Month: May 2013

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PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

AGBU Chapter and Young Professionals in Plovdiv Raise over $5,000 for Programs in Armenia

The AGBU Plovdiv Chapter celebrated its 103rd anniversary with a charity gala, “Children and Youth – Our Future,” to raise funds for the participation of Bulgarian-Armenian children and youth at AGBU and Diaspora Ministry summer programs in Armenia. The AGBU Plovdiv Young Professionals played a pivotal role in organizing the successful evening – which raised more than $5,000, including proceeds from an auction – at the city’s exclusive Viennese Pavilion.

The gala was attended by over 220 guests from five different cities in Bulgaria, including Armenian Ambassador to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan, Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese in Bulgaria Archimandrite Abgar Hovakimian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Plovdiv Ehiazar Uzunyan, former mayors Garabed Tomasyan and Spas Garnevski, AGBU Plovdiv chapter chair Roupen Chavoushian, as well as a number of prominent city council members and politicians.

The gala guests enjoyed a full-on program with the participation of the AGBU Vocal and Instrumental Band Erebouni, the Armenian Dance Group Nayiri and the Bulgarian Dance Ensemble Rachenitsa. They also watched video presentations on programs targeted by the fundraising efforts, including AGBU’s Discover Armenia, Yerevan Summer Internship Program, Antranik Scout Camp, as well as the Diaspora Ministry’s Ari Tun program.

The highlight of the evening was the auction entitled “For the Children by the Children.” All the items up for auction came from Armenia, including a duduk, a mother-of-pearl khachkar and four works of art made by the youth at AGBU’s Children’s Centers in Armenia, which became the object of a heated bidding war.

The AGBU Plovdiv Chapter intends this step to be the first one of consistent efforts in the future to raise funds for the participation of youth from Bulgaria in summer programs in Armenia. The Chapter and its young members are convinced that the path to Armenia will inspire the next generations, instilling in them a sense of belonging like no other experience could.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

From: Baghdasarian

EVENT ON 98TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN WASHINGTON

18:28, 30 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: Under the patronage of Armenian
Ambassador to U.S. Tatul Margaryan concert of prominent singer of
national and spiritual songs Anna Mayiliyan and Ethno Vocal Trio was
held in Washington in frames of events dedicated to 98th anniversary
of Armenian Genocide.

As Armenpress was informed from press, informational and public
relations department of Armenian Foreign Ministry, Armenian classical,
spiritual and modern compositions were performed at the concert.

Afterwards reception in honor of Anna Mayiliyan and Ethno Vocal Trio
was held in Armenian Embassy in USA. In his speech Tatul Margaryan
underlined the importance of cultural diplomacy, evaluating the role
of Armenian artists and Armenian structures in maintenance of cultural
values in Armenian communities.

“TARON IS THE SYMBOL OF RPA” – VIDEOS

A1+
07:27 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Candidate for the Yerevan Elder’s Council Election from ANC Vladimir
Karapetyan shared his impressions at the Liberty Square.

“RPA has no votes in Yerevan. Reasonable and thinking voters cannot
give their vote to someone who cannot properly speak Armenian, has
mediocre abilities, but big greed”.

Vladimir Karapetyan is surprised that there is no one who could answer
where Taron Margaryan’s wealth comes from.

“RPA does not have a better candidate and Taron is the symbol of RPA
with all his characteristic traits. I have the impression that Taron
has won the primaries inside RPA and has been awarded the smartest,
the most intellectual and conscientious figure. This is nothing but
a mockery in Yerevan resident’s address”.

ZURABYAN CALLS FOR BEING A PREACHER – VIDEO

A1Plus.am
08:50 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

The head of the ANC party Levon Zurabyan today announced at the Liberty
Square, “…if some tourist who does not know anything about this
country comes here, he will be greatly surprised”. Then he started
to count all the iniquities which make people suffer.

In particular, he spoke about the activity of RPA. “Well, the guys
from RPA love their country very much, but they love it as property.

