Month: September 2013

BELARUSIAN MINSK REGION TO COOPERATE WITH ARMENIAN SYUNIK AND VAYOTZ DZOR REGIONS

20:08, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Vice Prime Minister of Armenia,
Minister of territorial administration Armen Gevorgyan held a meeting
with the delegation of Belarusian Minsk region headed by Governor Boris
Batura. “Armenpress” was informed from public relations department
of the ministry that the delegation is in Armenia for discussing
opportunities of cooperation with Amenian Syunik and Vayotz Dzor
regions. The delegation held meetings with regional authorities,
got acquainted with potential of cooperation.

Voce Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia welcomed the
initiative of cooperation mentioning that Armenian government
encourages the deepening of relations in decentralized level. He
expressed satisfaction on occasion of development of cooperation with
Belarusian regions. He also introduced information about potential of
Syunik and Vayotz Dzor, programs implemented in the regions noticing
that two regions are rich of historical-cultural heritage and have
great touristic potential.

The guests informed that had already marked some cooperation
projects which can be realized successfully. They invited their
Armenian partners to Belarus for discussing the opportunities of joint
programs. The sides consider prospective cooperation in agricultural,
industrial and tourism spheres.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA, BAREV YEREVAN BLOCS SKEPTICAL ABOUT FARE COMMISSION

21:34 18.09.13

The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and Barev Yerevan (Hello Yerevan)
blocs in Yerevan’s City Council are skeptical about the role of the
commission set up to discuss the transport fare.

David Sanasaryan of the Barev Yerevan bloc told Tert.am that the bloc
will not be represented in the commission.

“Our representative will not participate in the discussions as Yerevan
Mayor Taron Maragryan’s letter does not say anything of the commission
member’s powers. We have applied to court for invalidation of the
decision raising the transport fare,” he said.

“Reliable sources informed us that the Yerevan Municipality is forcing
transport companies to address a letter and state they are no longer
able to render transport services at fare rates lower than AMD 150
per passenger,” he said.

Secretary of the PAP parliamentary group Naira Zohrabyan said:
“We must be well informed of the commission’s tasks. The letter we
have receives does not throw light on it. If the commission is going
to discuss the quality of transport services and the disgraceful
transport situation in Armenia’s capital, we show understanding.

However, if the commission’s task is to raise the transport fare
and simulate hard work, which will be followed by a statement that
a fare rise has no alternative, the PAP is not going to participate
in the discussions.

The PAP intends to discuss the issue and apply to the city authorities
for more detailed information.

“Our position remains unchanged: in the current social conditions
the fare cannot be raised at any pretext,” she said.

In his turn, Mr Sanasaryan said that a fare rise may cause public
discontent.

With respect to the claims that protests will not produce any results
as the decision will be made by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, he
said: “Why do you think that the previous decision was made without
Serzh Sargsyan’s consent? I am sure that Baghramyan 26 [Armenian
presidential residence] OK’d that decision and later demanded that
it be suspended.”

Sanasaryan stressed that the decision is not in citizens’ interests.

Ruzanna Grigoryan of the Paying 100 drams movement strongly objects to
the decision. “We must call to account the people that approved the
decision.” No public hearing has so far been held, and the decision
meets private companies’ interests, she added.

Actor Haik Marutyan believes that the decision is natural provided
Yerevan residents are richer now. “But if not, protests are natural. I
think it is a defense reaction,” he said.

Many people in Armenia “can hardly make both ends meet” and they will
have to stop using transport because of the fare rise.

“If the people could pay they would never protest,” the actor said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

CSTO JOINT AIR FORCE VITAL TO SECURITY OF ARMENIA, ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN SAYS

17:30 18/09/2013 ” POLITICS

An interdepartmental commission coordinating CSTO events met today,
chaired by Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan, NSC press service reported.

A regular meeting of the Council and statutory bodies of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will take place in Sochi on
September 23, Baghdasaryan said.

“I think the upcoming meeting is important in terms of strengthening
the military component of CSTO because it is planned to sign a number
of documents, including a decision on establishment of CSTO air force.

Joint air force within CSTO is vital to security of Armenia,” he said.

The meeting also focused on the preparatory work for the 11th meeting
of the CSTO Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical
Cooperation that will take place in Yerevan on October 1-4.

“I think it is a good opportunity to analyze the existing problems
and to outline new directions for deepening cooperation within the
CSTO framework,” Baghdasaryan said.

