Month: December 2008

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE SYRIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA?

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.12.2008 18:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Syrian Embassy in Yerevan has officially refuted
information that the Embassy staff addressed the RA Foreign Ministry to
complain about sexual harassment and inadequate behavior of Ambassador
Abdul Hammed Sallum.

The message received by PanARMENIAN.Net says that the Embassy staff
denies having any problems with the Syrian diplomat.

"This information is false. All we have witnessed is deferential
attitude and courtesy. We regret that former employee circulated her
personal complaint," the message says.

On December 11, PanARMENIAN.Net received the following letter:

"We, the staff of the Syrian Embassy in Armenia would like to draw
your attention to an urgent issue, which has aroused vast grievance
among the employees of the Embassy.

When each of us was accepting their job at the Embassy of Syria in
Armenia, he or she was happy because they thought that they would
have to deal with serious diplomats from whom they could learn a great
deal, as well as would be able to meet their financial needs. It was
the case until 20 days ago.

Before then the working atmosphere at the embassy was mild and
friendly. The employees would work with the diplomats as with
friends. None of our rights was ever violated: the employees of the
embassy had never seen the Ambassador in underwear, female employees
had never received dating proposal from the Ambassador who threatened
them to fire immediately if they rejected. Shortly after working for
two weeks the new Ambassador dismissed the cook (female) working in
his house, as if upon her own resignation note.

The resignation note had not been written by the cook and the
reason could not be mentioned naturally. That immoral decision
was made knowing that the woman was the only one working in the
family. Moreover, just for the sake of diplomatic correctness the
author of the decision did not even wish to receive and talk to
that woman for the last time who had lost her job by a pen stroke,
who was highly virtuous, possessed higher education degree and who
fulfilled all her duties. The reason for dismissal was claimed to be
the absence of knowledge of Arabic.

Now most of the employees of the Embassy who are citizens of the
Republic of Armenia and have high sense of dignity are under the threat
of losing their jobs. Those who gave us our jobs at the embassy were
also ambassadors, and not knowing Arabic has had no role in losing
jobs so far.

We request considering all the information we have provided since it
is truthful. We have high hopes that friendly relationships between
our countries will never allow that Ambassador Abdul Hammed Sallum
change the Embassy staff due to personal needs.

THE IDEA OF TURNING GYUMRI INTO A TECHNO PARK REALISTIC

AZG Armenian Daily
16/12/2008

Economy

The business-model for converting Gyumri into a techno park was
discussed in Gyumri on the initiative of the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) and the Academy of Educational
Development.

The Minister of Economy Nerses Eritsian mentioned that from the
programs directed to the development of the earthquake zone’s economy
the idea of turning Gyumri into a techno park is more realistic.

The research on Gyumri has been carried out by the head of "Shannon
International", expert Kevin Thomson. According to the latter, the
town has the necessary territories to create a techno park. The expert
also mentioned that the most important thing available in Gyumri is
the state and private cooperation.

"Gyumri is a crossroads in sense of infrastructures that is a good
prerequisite for export", Minister Eritsian told the journalists.

OFFICIAL VISIT OF ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN TO CHINA KICKS OFF

ARMENPRESS
Dec 15, 2008

BEIJING, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: The official visit of the Armenian NA
speaker Hovik Abrahamian to China kicked off today at the invitation
of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the All-China Assembly of
People’s Representatives U Bango. The delegation headed by the NA
speaker includes representatives of all the parliamentary factions.

Armenpress correspondent reported that today H. Abrahamian will meet
with U Bango and after the meeting the two sides will sign a memorandum
of mutual understanding.

Within the framework of the visit meetings with the deputy chairman
of standing committee Li Tzyango, vice prime minister Li Kentzyan
are expected to take place.

The delegation headed by Hovik Abrahamian will also be in Khaynyan
province and meet with the leadership of the House of Representatives.

This is the third official visit on the level of chairman of the
Armenian National Assembly to China since the establishment of
diplomatic relations in 1992. Before that the speakers of Armenian
parliament paid official visit to China in 1996 and 2001.

‘JAVAKHK’ AND ‘AKHALTSIKHE’ BOOKS PRESENTED IN YEREVAN

AZG Armenian Daily
16/12/2008

Culture

On initiative of Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA), books titled
‘Javakhk’ and ‘Akhaltsikhe’ were presented in Yerevan on December 14.

The books contain information about numerous Armenian churches and
cultural monuments situated in Samtskhe Javakheti and Akhaltsihke
Armenian-inhabited regions in Georgia, as well as maps and photos.

"These books will help protect our churches and monuments situated
beyond Armenia," said Samvel Karapetyan, the author of the books and
a specialist in Armenian architecture. "They sum up the results of
my 20-year research."

In all, some 17 books about the Armenian cultural heritage in the
territory of historic Armenia have been already published by the RAA.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSIAN SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO THE PRESIDENT OF CYPRIAN REPUBLIC

ARMENPRESS
Dec 15, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh
Sargsian sent a message of condolences to the president of Cyprian
Republic. The Presidential press service told Armenpress that the
message particularly says: "Honorable Mr. President, With deep
sorrow I learnt about the death of the former Cyprian President
Tasos Papadopulos.

As a wise leader of our Cyprian friendly people and a devoted son
to his homeland the contribution of Tasos Papadopulos in the modern
Cyprian history is invaluable. His role is also great in the expansion
and consolidation of the brotherly relations of Armenian and Cyprian
people.

On behalf of Armenian people and personally me I offer my deep
condolences to the family of the deceased and the Cyprian people".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION ON KARABAKH CONFLICT CAUSED DIFFERENCE OF OPINION

AZG Armenian Daily
16/12/2008

Establishing a commission on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the
Parliament of Azerbaijan has caused difference of opinion between
the power and opposition.