Today those who make statements about modesty and patriotism, are
really engaged in plunder and fabrication. It is time to save our
country from desecration”.

Levon Zurabyan stated, that it is important to realize, that there will
be no elections in 4 years after May 5. “If we do not reach radical
changes through these elections or at least do not have necessary
bases for those, our country will be in immigration and political
marsh. It is time to act and today the main problem is indifference”.

He wonders about those statements, according to which Taron Margaryan
has “passed” those elections. “If he has “passed” something, then
those are the limits of ethics”.

Mr. Zurabyan assured, that 20% of Yerevan residents openly support
ANC and are ready to vote for it. “And taking into consideration the
atmosphere of fear, which has been created by the regime in power,
many people just do not say that they support ANC. You must become
preachers. Go and tell people, that they should not be indifferent
and should not lose their hope. If you can unite everyone, then the
victory is inevitable”.

ANC WILL NUMBER – VIDEOS

A1Plus.am
08:26 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Former Mayor of Yerevan, ANC candidate for the Mayor Vahagn Khachatryan
assured that we are able to make drastic changes in our lives

“During the campaign, meeting with lots of citizens, once again we
came to the thought that Yerevan, as whole Armenia, is in deplorable
condition. Our citizens are forgotten by the authorities”, said
Vahagn Khachatryan.

Vahagn Khachatryan spoke about their programs too, about what they
will do when elected. “The permanent construction of Kentron district
will be stopped, not a single tree will be cut, we will number all
the trees, will decrease the taxes for small and medium businesses
and private entrepreneurs”.

Coming back to the importance of these elections, Mr. Khachatrayn
assured, that liberating Yerevan from the present regime, we will
destroy its political monopoly, will essentially weaken it. “If we
come to power, you will live in a green, clean, comfortable city,
where you can rest and enjoy your time. You will all feel that you
live in the best city in the world”.

“THEY THINK YEREVAN PEOPLE ARE CRAZY”

08:09 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

During the rally at the Liberty Square the ANC Speaker Arman Musinyan
said, that during their campaign these days they have succeeded in
making people realize the huge importance of these elections.

“In doing this, we were greatly helped by the regime in authority with
its flowers and balloons, with its senseless speeches and especially
with its candidate. The administration did everything to make these
elections seem petty and unimportant, but they did not succeed in
doing that. Now their only option is to fix the elections and to
steal the votes”.

Then Mr Mosinyan showed some sociological data which were ordered by
the authorities. According to those, 57% of Yerevan residents thinks
that RPA candidate for the elections, Mayor in power Taron Margaryan
is a clever person. “They think Yerevan people are crazy, there is no
other explanation to this. According to those data, ANC has only 3%
support. In that case a question arises: show us a country in the
world where the authorities struggle with all their means against a
3% opposition, as they do here. There can be oly one conclusion here:
the authorities are just horrified of the support people show to ANC,
there can not be any oter explanation”.

Mr Musinyan also stated, that, as opposite to present administration,
they are real political force. “We have had difficulties and turmoils.

We should remind only one thing: everyone can be strong while in power,
but very few can reamin strong out of power. There will not be any RPA
when they are off power, as many members of RPA are nothing without
money. They will do anything to be near authorities and to earn money,
they would even become members of Musavat party for that”.

Arman Msuinyan emphasized, that if an oppsosition candidate is elected
as the Mayor of Yerevan, the map of a fluent revolution will become
visible. “And Serj Sargsyan’s resignation will be only a matter of
time. Don’t lose your temper!”

“SERJ SARGSYAN MUST AT LEAST BE A SADIST…”

A1Plus.am
09:05 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

The rally of ANC was followed by march. At this moment ANC is holding
a march through the central streets of Yerevan. Tomorrow ANC will
continue the campaign, and today the leader of ANC explained why RPA
candidate for Mayor Taron Margaryan is not to be elected.

“A person who has held only administrative positions in all his
adult life, could not accumulate such wealth only through legal
means in any country. I don’t know through whose talent the RPA
wunderkind-candidate has accumulated such wealth only in 10-12 years”,
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said.

