ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEARING “MADE IN TURKEY” T-SHIRTS
Ani Hovhannisyan

hetq
15:54, September 20, 2011

It seems that the organizers of events marking the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence are handing out commemorative T-shirts made
in Turkey to lucky contest winners.

The tee shirts read “2011 Hayastan Du Es” on the front. (2011,
Armenia Is You)

Arevik Badalyan, the public affairs coordinator for the events,
told Hetq that they had no idea that the T-shirts carried the “Made
in Turkey” tag.

“It’s the first I’m hearing about it. We have nothing to do with
the production of the shirts. It was the sponsor, METEXIM Ltd.,
which provided the shirts. We just distributed what they gave us,”
said Badalyan. (The company is a metal scraps exporter – Editor)

Hetq then got in touch with a METEXIM rep about the Turkish connection.

– Hey, they gave us the shirts and we distributed them to our
employees.

– They gave you the shirts? The Independence Anniversary Committee
says your company provided the shirts.

– Yeah. We gave most of the shirts to the Committee and some we handed
out to our staff.

– But where did you get the shirts in the first place?

– Well…It’s was an order we placed overseas.

– Did you place the order with Turkey? The shirts say “Made in Turkey”.

– Yes.

– So your company paid for the order?

– I don’t know

The METEXIM rep promised to get back to us within the hour with
further details.

Later on, I talked to another person from Medemax who wished to
remain anonymous.

He said the shirts arrived at the company’s terminal and were
taken away. He also said the company wasn’t sponsoring any of the
Independence Day events.

I asked him if he knew where the shirts had come from – “No I don’t.”

– Who has that information?

– What makes you say the shirts were made in Turkey? I have a shirt
and there is nothing written on the label. Another tee shirt doesn’t
even have a label. I am amazed that the label on your shirt reads
“Made in Turkey.

– I have photographed a number of shirts. The label must say where
it is made and give care instructions

– I’m not arguing with you. I know what the label is for.

Anyway, I can’t tell you anything more.

– Whom am I talking with?

– An employee. Don’t mention my name anywhere. I’ve already told you
too much and had no right to.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress