Month: February 2012

ARCHITECT: “GRANT GIVERS JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR SOCIETY IN PERMANENT STRAINED SITUATION”

Today literary critic Davit Gasparyan and architect Levon Igityan
met journalists and spoke about various social problems, which exist
today in Armenia.

Referring to the snowy streets and pavements of Yerevan and literary
critic noted that all of us must participate in the cleanings. “It
will be better if every community organizes such actions with the
resources it has”. Architect Levon Igityan noted that he considers
every affair in Armenia is his onw affair. If the country becomes
smaller physically, the people’s minds also become smaller. “We do not
have a consisted society today as we are not interested in anything
out of our homes. Every person must do his won work in his place. This
is not an image of capital”, L. Igityan underlined. He also presented
the example of some European countries where he saw how the owner of
the shop washed his territory with soap. The architect also expressed
his dissatisfaction concerning current situation of Yerevan.

Davit Gasparyan also spoke about the struggle in Mashtots Park,
where the kiosks are planned to be situated. D. Gasparyan said that
it is positive Abovyan Street is clean now, but the kiosks must not
be transferred to another place.

“The markets are empty, but the kiosks are situated in the center
of the city”, the literary critic gets angry. Answering to the
question whether he also would join the struggle, D. Gasparyan said
that every person must be engaged in its own affair. I can express
my disagreement by writing. L. Igityan considers that all existing
issues can not be settled at once. “Everything will be settled step
by step”, the architect said.

“And what about the initiatives for ecological struggle? I consider
that who gives a grant, he gives an order. I do not believe that the
money is just given from Europe and the USA. They just want to keep
our society in permanent strained situation”, L. Igityan underlined.

STEPANAKERT TO HOST CONFERENCE ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE

news.am
February 16, 2012 | 16:22

YEREVAN.- Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, will
host an international conference dedicated to 20th anniversary of
the Republic.

The conference held on February 17-18 will bring together MPs,
political analysts from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as
experts from Russia, Germany, UK, Poland, Greece, the Netherlands.

They will discuss the Karabakh issue and the role of NKR in
international processes.

President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan and Parliament Speaker
Ashot Ghulyan will address the participants.

The Armenian parliament’s delegation headed by Vice Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov will participate in the conference.

The forum is organized with the support of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

SAYAT NOVA DANCE COMPANY SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 16, 2012 – 18:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the
Sayat Nova Dance Company recently announced the creation of the SNDC
Student Dance Scholarship, available for the 2012-13 academic year,
The Armenian Weekly reported.The scholarship is designed to encourage
dance education and as a resource to Armenian students to put what
they have learned through their dance education to practice.

Applications must be submitted by March 30, 2012. More information
can be obtained at

U.S. JURIST PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON FRENCH BILL CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 16, 2012 – 18:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Law, member of the American Law Institute and of the
International Academy of Comparative Law Vivian Curran published an
article about French Senate’s adoption of the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial, titled “Balancing Freedom of Expression
and Human Rights in France.”

Curran stresses the need to review France’s past to have better
understanding of definitions of freedom of speech and human rights
applied in the country.

“French politics became virulent, as the Dreyfus Affair soon revealed.

A ferocious anti-Semitism developed and exploded during the time
of the Affair, when an innocent French Jewish captain was tried and
convicted of spying for Germany,” Curran writes.

The author further calls attention to France’s role in Holocaust.

“France’s part in the Holocaust was highly complex. In part, it was
fueled by the rhetoric and actions of those whose anti-Semitism harked
to the Dreyfus days and made common cause with the Nazis during the
Second World War,” the article reads.

“Due to France’s history, the freedom of speech and press which has
allowed a vast panoply of views and practices to flourish in France is
not the same as its First Amendment counterpart in the US. Underlying
the French value of freedom of expression is a greater sense of
vulnerability that comes from knowing first-hand that democracy is
not necessarily a self-perpetuating system,” Curran writes.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected
to be signed into law by President within 14 days, the bill will
impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France
who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

SEMINAR IN TEHRAN DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND IRAN

armradio.am
16.02.2012 17:52

A seminar dedicated to the 20th anniversary of establishment of
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Iran was held at the Tehran
State University.

In his opening remarks Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharyan congratulated the attendees on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the
two countries.

The speakers at the event highly appreciated the relations between
the two countries, noting that the comprehensive cooperation and
implementation of joint programs has reached a high level, and the
trend continues.

The book titled “Armenia-Iran relations are 20” by Armenian envoy
Garnik Badalyan and the Persian edition of Western Armenian poet
Zahrat’s works translated by Iranian Armenian writer, poet and
translator Khachik Khachen were presented at the event.

EXPERT DEEMS AZERI WISH TO ANNEX SOUTHERN AZERBAIJAN NOT SERIOUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 16, 2012 – 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Recent deterioration of Iranian-Azerbaijani relations
won’t have any consequences, an Armenian expert said.

“It’s no secret that Azerbaijan is a springboard for implementation
of anti-Iranian operations,” Sargis Asatryan told a press conference.

