Author: Andres-Papazian

REGION’S FIRST RESEARCH LABORATORY FOR NATURE PROTECTION IN KAJARAN

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 26, 2010
KAJARAN

KAJARAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Research laboratories for nature
protection opened today at N1 and N2 schools of Kajaran. These are the
first such laboratories not only in Armenia, but also in the region.

The initiative was taken by the Municipality of Kajaran in partnership
with ‘Ayb’ Educational Foundation, the OSCE Office in Yerevan and
several ecological NGO’s.

The laboratories are supplied with up-to-date equipments and
materials, which will give the schoolchildren an opportunity to study
the pollution level of soil, air and water, as well as carry out a
variety of experiments.

A subject on ‘Kajaran: Nature and Ecology’ has been taught in the
schools of Kajaran for the second year and the new laboratories are
expected to make the study of the subject more comprehensive. The
devices give an opportunity to carry out experiments not only in the
laboratory, but also in an open-air field.

Manuk Lazarian, RA deputy education and science minister, was present
at today’s open lesson at N1 School. He said it is possible that
the Education and Science Ministry will allow specialists of other
schools to organize excursions to Kajaran to get acquainted with the
operation of the laboratories.

Hamlet Matevosyan, director of the Academy of Emergency Situations
assured that collaboration will be established between the two schools
and the academy.

The Municipality of Kajaran invested 20 million AMD for the
implementation of the project, and the ‘Ayb’ Educational Foundation
implemented the process of full design and author control the
laboratories.

Mayor of Kajaran Vardan Gevorgyan awarded certificates to all
those, who supported the establishment of the laboratories. The
‘Ayb’ Educational Foundation donated to the schools a collection of
ecological films.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH ACTIVELY COOPERATE IN TOURISM SPHERE

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 26, 2010
YEREVAN

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Armenia are cooperating in the
tourism sphere both in methodological direction and in regard of
ensuring tourism flows to Artsakh. Head of the RA Economy Ministry’s
Tourism and Territorial Development Department Mekhak Apresyan told
Armenpress that as a result of cooperation the number of tourists
visiting Artsakh has sharply increased. “Together with our Artsakh
partners we have worked out a concept that has been approved by the
local government. We managed to present Artsakh in international
exhibitions with a separate pavilion,” Mekhak Apresyan said.

At the international tourism exhibition in London November 8-11
Artsakh was presented in a separate pavilion. The Azerbaijani side
has presented various complaints to the organizers of the exhibition
demanding not permitting NKR’s participation. “The Azerbaijanis
are politicizing everything, but it is a business and must not be
politicized. The actions of Azerbaijan in the propaganda war are
already funny and Serzh Sargsyan also said about it recently, Mekhak
Apresyan said.

He said the cooperation between Armenia and Artsakh in the tourism
sphere started two years ago when on the initiative of the Economy
Ministry Armenian tourism operators visited Karabakh, met with their
partners and discussed issues relating to the sphere. “As a result
a business cooperation was born. A decision was made to create such
opportunities in Artsakh that will ensure necessary conditions both
for tourists arriving from Armenia and those coming from abroad,”
Apresyan said, adding that tourism information centers will be
established in Artsakh. Such center is already functioning in Shushi.

Soon it will open in Stepanakert.

From: A. Papazian

NA SPEAKER WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO SYRIA

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 26, 2010
YEREVAN

The delegation headed by the Armenian National Assembly chairman
Hovik Abrahamyan met in Aleppo with the chief Mufti of the Syrian
Arab Republic Badr ad-Din Hassun.

National Assembly public relations department told Armenpress that
welcoming the Armenian guests the chief Mufti highly praised the
visit of the NA chairman to Syria and noted that Armenians are
sisters and brothers for the Syrian people. He said the Armenian
people are creators and the Armenian community of Syria with its
presence contributes to the development and empowerment of Syria. He
considered the efforts of Armenia to establish peace in the region as
invaluable and expressed hope that the other countries of the region
will also undertake steps for preventing wars, establishing peace.

