Author: Andres-Papazian

PRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN BRANDY IN JAN.-MARCH GROWS BY 5.8% TO 2.9 MILLION LITERS

/ ARKA /
May 3, 2011
YEREVAN

Production of Armenian brandy in the first three months of 2011 grew by
5.8% year-on-year to 2.906.4 million liters, the National Statistical
Service (NSS) told ARKA. It also said that production of wine slashed
by 9.2% to 873,300 liters.

Overall, production if alcoholic beverages slashed by 28.9% from the
same time span of 2010 to 946,500 liters.

Production of champagne wines was said to have dropped by 10.5% to
48,400 liters and production of beer fell by 13.9% to 1.6 million
liters. Production of non-alcoholic drinks increased by 9.9% to 7.262
million liters.

From: A. Papazian

WANT PEACE? PREPARE FOR WAR: ARMENIA, KARABAKH CONDEMN NEW KILLINGS OF THEIR SOLDIERS BY AZERI SNIPERS
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
02.05.11

The tone of Armenian statements in response to more killings of
soldiers on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has changed dramatically
as there are increasingly more calls for retaliation.

Late last week, on April 28 and 29, three Armenian soldiers in Karabakh
were killed and another one was wounded after being hit with Azeri
sniper bullets. The latest escalation of tensions was taking place
amid statements from Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
that “there is still the notion of military diplomacy.”

“This is a factor shoring up the progressive course of negotiations
that has always existed and will exist,” the top Azeri diplomat stated.

The Armenian side has not yet taken any retaliatory action. At least,
the Azerbaijani media do not report about any military casualties. But
instead Armenian politicians have reacted strongly to these latest
cases of ceasefire violations along the Karabakh-Azeri line of contact.

Also, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army issued a statement
late last week, condemning what it described as “increasingly impudent”
behavior by Azerbaijan.

“The aggressive actions undertaken in the recent period by Azerbaijan
along the entire line of contact in the Karabakh conflict zone
once again confirm that official Baku not only fails to live up to
its commitments before different international organizations over
maintaining the current ceasefire, but, on the contrary, imparts a more
brazen and unruly form to its actions,” the Karabakh military said.

“In any case, Azerbaijan’s illegal actions on the frontline will
receive an adequate response,” stated head of the parliamentary
faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Galust Sahakyan.

“Every time we offer peace, hold out a hand, they spit at it. It
is time we realized that we are hated across the border, this is a
policy of the whole country [Azerbaijan], and there is no seeking
peace there,” said Major-General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, a prominent
Karabakh war veteran known as “Commandos”. “One has to understand
that they will continue to shoot until they get a retaliatory strike.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia also issued a strong
statement condemning the escalation of tensions in the conflict zone.

“Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it can ignore calls from different
international bodies and countries regarding ceasefire strengthening,
withdrawal of snipers, confidence-building measures and settling
problems only through peaceful means,” said the Armenian ministry.

According to head of the parliamentary faction of the opposition
Heritage Party Stepan Safaryan, the Armenian side should give an
adequate response, which, however, should not be in the military
plane. He explained that in response to the provocations of Azerbaijan,
Armenia should recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, to
accept the jurisdiction of the international court and to turn to it
with a lawsuit against Azerbaijan over its unleashing military actions,
and against Turkey over its continuing blockade of Armenia. The third
step, in Safaryan’s view, could be Yerevan’s temporary refusal to
participate in Karabakh peace talks.

The NKR Defense Army’s information department said during the past
week Azeri armed units committed about 350 ceasefire violations along
the entire stretch of the line of contact, firing more than 2,700
bullets from weapons of different caliber.

Amid continuing loss of life near Karabakh, statements accusing
Armenians of ceasefire violations are also routinely heard from
Azerbaijan, alongside threats to resolve the conflict militarily.

From: A. Papazian

“ETERNAL BEHEST”: NEW FEATURE FILM REVEALS LITTLE-KNOWN FEATS AT KARABAKH BATTLEGROUNDS
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
03.05.11

Courtesy of Samvel Tadevosyan

A rare Armenian feature film delving into the times of heroic battles
in Karabakh in the early 1990s is set to be premiered in Yerevan
later this week.

The authors of the 53-minute-long movie say it is an attempt to
present the living memories about the Karabakh war and a message to
the present and future generations of Armenians.