Source: Panorama.am

BUNDESLIGA: MKHITARYAN’S GOAL IS BEST IN 5TH ROUND

September 18, 2013

Armenian national football team and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund
midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s goal scored against Hamburger SV is
recognized as the best goal of the fifth-round games in the current
season of the German Bundesliga. Bild magazine conducted the respective
online voting, and 37 percent of the readers voted in favor of the
goal netted by the 24-year-old Armenian international.

Mkhitaryan scored a goal and provided an assist during Borussia’s 6-2
defeat of Hamburger SV in the last German Bundesliga match.To note,
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was also voted as the scorer of the best goal of
the fourth-round games in the Bundesliga.

NEWS.am Sport

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BLACKLISTING NOTORIOUS OFFICIALS KEY TOOL FOR PREVENTING MIGRATION – ARF-D

18:10 18.09.13

Members of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) find blacklisting discredited
officials an effective tool in their migration prevention efforts.

The party, which previously had the experience of submitting blacklists
to the president with a demand of sacking officials with tainted
reputation, is now said to have elaborated a news list.

In the 11-clause platform unveiled on Tuesday, the ARF-D proposed
that government officials with an anti-Christian and anti-social
behavior be sacked to prevent an increased public distrust in the state
administration system. It called for measures to ban public servants’
access to casinos and to prevent them from owning property or making
investments abroad.

Tert.am contacted Artsvik Minasyan, a lawmaker of the ARF-D faction,
for further comments, but he appeared to be unaware of any blacklist.

He said only that the party will point to specific criteria without
publishing names, and later call for appropriate government efforts
against such officials.

“In politics, the solution to a problem like this is fully within
the authorities’ competence. We are not going to submit any lists or
publish any names. We mention the criteria which we believe exist,
but we are not going to unveil names not to harm the plans.”

All the initiative says is that we have officials whose activities
produce a negative psychological impact on the society, causing most
people to choose migration as the only way out, said the ARF-D MP.

“Hence individuals not meeting those criteria have to be sacked. But
that’s within the competence of the authorities and the Armenian
president,” Minasyan explained.

Armenian News – Tert.am

IN MEMORIAM: GERARD L. CAFESJIAN

Published: Wednesday September 18, 2013

Gerard Cafesjian. Photo courtesy of Cafesjian family

MINNEAPOLIS – Gerard Leon Cafesjian was a remarkable man. Born in
Brooklyn, New York on April 26, 1925 to Armenian immigrant parents,
Gerard fought in a war, made a fortune, saved a carousel and founded
a magnificent Center for the Arts in his ancestral home, Armenia.

After graduating from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, New York
(later the setting for the TV show “Welcome Back Kotter”), Gerard
joined the U.S. Navy and fought bravely in the South Pacific During
World War II. He met Cleo Thomas in 1946 In New York City; they were
both in uniform – he in his sailor blues, she in her nursing whites.

They married on July 4, 1947.

Gerard attended Hunter College and later St. Johns Law School,
courtesy of the G.I. Bill. After practicing law in New York City for
several years, Gerard joined the editorial staff of legal publishing
company Edward J. Thompson. In 1960 Gerard and his family moved to
St Paul Minnesota where he began his long and distinguished career
at West Publishing Company. As Sr. Vice President of Marketing,
Advertising and West Law, he helped usher in the age of computerized
legal research. As one of the owners of the privately held company,
he amassed a fortune upon its sale to Thompson Corp. in 1996.

In 1988 he donated one million dollars to prevent the dismantling and
sale of the historic State Fair Carousel which now bears his name. In
2000, he donated an additional sum to construct the building in Como
Park where it is now housed and enjoyed by thousands each year.

As a passionate and life long art collector, one of Gerard’s greatest
achievements was to create the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in
Yerevan, Armenia. Housed in a unique, ziggurat-style structure called
the Cascade, the Center is a hub for both visual and performing arts
and contains works by world renowned artists such as Dale Chihuly,
Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova, Pablo Picasso, Arshile
Gorky, Jaume Plensa and others. The Center also boasts a sculpture
garden containing works by artists such as Fernando Botero, Lynn
Chadwick, Barry Flanagan and others.

A fighter all his life, Gerard was finally dealt a blow from which he
could not recover when his beloved wife of 66 years passed away in
March of this year. Cleo Cafesjian was as vital to him as the beat
of his own heart and without her, broken hearted; he departed this
world on September 15, 2013.