Hovik Abrahamyan thanked for the warm reception considering the
assistance of the Syrian people at the tragic moment for the Armenian
people as invaluable. He noted that the Syrian Armenian community is
a strong bridge between the two countries and peoples.

On the same day the NA delegation departed from Deir Zor. In the
airport the Armenian delegation was welcomed by the governor of Deir
Zor Hussein Arnus. After short conversation over issues on bilateral
interests the delegation departed for St. Nahatakars Armenian Church.

In the memorial complex of the Armenian Genocide victims the Armenian
delegation put a wreath on the memorial paying tribute to their
memory. Hovik Abrahamyan and members of the delegation visited the
Genocide Museum, got acquainted with the documentaries about the
genocide.

In the hall near the church the Armenian delegation met with the
representatives of the Armenian community.

In the evening the delegation headed by Hovik Abrahamyan returned
to Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

COUNTING THE COST: ABOUT 70 WITHOUT SHELTER AFTER YEREVAN’S WORST FIRE IN YEARS
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

By Karine Ionesyan

ArmeniaNow
26.11.10

Siranuysh Sakunts says the fire broke out at her home when she tried
to turn the gas cylinder.

Yerevan’s worst residential fire in recent memory left about 70
residents looking for shelter, as the Wednesday night blaze is still
being investigated. No deaths or injuries were reported, but the fire
has disrupted the normal course of life for many.

While several of those who lost their property now stay at their
relatives’, for many the past 48 hours have proved a catastrophe.

Children do not attend school, while their parents do not go to work.

They say the fire destroyed all their winter clothes.

The Israyelyans pray to God everyday not to send rain, as the only
two rooms of their house that are more or less suitable for staying
would be filled with water because of the damaged roof.

The three-story building constructed at the Koryun Street-Mashtots
Avenue intersection in 2002 is the only of 14 that has been partly
spared by the fire. The rest were burned down in the November 24 blaze.

Siranuysh Sakunts, 50, told ArmeniaNow that the fire broke out at
her home when she tried to turn the gas cylinder on. But officials
say the causes of the fire will be known only in 10 days.

“We couldn’t smell gas, I don’t know why it happened,” Sakunts told
ArmeniaNow, adding that she had lost her two-room apartment and
possessions and still has to pay 200,000 (about $550) for the items
she had bought on installment. She has five members in her family,
of whom two are minors and she is the only breadwinner, receiving a
monthly salary of 55,000 drams (about $150).

All residents say they had items in their houses that they had bought
on credit and that banks have not yet made any offer to extend the
terms of payments.

“We have not had such a case before and don’t know what will be.

Perhaps these people will come and write applications [for extension]
and then we’ll see,” Artsakhbank micro crediting development division
head Armen Hovsepyan told ArmeniaNow.

The Yerevan municipality has not yet made the final estimation of
damage, nor has it discussed a compensation order.

“We now live like hobos. My mother and father stay at a relative’s,
my wife and I stay at another’s. Till when?” says Gevorg Sargsyan,
35, who repaired his house half a year ago.

Residents also say that they will demand a compensation of the value
of the land and the amount of money they spent on repairs and buying
goods. The estimated price of a square meter of land in downtown
Yerevan is $1,500-$1,500.

Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesman Nikolay Grigoryan told
ArmeniaNow that the latest fire is the largest in Yerevan’s recent
history. The last big fire happened in 2008 when the Justice Ministry
building was badly damaged.

From: A. Papazian

VARDGES SURENYANTS’ JUBILEE EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN

Tert.am
26.11.10

An exhibition dedicated to the 150th jubilee of painter Vardges
Surenyants (1860-1921) opened today in the National Art Gallery
of Armenia.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, founder of Heritage party Raffi
Hovhannisyan and cultural figures.

“This exhibition comes first in the list of the state
committee-approved events dedicated to the Vardges Surenyants’
150th jubilee,” the prime minister said, stressing the role of the
world-renowned artist’s cultural heritage.

Getting better familiarized with Surenyants’ art, Tigran Sargsyan had
been surprised to know that the great artist had only 1 exhibition
while alive.