“Eternal Behest” is the third film directed by Samvel Tadevosyan as
part of the “Justice Fighters” series. It is based on true stories and
portrays the lives and feats of the brave men who fought in Karabakh
and today are alive.

“With this series of films an attempt is being made to break the
tradition that we do not address the legendary personalities of the
battles of Artsakh who are alive today and are in the same frame of
mind,” says Tadevosyan.

The main events in the film take place at around present times, but
the memories of the characters take them to the years of the Karabakh
war in 1992-1994.

At the core of the film is Pavlik Manukyan, more known to his friends
as Aparantsi Pavlik (or Pavlik from Aparan). Pavlik, who is in his
fifties today and plays himself in the film, takes his son to the
fortress-town of Shushi on the 18th anniversary of its liberation. It
is then that he tells his son Aram about his war path, his arrests
and torture in the prison of Shushi, a strategically important town
some 10 kilometers south of Karabakh capital Stepanakert that was
held by Azeris until May 1992 and was used as a place of arms and a
location to shell Armenian civilians in low-lying areas.

“Unfortunately, our homeland has seen a lasting presence of
enemies around it, and wars have constantly been imposed on us. The
whole experience should be conveyed to all of us and to the future
generations that will one day become the guarantors of the security of
the borders, the homeland, our science and culture,” says Tadevosyan.

The art director of the film, Artur Lazarian, adds although the
film centers on the fate of Pavel Manukyan, it is not only about him,
but also about all heroes like him.

“There are quite a few heroes like Pavlik Manukyan. One simply has
to remember them, notice them,” says Lazarian.

No actors were involved in the production of “Eternal Behest”, all
five characters are played by themselves. They are Pavlik Manukyan
with his son Aram, former Sisian battalion commander Ashot Minasyan,
Sisian airfield commander Hrach Karapetyan and singer Sahak Sahakyan,
who represent themselves.

The main goal of the film, according to its authors, is to become a
cultural counterbalance to various serials that they say have taken
over television today, as well as to present the living memories of
the national victories and the victors themselves.

The production of the film began in the middle of 2009 and lasted for
about 18 months. Its director says they did not have a specific funding
for it and were mainly helped by “good-hearted people around them”.

Tadevosyan says “Eternal Behest” is a national film and he does not
want it to be “worn out” at too many festivals, so it will probably
participate only in one such film festival, Pomegranate in Canada.

The premiere of the “Eternal Behest” film is due at Yerevan’s Moscow
Movie-House on May 4. Shows in Armenian communities abroad are also
planned.

From: A. Papazian

VERNISAGE – OLD PLACE, NEW IMAGE: YEREVAN’S TOURIST ATTRACTION SPOT UNDERGOES MUNICIPALITY-ORDERED REFORMS
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

ArmeniaNow
03.05.11

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow

The Yerevan municipality ban on street trade, as well as the city
greening works, has reached the open-air market in the city center
commonly known as Vernisage.

Every weekend for over 15 years now about a thousand people put for
sale Armenian paintings, traditional handicrafts, carpets, folk musical
instruments, as well a large variety of antiquity, books, cutlery,
china ware, souvenirs and jewelry at a location in downtown Yerevan
known by all locals and quite popular with tourists and visitors,
who go there to buy things or just to look at items on display.

Enlarge Photo

Days ago city mayor Karen Karapetyan, while visiting Vernisage,
complained of poor sanitary conditions of the place giving assurances,
however, that it would not be shut down, and moreover that it should
become a nice and clean place.

“Vernisage is a tourist attraction – similar markets can be found
in many cities of the world. Our main task is preservation of the
green area as well as creation of proper sanitary conditions,” said
the mayor, referring to flea markets in major tourist destinations
around the world.

Harutyun Navasardyan (visiting with the mayor), who is renting the
area from the municipality and leasing it to vendors, promised that
soon 300-500 new and well-made stalls will be installed there.

“We have placed the order, soon they’ll be delivered,” says
Navasardyan, without specifying the dates, however giving assurances
that the rent would not be increased because of the new stalls (today
200-500 drams ($0.5-$1.3) per square meter are charged from vendors
daily for having stalls at Vernisage).

Following the mayor’s demand to improve the working conditions
several new stalls were installed in the front part of the market
along with new canopies; for this purpose a sum of 2,000 drams ($5.4)
was collected from each vendor. However, until the stalls and parasols
for the rest of the market would arrive and be ready for use, vendors
are not allowed to use the large umbrellas previously used to protect
them both from sun and rain.

