brands to Britain, including Ruskova vodka.

The brandy, which was also a favourite of Agatha Christie and Frank

Sinatra, has been made in the Ararat Valley since 1887. The brand is

now owned by French drinks giant Pernot Ricard.

To the Superb Beings of Mother Earth and the Global Business Trends

The mission of Kuai Liang is to reform and build the saintly understanding of business growth and early businessman's industrial production of new innovative manufactured goods which will change the way people live their lives. If together we invest to the right business-scientist, there will emerge a new relationship of the better businesses that will burst the industry toward precious future with tremendous levels of growth in the sums and profits to the currency which we owe to the national debt. The national debt is a sign of the country's degeneration and end, all because someone did not get paid. Kaui Liang is suggesting to invest a sum of $100,000 dollars to him so that USA can reside and coexist for the sake of their children that they had from the women who he was supposed to marry with. I who is the most benevolent of all will accept this money to save your country from the corrupt way of thinking in order to change the way you ordained your government which resulted in a big national debt. If this national debt continues to reside amongst the business governance, then USA must inevitably become the Blue Communist Government of the Western Lands. Vladimir I. Lenin is one of our Communist philosophers who was encouraging young, middle aged, and hard working people to be a part of the working force.

The young industrialists who work in the factory of Ford vehicles will gain the appreciation of their boss with a salary of $20 USD per 30 minutes for the heavy work finished on a car. If we build a truck together, there must be involved women from within USA. Spiritual relationships will accrue amongst the assemblers of the truck which will transport your children's meals to JONS. These trucks accelerate like a sports-car with heavy freight.

The Communists of the Russian Federation which was entitled to the right activism is changing and saving USA's future, however if they accept and agree to become the better government in order to make the national debt obsolete. If this is an undesired situation, then Kuai Liang must be awarded with $100,000 USD in order to make the national debt lessen by decreasing numbers in the help of the working force. Your investment will be used to solve problems of USA and to ordain the corporation who will keep people rich and make economy prosper. It is either we become Communist government or Kuai Liang must be paid $100,000 USD. Choose your destiny.

Nobleman of China,

Kuai Liang