“It came to me as a surprise to know that Surenyants had only one
individual exhibition which opened in 1901 in Baku. So our exhibition
is an exclusive event,” he said.

The Scientific Deputy Director of the gallery, Hasmik Harutyunyan,
spoke of Surenyants’ talent as a graphic painter.

“He was a theatrical painter, architect, translator and a literary
critic. He was an entire universe,” she said, adding that the painter
had never succumbed to the influence of times and managed to preserve
his identity.

The exhibition, which will last 3 months, comprises the entire
collection of Vardges Surenyants’ cultural heritage (200 pieces,
including canvases graphic and theatrical paintings) previously
displayed in different museums.

From: A. Papazian

STAMPS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN OLYMPIC CHAMPS ISSUED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 12:44 AMT 08:44 GMT

Stamps dedicated to Armenian Olympic champs – weightlifter Yuri
Vartanyan, boxer Vladimir Yengibaryan, discus thrower Faina Melnik –
were issued in Yerevan.

“These stamps fame the people who brought Armenian sport to the
height,” said Arman Khachatryan, Haypost CJSC Director General.

Vice President of the Armenian National Olympic Committee Razmik
Stepanyan noted, for his part, that these stamps will encourage
young sportsmen to gain success and represent Armenia at various
international tournaments.

“Philatelists like sports stamps and we will be happy to represent
Armenia at different exhibitions with these stamps,” commented Hovik
Musayelyan, President of the Armenian Union of Philatelists.

RA Minister of Transport and Communication Manuk Vardanyan also
attended the ceremony.

From: A. Papazian

NAHAPETYAN DEFEATED BY SHIROV IN BLITZ CHESS MATCHES

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 16:50 AMT 12:50 GMT

All Armenian Chess Olympiad winner, FIDE master Poghos Nahapetyan
rivalled Aleksei Shirov of Spain at Penza-hosted tournament in Russia.

Nahapetyan and Shirov drew the first two quick-chess matches 1:1.

Shirov got the upper hand in blitz matches to score a 3,5:2,5 victory,
armchess.am reported.

From: A. Papazian

HRIPSIME KHURSHUDYAN WINS EUROPEAN U23 WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 16:59 AMT 12:59 GMT

Armenian weightlifter Hripsime Khurshudyan (+75kg) won gold at the
European U23 Weightlifting Championships in Limassol, Cyprus.

Khurshudyan showed the best result, lifting the total of 250 kg in
snatch and clean & jerk (110 and 140 kg respectively).

Arman Andrikyan and Norayr Vardanyan (both 94kg) enter the competition
on November 26.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S YOUTH FREESTYLE WRESTLING TEAM TO BE FORMED AFTER GAGIK ARAKELYAN TOURNAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 17:44 AMT 13:44 GMT

Youth wrestling tournament in memory of USSR Champion Gagik Arakelyan
has finished in Yerevan.

The tournament brought together 162 wrestlers from all regions
of Armenia.

Secretary General of the tournament Avetik Vardanyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that young wrestlers participated in another
tournament prior to this one.

“Based on their results of the two tournaments, Armenia’s youth
freestyle wrestling team will be formed to participate in an
international tournament due December 1-3 in Tbilisi,” Vardanyan said.

He added that the team will hold trainings in Tsaghkadzor resort on
December 23.

From: A. Papazian

PANARMENIAN PHOTO AGENCY LAUNCHES NEW PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 26, 2010 – 18:53 AMT 14:53 GMT

PanARMENIAN Photo Agency has launched a new photography website
featuring its daily photography reports from events happening in the
country, exclusive photoshoots and unique photo projects.

The website has three main sections – “Photowire” featuring news
stories in photographs, “Photoblog” – a selection of interesting
images from the agency’s coverage and “Projects” – photo stories on
various topics and happenings.

The previous website was unavailable for two months due to the damage
of the hosting provider’s server caused by the high volume of visitors.

PanARMENIAN Photo, established by PanARMENIAN Media Company in early
2009, is the largest news and creative photography agency in Armenia.

It covers all major social-political, economy, cultural and sport
events happening in the country and provides a wide range of
photography services.

From: A. Papazian