“We are not allowed to put up an awning; we stand in the rain trying
to somehow survive until we see when the umbrella civilization will
reach us. I am the only provider of my family, so want it or not but
I have to somehow endure the weekends; it’s not like I have choice,”
says 55-year-old Anahit, a vendor at Vernisage, designer by profession,
trying to shelter from heavy rainfall under a small umbrella.

Months ago even the area designed as green zones of the park where
Vernisage is, above the street curbs, were used as trade space.

However the green areas are being recovered now and have been fences
with a protective rope forbidding the entrance – 15,000 AMD ($15.8)
fine is set in case of trespassing.

Trade has been banned from the area between Hanrapetyun Street and
Republic Square where spare parts were usually sold, and as a result
around 500 people are now left without source of income.

Some of the vendors who have several years of “working experience”
at Vernisage, are trying to understand, although with an air of
discontent, the good reasons behind the mayor’s decision due to which
the area is now relatively cleaner than before and more suitable for
work and trade.

“It is better this way – it is clean and the lighting is better, so
I have nothing to complain about,” says Iveta, a vendor at Vernisage
who is now working at one of the new stall installed in the front part.

A little bit farther from pieces of cultural value one can find
second-hand things – clothes, kitchen utensil, shoes, etc.

Some are concerned about a possibility that the sale of such items
will not be allowed and only trade of items of cultural value will
be permitted at Vernisage.

“I am a pensioner, and have been coming here to sell things for the
past decade. If they ban now, what am I going to do, how to survive? I
am well aware that the things I sell do not match, putting it mildly,
with the essence of Vernisage (which initially was meant for art works
only). But what else can I do?” says former economist Anna, pointing at
the clothes and glass ware lain on a 2-meter-long 50-centimeter-wide
fabric spread on a street curb. And a woman next to her, 40-year-old
Naira, is more optimistic about the future.

“They’ll do something one way or another… We’ll just have to wait
and see.”

From: A. Papazian

ISTANBUL ARMENIAN CHURCH DOORS TO OPEN AFTER 100 YEAR WAIT
Kristine Aghalaryan

hetq
01:52, May 3, 2011

There have been no religious services in the Istanbul Armenian Surp
Vortvots Vorodman Church (Children of Thunder) for the past 100 years.

But the doors to the church will finally open this July.

Deacon Vagharshak told me that the site hadn’t been used as a church
since World War I. “The community has been dreaming about renovating
the church and in 1987 plans were drafted but the amounts needed were
staggering. It remained a dream.”

Today, renovations on the church are in full swing. After renovations
are complete, the church, with its original style intact, will also
serve as a cultural center.

This building was built upon the edict dated February 2, 1828 granted
Mahmud II to Kazaz Artin (Harutyun Amira Bezdjiyan); and its plans were
drawn by royal architect Kirkor Amira Balyan and M.Devlet Garabet. The
compound is comprised of a cathedral (Mother Mary) and two chapels
(Surp Khach and Surp Vortvots Vorodman) and opened for services on
October 14, 1828.

The transformation project in this monumental building is targeted
to constitute an example for other churches.

Kevork Karakeuzian, who directs the renovation project, says the cost
is 2.7 million Turkish Liras of which 70% has been allocated by the
Turkish government. The balance is being contributed by the Istanbul
Armenian Patriarchate.

The entire project was a part of the renovations in the city related
to the Istanbul’s run as a 2010 European Capital of Culture. A total
of 610 projects were completed with a total budget of 300 million
Turkish Liras.

“What’s really important is that this is the first time that the
government has allocated such a large sum for the renovation of a
church,” says Karakeuzian.

Allaying concerns that the renovated structure would be used solely
as a cultural center, Mr. Karakeuzian said that religious services
could be held and that there would be a place to light candles.

From: A. Papazian

PARK OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN FRIENDSHIP TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA

Aysor.am
Tuesday,May 03

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, announces
implementation of development projects in Armavir and Ararat regions
in the frame of cooperation with the “Matter of Honor” charity
organization.

Armenia’s leading mobile operator allotted AMD 90 million to
the “Matter of Honor” Armenian-Russian charity organization for
reconstruction of public premises in Ararat and Armavir regions.