Gerard was pre-deceased by his parents, Nora Tashjian and Levon
Cafesjian, by his son Gerard Cafesjian Jr. and by his beloved wife,
Cleo Thomas Cafesjian. He is survived by his sister Mary Dobbs,
his daughter Kathleen Baradaran (Jaff Baradaran), his son Thomas
Cafesjian, his Granddaughter Carrie Martinson (Ben Jones) and his
three Great-Grandsons, Sam, Eli and Jack.

No Memorial or funeral service has been scheduled. In lieu of flowers,
contributions can be made to Cafesjian Museum Foundation, Inc. 15
South 5th Street Suite 900 Minneapolis MN 55402.

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA CHAIRMAN KEN HACHIKIAN IS TRAVELING TO ARMENIA

22:04, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian is
traveling to Armenia for high level consultations in Yerevan with
officials of the U.S., Armenian, and Nagorno Karabakh governments, as
well as for in-depth discussions with a broad range of international
stakeholders in the Armenian Cause.

“Armenpress” was informed , that Hachikian looks forward to bringing
the ANCA’s contribution to the strengthening of consensus around shared
national aims, and, in particular, to helping foster an environment
of growing trust and increased cooperation on the challenges facing
the Armenian nation.

Hachikian will address a broad range of issues. Among these will
be a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, a secure future for
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and, of course, a more robust U.S.-
Armenia bilateral relationship – particularly in terms of trade and
investment. Priority areas are expected to include the following: In
terms of a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, he will continue
to seek an exit strategy out of the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols
that will both mitigate the ongoing harm of these reckless accords and
also, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
remove a critical barrier to a just and enduring international
resolution of this crime against all humanity.

In voicing support for ongoing OSCE efforts to keep the Karabakh
peace, he will also raise concerns about the specifics of the flawed
“Madrid Principles.” These principles call on the Armenian side to
make up-front and irrevocable strategic concessions in return for
Ilham Aliyev’s vague promises about the future status of Artsakh. If
put into practice, they would not lead to the peace they promise,
but only to Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s seeking to force even more
dangerous Armenian concessions.

Recognizing the increasingly powerful connections between Armenia’s
progress in domestic development for all of her citizens and her
regional security, he will help promote greater homeland-diaspora
engagement toward a fair, prosperous and democratic Armenia that
turns the dangerous tide of out-migration and offers a sustainable
future of hope and opportunity to all her sons and daughters.

UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE 1 MILLION USD TO ARMENIA

21:09, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan on September 18 hosted ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary of United States of America to Armenia John
Heffern and USAID head Karen Hilliard.

“Armenpress” reports that Karen Hilliard reminded that during the
previous meeting Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan had asked in case of
opportunity US government provide extra help to Armenia for the purpose
of holding agricultural census. According to Mrs. Hilliard government
of the United States satisfied that request and will provide to Armenia
with extra 1 million USD. After that the interlocutors discussed issues
relating to prospects of development of Armenian-American relations.

RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE SEARCHES COPPER IN KARABAKH

September 18, 2013 | 21:54

YEREVAN. – The affiliate of Sarkisov brothers’ has been involved in
geological survey in Nagorno Karabakh, RESO Garantiya Russian Insurance
Company President Sergey Sarkisov told Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter
on Wednesday. Sarkisov visits Yerevan to participate at the opening
of Armenia-RESO affiliate headquarters.

“We have an affiliate company, which is, or, to be clear, was
involved in geological survey in Nagorno Karabakh. The legal entity
is registered in the United States,” he added.

Earlier Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that an enterprise affiliated
with Sarkisov brothers is interested in copper deposits in Zardashen
region of Karabakh, and gold deposits in upper course of Touthun
river. In June 2012 Nagorno Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan
attended Zardashen deposits.

Sarkisyan brothers own one of Russia’s largest insurance companies,
RESO Garantiya Insurance Company. According to Forbes, Sarkisyan
brothers’ fortune is $1.35 billion.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

VICTOR HAMBARTSUMYAN MADE ARMENIA A COUNTRY OF ASTRONOMY – SCIENTIST

September 18, 2013 | 17:49

YEREVAN. – Great scientist Victor Hambartsumyan raised astronomical
science in Armenia to the current level, Director of the Byurakan
Observatory Hayk Harutyunyan said.

“Both the Armenian and foreign scientists consider Hambartsumyan one
of the greatest astronomers of the 20th century. Without him Armenia
would not have such a high level of astronomical science, as it has
now,” he said.

Hambartsumyan represented a rare fusion of Soviet Union and Armenia
patriot, the scientist added.

“We need to view him not only as a scientist, but also as a prominent
public figure,” he concluded.

The great Soviet-Armenian scientist was born 105 years ago.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian