Month: September 2013

US AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED INCIDENTS INVOLVING CIVIL ACTIVISTS WITH HEAD OF ARMENIAN POLICE

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern
discussed the country’s situation with political protests and incidents
involving civil activists with the head of Armenian police Vladimir
Gasparyan, the press office of the police reported.

Heffern appreciated the fact that policemen, generally, showed
tolerance and refrained from use of force in dealing with the recent
political protests, according to the report.

The ambassador asked questions about the incidents that involved
certain activists.

Gasparyan briefed Heffern on the police’s position and measures taken
to avoid such incidents in future.

The ambassador expressed hope that the police will carry out its
mission and will protect human rights and public order.

The head of police, in his turn, said his agency continues working
openly and transparently and is committed to completion of reforms.

A number of protests were held in Armenia recently, particularly
against Armenia’s accession to the Russia-led Customs Union, repair
works at the covered city market and construction of an apartment
block on Komitas Avenue.

Cases of attacking protesters were reported in mass media. -0-

– See more at:

RADIO HAY BLOCKED CHECKING BY TAX SERVICE AND WENT ON STRIKE

The State Revenue Committee has launched an extraordinary checking
of the broadcasting media companies. On September 23 the head of SRC
issued an order to perform a check at Radio Hay LLC from 01.01.2009
to present.

The company’s administration finds the check of the SRC unlawful and
an intervention in the operation of an independent mass media outlet,
aimed at limiting freedom of speech and has therefore not allowed
the SRC to perform the check in accordance with the law.

Besides, the company’s staff will go on a strike till October 4
inclusive. Every working day, from 12 to 1 pm, Radio Hay will not be
in the air, and during the rest of the time airing will be automated.

By the way, the head of Radio Hay LLC is the ex-presidential candidate
Andrias Ghukasyan.

13:59 25/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian

EVEN RUSSIAN DIASPORA DID NOT WELCOME MEMBERSHIP TO CUSTOMS UNION

The Armenian Diaspora has not reacted to Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to
join the Customs Union. The only statement relating to the Diaspora
was made by MP Heghineh Bisharyan, noting that the decision stems
from the security need of 2.5 million Armenians living in Russia.

The Armenian communities of Europe and the United States have not
reacted to the decision of the Armenian government. Ken Hachikian of
ANCA told Radio Liberty that the Armenian government’s decision was
not transparent and unfair to the Armenian people.

He also noted that the government had better get down to solving
vital issues such as concentration of wealth, corruption, unemployment.

The Diaspora hardly ever criticizes the Armenian government. In private
conversations the Diaspora representatives display a good knowledge of
Armenian reality and problems but they never reach public statements.

There have been several bright episodes of criticism from the Diaspora
on the government’s policy causing people to emigrate. Charles
Aznavour, Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, the ARF in the United States
have criticized the government which has silenced them all.

Five years ago Serzh Sargsyan’s football diplomacy and normalization
with Turkey got the toughest criticism ever. Serzh Sargsyan travelled
to the Diaspora communities and did not get a warm welcome, sometimes
he was met with demonstrations of protest. Afterwards Serzh Sargsyan
decided to “quit” the Diaspora and did everything he could to reduce
the influence of Armenia on politics and economy of Armenia.

Except the Armenian community of Russia which is the conductor of the
Armenia-Russia relations, or rather the Russian economic and political
guidance. Nevertheless, even the Armenian Russians have not welcomed
warmly Serzh Sargsyan’s decision.

15:20 25/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION IS ARMENIA’S HISTORIC DEFEAT – FREE DEMOCRATS PARTY

September 25, 2013 | 14:11

YEREVAN. – The intention to join the Customs Union is the historic
defeat of Armenia, stated Anush Sedrakyan, opposition Free Democrats
Party Vice-Chairwoman, during a press conference on Wednesday.