"It is important to establish a commission in the Parliament in order
to deal with the solution of the conflict from the point of view of
legislation and maintain the conflict on the focus of attention," MP
Panah Huseyn, member of Musavat group of MPs representing opposition
in the Parliament, told TrendNews.

Huseyn said that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the basic problem of
Azerbaijan and the MPs representing both power and opposition have been
proposing sine 1995 to establish a commission on the conflict. However,
due to various reasons, these proposals have not been accepted.

"The executive power agencies deal with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
since it is a serious problem, but there are issues which can involve
the Parliament as well," Huseyn added.

Ziyafet Askerov, first vice speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament, chairman
of standing commission on security and defense, told TrendNews that
there is no need to establish such a commission.

"Because whole people deals with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. It is not the work of one commission, but entire
people. Therefore, I am against to create two sides here. The President
of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, holds the talks successfully, and after
concrete result, the issue will be expressed attitude and entire
people will know it," Askerov said.

Saying that the talks are being held between the Presidents and
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Askerov stated that if
any progress or concrete results in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, it is possible to hold discussions in the Parliament.

"ARMENIAN JAZZ WAS BORN IN 60TH WITHOUT VOCAL"

Panorama.am
18:18 15/12/2008

In the frames of Armenian Jazz 70 jazz band firework will take place
today in Aram Khachatryan concert hall. For the first time Armenian
jazz fans have an opportunity to see honorable artist of Russian
Federation Georgi Garanyan, honorable artist of Armenia Levon
Malkhasyan and international jazz-festivals’ medalist Alexander
Zakaryan.

In a meeting with the journalists Levon Malkhasyan said that there
is no jazz vocal in Armenia though jazz was born in 60th in Armenia.

"The same is in Moscow," said Georgi Garanyan and explained that the
only reason to that is the absence of jazz school.

Jazz masters say that jazz is less demanded in the world. They say
that irrespective of other types of music jazz, classical music are
never so popular and are never a part of publicity.

CHESS NEWS FROM WORLD

Panorama.am
18:19 15/12/2008

In the fifth round of Grand Masters’ super-tournament organized in
China Armenian Levon Aronyan and Chinese Boo Yantszin will meet. Note
that both of them have 2.5 points and they lead the tournament. In
this fifth round Ivanchuk and Movsisyan and Topalov and Svedler will
also meet.

In another championship of FIDE "Grand Prix" Armenian representative
Vladimir Hakobyan ended his first game in draw. In the second round
Vladimir Hakobyan will meet with Dmitry Yakovenko.

And news from Milan – Armenian chess player Karen Movsisyan gained
the first horizontal in chess international championship in Milan.

ARE KINDERGARTENS CORRUPTED TOO?

A1+
[12:46 pm] 16 December, 2008

Kindergartens nationwide are collecting money from parents. In many
districts, kindergartens are still heated with radiators or wood. That
is why parents are obliged to make payments and this is the issue
facing residents of the Malatia-Sebastia district.

"They installed a wood heater to heat the rooms and made us each pay
3,000 drams," complained a couple of residents of the district. "As
if collecting 2,000 drams wasn’t enough, now they want money for
the winter. I paid 10,000 drams for my kids alone. If we don’t pay,
they tell us that the rest of the students are paying too," said one
of the parents.

Parents say that they are ready to pay more money as long as they
don’t face this issue each winter.

Economist of the education department of the Malatia-Sebastia district
council Gayane Antonyan told "A1+" that only 7 of the 23 kindergartens
of district are heated.

"The other kindergartens will be gasified by 2012. Until then,
directors of kindergartens are forced to provide wood or radiators,"
said Antonyan.

The district council workers had no idea about this.

"If the kindergarten can’t provide the necessary heating, it is forced
to close its doors in January and February. That happens anyway,
because parents refuse to take their children to the kindergarten. As
for collecting money, I have not received any alarm," said Gayane
Antonyan.

Meanwhile, during our visits to the kindergartens, many directors
assured us that the district head, the district council administration
and the head of the education department know that kindergartens are
heated with wood and radiators.

"They came and saw that we are using firewood and even praised us. They
weren’t the ones who bought the wood for us, so they know how we got
it," they said and added that even in the case of heating parents
will be forced to make payments for the gas.

"The directors are left with all the expenses. We provide the service
and the parents must pay us for that," said director of the #169
kindergarten Gayane Sargsyan.

"We have signed an agreement with the parents for the collecting
money," said Sargsyan. However, parents denied that to "A1+".

The aldermen of the Malatia-Sebastia district council have fixed
5,000 drams for food at the kindergarten, while the minimum price
for food in kindergartens is 6,000-7,000 drams. In addition to that,
directors collect 1,000 or 2,000 drams from parents to take care of
communal expenses.

ON FOOD AND PRESENTS

Most of the parents complained about the quality of nutrition. "They
don’t put up the menus and when we ask the children what they ate,
they say rice with water," they said. Kindergarten directors said
that it is hard to get high-calorie food with 230 drams a day. In an
interview with "A1+

The parents refused to give out their names with the fear that
their teachers would treat them badly. But they did say that the
kindergartens always collect money for carpets and curtains every year.

Last year, the kindergarten collected 15,000 drams from parents to
purchase robes for the graduating class and the robes stayed in the
kindergarten after that. According to the parents, money is collected
"more often" especially when the holidays come around when the parent
committee "activists" collect money to buy presents for the teachers.

DOGS HAVE GONE MAD

A1+
[12:22 pm] 16 December, 2008

Recently, abandoned dogs are attacking other animals in the Voskepar
village of the Tavush Marz. The furious dogs have already attacked
two calves and one donkey. Police are taking measures to get rid of
the mad dogs, but there are a lot of them.