According to him, Israel actively uses existing community in Azerbaijan
to disseminate anti-Iranian propaganda.

In this context, another political analyst Roman Smbatyan stressed
the need to consider military and technical cooperation between Israel
and Azerbaijan.

The expert further deemed continued Azeri statements on annexing
Iran’s northern district ‘Southern Azerbaijan’ not serious.

ARMENIA’S NAIRIT RUBBER FACTORY HAS BECOME PROPERTY OF CIS INTERSTATE BANK

news.am
February 16, 2012 | 17:09

YEREVAN. – Today Armenia’s Nairit Rubber Factory is the property of
CIS Interstate Bank, and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen
Movsisyan confirmed this on Thursday.

To note, the offshore Rhinoville Property Limited, which is Nairit’s
primary owner, had taken a US$ 70-million loan from the aforementioned
Bank in 2006, and it had put up the Factory as collateral. The loan
was received for the Factory’s upgrading and for investments, but it
was not used for its proper purpose.

Armen Movsisyan, however, informed that several leading companies
continue to show an interest in Nairit.

The Minister also noted that there will be downsizing at the Factory,
once the new administrator is confirmed. This concerns the laying
off of 400 employees, which, as per Armen Movsisyan, is not a great
number, considering the total of 3,000 employees.

Also, a five-month salary debt has accrued at present.

COOPERATING WITH IRAN, ARMENIA SOLVES ENERGY SECURITY PROBLEM (PHOTO)

news.am
February 16, 2012 | 17:37

YEREVAN. – Energy cooperation with Iran is aimed at maintaining
Armenia’s energy security, Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said
commenting on possible consequences for Armenian-Iranian energy
projects in the light of anti-Iranian sanctions (photo).

“I do not think that someone will voice criticism against Armenia. We
are not doing business, only tackling problems of Armenia’s energy
security,” he told journalists on Thursday.

Not a single joint project, such as gas pipeline, railway, construction
of HPP on Araks River, has been suspended so far.

The Minster also said the construction of HPP will start this year.

NEW ENERGY UNIT OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO BE DELIVERED INTO OPERATION IN 2019-2020

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: Some progress is noted in the
construction works of the new energy unit of the Armenian Nuclear
Power Plant, Armen Movsisyan, the RA minister of energy and natural
resources, reported today at a news conference.

He says during his recent visit to Armenia, Sergey Kirienko, head of
ROSATOM company, reconfirmed the approaches, according to which the
Russian party is ready to ensure 50 percent of the investments.

“They suggest that the remaining 50 percent of the investment be
ensured by the RA Government, thus avoiding the involvement of other
companies,” the minister said.

He says in case of lack of other variants they will accept the
offer thus ensuring 51 percent of the shares of the energy unit
under construction.

The minister assured that the new energy unit will be constructed
compliant with the schedule and will be delivered into operation
in 2019-2020.

U.S. EMBASSY IN ARMENIA IS ASKED TO EXPLAIN OBAMA’S BEHAVIOR

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: Political Developments Research
Center addressed an open letter to the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
Heffern connected with the Obama’s proposal to cut the economic aid
to Armenia. Public relations office of the center says in the letter
they expressed their concern over it.

“We are saddened to hear that President Obama has called for a drastic
19 percent reduction in economic assistance to Armenia in his latest
budget request from Congress. The president has proposed $27,219,000
in aid for Armenia in his Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget, which is
nearly $12,781,000, or 32 percent less than the $40,000,000 approved
by Congress for the previous fiscal year.

Taking into consideration the fact that Armenia is in an economic
blockade by Azerbaijan, and its ally Turkey, which has kept the
border with Armenia closed since 1993 as a sign of approval and
support in favor of Azerbaijan in the ongoing conflict between the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, the United States, as a
champion of human rights and democratic development, should continue
to assist Armenia’s progress by keeping the foreign aid level constant
with previous years. This is especially true when the Nagorno Karabakh
people have been striving for self-determination which was first
presented by American president Woodrow Wilson, and the duel blockade
has made the peaceful life much more difficult for people in Armenia
and in Nagorno-Karabakh, artificially limiting the economic growth.

As a diplomat of a country that is serving as one of the Co-Chairmen
of the OSCE Minsk Group, which aims to bring about a lasting peace
and stability in the region, and a country that supported Armenian
President’s move towards the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, you are
in a good position to understand the tense and fragile situation of
the region.

Nonetheless, taking the geopolitical difficulties into account, Armenia
has still managed to provide peacekeepers in U.S. missions overseas,
specifically in Iraq, and continues to participate in Afghanistan
as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF). Armenian peacekeepers put their lives on the line to further
the democratic and humanitarian mission, along with their Euro-Atlantic
partners, which is another reason President Obama’s budget proposal
to cut foreign aid to Armenia remains perplexing for us.

Therefore, we are kindly asking you to provide an explanation as to
why President Obama has decided to lower foreign aid to the Republic
of Armenia,” the letter runs.

From: A. Papazian