Repair works are underway in the kindergarten in the village of
Zovashen, Ararat region, including repair of the building rooftop,
replacement of doors and windows, and installation of wooden flooring,
the press office of VivaCell-MTS reported.

The village will soon have a Park of Armenian-Russian Friendship,
to be laid with the “Matter of Honor” NGO.

The monument in Armavir built in memory of the Russian soldier who
saved the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from the Persian attack in
the battle of Oshakan is part of this cooperation as well.

“Armenians have always been among those civilized nations, who have
appreciated the friendship between peoples. We, Armenians, express our
appreciation of the Armenian-Russian relations particularly by means
of the culture. These efforts are the proof of it,” said VivaCell-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian. “The art of living beautifully obliges
to appreciate both the man-made and the natural values. This park is
the embodiment of the two,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager commented
on the plans of creating Park of Friendship in Zovashen.

From: A. Papazian

ARFD BUREAU, FATEH ESTABLISH COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 14:31 AMT

Palestinian city of Ramallah hosted a meeting between ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Bureau delegation led by the Chairman of Hay Dat
Central Council Hakob Ter-Khachatryan and the delegation of Fateh
Palestinian Organization led by Dr. Nabeel Shaath.

The meeting focused on Armenian-Palestinian relations, international
issues of mutual interest, as well as intra-party relations.

In conclusion, Mr. Ter-Khachatryan thanked Dr. Shaath for their
interest to Armenia-related issues, ARFD Bureau reported.

From: A. Papazian

ANELIK BANK: LOAN OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOP IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 13:47 AMT

Anelik Bank is the first Armenian bank, with which the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched the Armenian
Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (ArmSEFF) to help Armenia
develop competitive private businesses.

$3mln was allocated to the bank for on-lending the energy saving
field. $20mln will be allocated within ArmSEFF, while $5mln will be
provided for the renewable energy sector.

“The funds have not been placed yet, but we have already developed
credit programs,” Anelik Bank Lending Department head Hayk Grigoryan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

On May 3, Yerevan hosted a seminar on ArmSEFF.

From: A. Papazian

ACTRESS MARIE ROSE ABOUSEFIAN TO PERFORM ONE-WOMAN SHOW “THE FORTY DAYS OF MUSA DAGH” IN YEREVAN

arminfo
Tuesday, May 3, 14:41

Famous actress Marie Rose Abousefian (USA, San-Fracisco) will perform
a one-woman show The Forty Days of Musa Dagh on the basis of the
homonymous story by Franz Werfel on May 16 in Yerevan.

The Union of Theatrical Figures of Armenia told ArmInfo the author
of the theatrical version of the story and the stage is Marie Rose
Abousefian. It is noteworthy that yet in 1987 she performed nearly
20 roles in the performance based on Werfel. The performance was a
massive success in San-Fracisco. Afterwards, it was staged in London,
Montreal, Cyprus, Athens and Beyrut.

Marie Rose received the theatrical education in Yerevan. She worked
at the Dramatic Theatre (now Theatre after Hrachya Ghaplanyan)
for several years. Last year Marie Rose staged a one-woman show in
Yerevan dedicated to the Armenian Genocide: “Grigor Zohrab: The way
to Golgotha.”

From: A. Papazian

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN COMES BACK TO BIG POLICY TO SAVE HIS SUFFERED REPUTATION, POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS

arminfo
Tuesday, May 3, 14:42

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has come back to big policy to take back the
reins of government and to remove dark memories taken root in the
Armenian society and connected with the period of his presidency,
political expert, Armen Agayan, said at today’s press-conference.

He also added that neither in March 2008 nor today the leader of the
Armenian National Congress strived to the power, otherwise he would not
push off the rest opposition forces, in particular, the Heritage party.

“Just Ter-Petrosyan made Robert Kocharyan implement extra measures up
to fire at his own citizens on 1 March 2008. By using the March event
Ter-Petrosyan promoted formation of the “monster” reputation of the
second president of Armenia. In this way he rendered null all his sins
connected with the post-election events of 1996. To be honest, I should
say that the leader of the Armenian National Congress is an excellent
political technologist, and he gained his goal”, – Agayan said and
added that the maximal level of the ANC activity is gaining of seats
in the parliament, as in that case its leader will position himself
like a politician which saved the parliament from the false-opposition.

From: A. Papazian