“If we repeat the same historical mistake yet again, we will have
numerous problems in connection with statehood, since statehood is
under a threat from the inside, [and] not from the outside,” she noted.

Sedrakyan added that Armenia will be doomed if it chooses the path
of development of cooperation with Russia.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

TURKISH AND GEORGIAN BORDER GUARDS CONDUCT JOINT EXERCISES

September 25, 2013 | 14:24

The border guards of the armed forces of Turkey and Georgia will hold
joint exercises, which will get underway on Wednesday, informs the
Turkish General Staff official website.

According to the respective release, the joint exercise will continue
till Friday.

The Georgian and the Turkish military aim to improve the collaboration
between the border troops of the two countries, and to prepare them
for emergencies,” reports Novosti Gruzia news agency of Georgia.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EUROPE AND RUSSIA: FORMER WILL REGISTER HIDDEN PROFITS, LATTER OFFERS PLUNDER

14:51 ~U 25.09.13

The Customs Union is from now on a reality. Asked about the benefits
Armenia may gain from the Customs Union, Artak Davtyan, a Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group member, said, “dozens
of them.”

Armenia’s readiness to join the Customs Union was expected, and
President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement was the only logical step.

The MP reminded the journalists that Armenia has preferred the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to NATO.

“If we preferred the CSTO, we are expected to have economic
foundations. So it is natural that we cannot seek an alliance with
any other forces. I could point to dozens of positive provisions, but
the most important is regaining our markets. I mean both the Nairit
plant and the Vanadzor-based Khimprom and the electronic industry,
which was once developed, as well as food industry and agriculture. The
Customs Union cannot be compared with the European Union’s proposal,”
Davtyan said.

On the other hand, one of Armenia’s losses from initialing an
Association Agreement with the EU might be the supply of natural gas
at European prices, which means a double economic loss.

Vice-Chairperson of the Free Democrats party Anush Sedrakyan said that,
in contrast to the ruling party representatives, Free Democrats feel
free in voicing their opinions.

“Europe will register hidden profits. The EU forces economies to be
efficient. But Russia says ‘let us plunder together’,” she said.

With respect to the benefits listed by Artak Davtyan, she said:
“When a foreign journalist asked Armenia’s FM about the Customs
Union’s benefits, he did not say anything. Did not he know? Secondly,
if we must have economic foundations within the collective security
system – have you been unaware of the fact that we are part of one
collective system during the three-year-and-a-half-long talks? Thirdly,
with respect to regaining the economic markets, I far as I know the
enterprises [Nairit and Khimprom] do not operate. So does the Customs
Union have to invest in the re-operation of the industrial giants? And
then they will have to invest in transport and communication? As far
as I know Russia refused to invest in the railroad. Nor a gas price
reduction was discussed,” she said.

“Two superpowers, the United States and Russia, are bluffing. The
former has economic foundations, the latter has not any. It is a
question of spheres of influence,” Sedrakyan said.

In response, Davtyan said that Russia intends to invest RUB 15bn in
the Armenian railroads. He noted that it is a time-consuming process.

Armenian News – Tert.am

CUSTOMS UNION DEAL IS HISTORIC MOMENT, SAYS COMMUNIST LEADER

15:24 ~U 25.09.13

Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union will be a historic,
revolutionary moment, marking the most remarkable decision in our
history of the past 23 years, says the leader of the Armenia’s
Communist Party.

“I have nothing to do with the Ukrainian communists; I speak about
Armenia. It is up to the Ukrainian Communist party to decide what
to say. What I say is our people have been with Russia for 400
years; there is a history and developments; there are expressions,”
Ruben Tovmasyan told Tert.am, when asked to comment on the Ukrainian
Communist Party’s position on Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian
Customs Union.

“This is the heritage that our predecessors have left to us, so it
is necessary to continue those traditions,” the politician explained.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUMANISM AZERI STYLE: DOCTOR SHELLED TRYING TO AID MAN BLOWN UP BY MINE

September 25, 2013 – 15:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A resident of the Armenian village of Aygedzor on
border with Azerbaijan died after stepping on a mine.