According to him, it is amazing how cynic must be any authority and
how much must it ignore its people to present such a candidate. “Serj
Sargsyan must at least be a sadist to do that”.

Ter-Petrosyan also called for a long-term struggle. “People who are
not ready for a long-term struggle, cannot be in ANC”.

ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY HAS NO SUPPORTERS IN YEREVAN – ANC REP

18:37 ~U 30.04.13

The Armenian National Congress (ANC) party has started its rally in
Yerevan’s Freedom Square.

ANC leader, Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Vahagn
Khachatryan (who tops the ANC list in the elections to Yerevan’s
Council of Elders) and other members are to speak at the rally.

Speaking at the rally, Vladimir Karapetyan, who is on the ANC list
in the upcoming elections to Yerevan’s Council of Elders, expressed
the confidence that the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
will suffer defeat.

“A competent and politically conscious voter cannot vote for a greedy
person that cannot speak his native language. The RPA candidate is
known to be avoiding debates with his rivals. He is phobic about the
moment of explaining the sources of his fortune,” he said.

“Cannot any member of the ruling party explain the sources of an
official’s fortune? No, they cannot because they cannot imagine an
honestly paid official,” Karapetyan said.

“I feel Taron has won in the category ‘the cleverest RPA member with
the cleanest hands.’ He must be the ‘cleanest’ in the ruling party
because he tops its list in the May 5 elections,” Karapetyan said.

He is indignant that the RPA candidate is surrounded by the “Yerevan
crime kingpins.”

ANC MEMBER SPEAKS OF YEREVAN MAYOR’S $10M FORTUNE

19:53 ~U 30.04.13

Speaking at a rally the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party is
holding in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, Gayane Ghazaryan, who is on the
ANC list in the upcoming elections to Yerevan’s Council of Elders,
said that Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan “has amassed a fortune of
about $10 million in a few years.”

Although the ANC has repeatedly raised the issue, it has never received
a response, she said.

“Now they are trying to assure us that the municipal elections
are not so important. That’s a downright lie! The elections are of
paramount importance in the matter of stripping the authorities of
their mechanisms of plunder,” Ghazaryan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN RULING PARTY’S CANDIDATE NOT TO BE YEREVAN MAYOR – ANC REP (UPDATED)

18:37 ~U 30.04.13

The Armenian National Congress (ANC) party has started its rally in
Yerevan’s Freedom Square.

ANC leader, Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Vahagn
Khachatryan (who tops the ANC list in the elections to Yerevan’s
Council of Elders) and other members are to speak at the rally.

Speaking at the rally, Vladimir Karapetyan, who is on the ANC list
in the upcoming elections to Yerevan’s Council of Elders, expressed
the confidence that the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
will suffer defeat.

“A competent and politically conscious voter cannot vote for a greedy
person that cannot speak his native language. The RPA candidate is
known to be avoiding debates with his rivals. He is phobic about the
moment of explaining the sources of his fortune,” he said.

“Cannot any member of the ruling party explain the sources of an
official’s fortune? No, they cannot because they cannot imagine an
honestly paid official,” Karapetyan said.

“I feel Taron has won in the category ‘the cleverest RPA member with
the cleanest hands.’ He must be the ‘cleanest’ in the ruling party
because he tops its list in the May 5 elections,” Karapetyan said.

He is indignant that the RPA candidate is surrounded by the “Yerevan
crime kingpins.”

ANC Spokesman Arman Musinyan (3rd on the ANC list in the upcoming
elections to Yerevan’s Council of Elders), said that, despite
the population’s great disappointment at the Feb. 18 presidential
election, the ANC succeeded in explaining the importance of the
municipal elections to voters.

“Our election campaign showed the population’s utter contempt for
the ruling regime,” he said.

The misinformation the authorities are disseminating through some
media outlets shows they are afraid of the ANC’s potential and its
political team.

Victory in the upcoming elections is only possible due to “effective
opposition to the ruling party’s planned frauds.”