After the 26 year-old Edward Dallakyan’s leg was torn off by the mine
blast, the doctor who tried to help him was shelled by Azeris.

“Azeris opened fire, the shelling was ongoing for 30-40 minutes,
preventing the doctor from approaching Edward. In about an hour,
we managed to come close to the injured, yet the man bled to death
on the way to a hospital. He was only 26 and was expecting his first
child,” razm.info quoted the Village administration head Sasun Safaryan
as saying.

An investigation in underway, with forensic medical examination
scheduled, Armenian police said.

It’s not the first case with Azeris preventing medical assistance to
those injured. On August 3, Armenian soldier Saro Sharyan was wounded
in Azeri attack. The ambulance car which arrived to offer medical
aid was shelled by Azeris. However, the doctors succeeded in saving
the soldier’s life.

On August 5, serviceman Armenak Ayvazyan was wounded in the leg
following an Azeri attack. Trying to escape the dangerous zone the
soldier got in car, which was further shelled, while he got wounded
in a shoulder.

PIANIST KARINE POGHOSYAN TO PERFORM AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL IN NY

September 25, 2013 – 12:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The vibrant young Armenian pianist Karine Poghosyan
will perform at St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 2nd Ave., New York City on
Sept 25 evening, as part of the 2013-14 Concerts @ St.Vartan series,
Broadway World reports.

Ms. Poghosyan will also be leading the St. Vartan orchestra in their
inaugural appearance. The program will include works by Schubert,
Bach, and Liszt.

The exceptional Armenian pianist Karine Poghosyan has been praised
for her ability to get to the heart of the works she performs. She
made her orchestral debut at 14 playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto
No.1, and her solo Carnegie Hall debut at 23, and has since gone on
to win numerous awards as well as perform in some of the world’s most
prestigious concert halls.

An avid musician who has been described as “extraordinary” and
“larger than life,” Karine Poghosyan has performed in recitals at
Carnegie’s Well Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway Hall, the
Trinity Church Concerts at One series, the Beverly Hills Sundays at
Two series, the Valley Committee for the LA Philharmonic, the Bach’s
Lunch Recital Series in California, the Young Artists International
Peninsula Festival in California, and the International Keyboard
Institute and Festival in New York. In the fall of 2007, she organized
and performed a three-recital concert series at the Yamaha Piano Salon
titled Twentieth Century Piano Sonata. Recently, she helped organize
the “Requiem and Resurrection” concert in commemoration of the 95th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Saint Vartan Armenian
Cathedral in New York, where her performance of the Piano Sonata by
Khachaturian received a standing ovation, Broadway World says.

The Armenian Mirror Spectator wrote, “The three-movement Khachaturian
Sonata-a rarely performed composition-is a real tour-de-force for the
virtuoso pianist. Technically pristine, Ms. Poghosyan brought out
the driven qualities of the outer movements, and the heart-rending
beauty of the middle section.”

Ms. Poghosyan has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras
including the New West Symphony, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
Orchestra, Musica Bella Symphony Orchestra, the CSUN Symphony, and
the Kokolo Ensemble, and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra,
whose music director Dr. Choe described Ms. Poghosyan as “an audience
magnet” and “a born performer.” She has participated in the master
classes of distinguished artists such as Alicia de Larrocha, Claude
Franck, Jon O’Connor, and Jerome Rose.

Ms. Poghosyan is the winner of the New West Symphony Discovery Artists
Competition, the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, CSUN
Symphony Concerto Competition, the Artists International Auditions
and was a top prize winner in the Los Angeles International Liszt
Piano Competition, Five Towns Music and Arts Competition, and the Arno
Babajanian Piano Competition. Ms. Poghosyan is also the recipient of
scholarships from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences,
the Glendale Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian Students Association
of America, AGBU, and the Jacob and Bronislaw Gimpel Foundation,
and Manhattan School of Music.

Ms. Poghosyan’s music studies began in her native Yerevan Armenia in
School of the Arts, No. 1, and later in Romanos Melikian College as
well as Komitas State Conservatory. Her teachers in Armenia included
Irina Gazarian, Vatche Umr-Shat, and Svetlana Dadyan. After moving
to the United States in 1998, she received her BM, summa cum laude,
from California State University in Northridge, under Professor
Francoise Regnat, and her MM and D.M.A. degrees at the Manhattan
School of Music, under Dr. Arkady Aronov, completing her D.M.A. in
record-breaking two years with thesis on Aram Khachaturian for Piano.

Ms. Poghosyan is currently based in New York, where she teaches at
her alma mater Manhattan School of Music.

Upcoming performances in 2013-14 include solo recitals at the
University of Northridge and at the “Sundays at Two” series in
Rolling Hills, CA, a solo and orchestral performance at the Saint
Vartan Cathedral in New York in May as well as September, and solo
recitals in Montgomery, NY, and Richmond, Virginia.

Ms. Poghosyan’s solo CD of Aram Khachaturian’s piano works and ballet
transcriptions will be released in the summer of 2014, on NAXOS label.

OPPOSITION DISSATISFIED WITH COMPOSITION OF MAYOR-ESTABLISHED COMMITTEE ON BUS FARE ISSUE, TO BOYCOTT ITS WORK

SOCIETY | 25.09.13 | 14:09

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The Yerevan municipality, on its official website, has posted the
mayor’s decision on creating a transport commission and finally
introduced its 36-member structure, which has evoked negative
sentiments among the civil society and public discontent. Those who
have been actively protesting the increase of bus fare in the city of
Yerevan share their concerns that the commission might, nonetheless,
reinstate the mayor’s earlier decision.

By the municipal decision the commission is supposed to consider the
transport fare issue in the city of Yerevan, define the criteria,
carry out necessary calculations, develop respective mechanisms and
submit suggestions to the mayor. The decisions will be made by an
open voting and pass by the majority of the participants’ votes.

The standoff against the 12-cent increase of bus rates effective of
July 20 turned Yerevan into a united capital. Young civil activists
persistently fought and spread the spirit through the mini-buses
and buses from one end of the city to the other. People protested
by not paying the new price of 150 drams (37 cents), walking rather
than using transport, by carpooling – offering free rides on their
private vehicles. Five days later Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan
had instructed to create a commission of experts and interested
individuals who would develop all mechanisms in a few months’ time,
that would allow completing the municipal decree “on reconsideration
of the intercity transportation fares in the city of Yerevan”,

The mayor-promised commission is chaired by his deputy Vahe Nikolyan,
and the vice-chairman is the mayor’s advisor. A number of municipality
department employees are its members, including head of the transport
department Henrik Navasardyan, whose resignation was among the demands
of the civil activists on sit-in strike for the past two months in
front of the city hall. The commission also has police officers,
employees of the transport and communication ministry, a number of
university and NGO representatives as its members.

Out of the three factions represented in the city council only
Republicans are part of the commission. The other two, Hello Yerevan
alliance and Prosperous Armenia (PAP), as well as “We Will Continue
Paying 100 Drams” civil initiative, have refused to be part of it. PAP
believes the issue had to be discussed in a public discussion format,
while Hello Yerevan defines the commission as a “show”. The alliance
is currently appealing the mayor’s July decision on raising the bus
fare by 50 percent.

The NGO representatives to be in the commission do not have positive
expectations about the outcome; however as Armen Poghosyan, president
of the Consumers’ Union told ArmeniaNow, they have to “fight and
present” their argumentation.

“The power layout is not balanced in the commission, and since the
decision has to be made by voting, I cannot rule out that the fare
will again be increased,” he says.