Author: Andres-Papazian

RA PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN SENDS ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE TO THE MSRYANS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

RA President Serzh Sargsyan sent an address of condolence to the
Msryans on the death of RA People’s Artist Vladimir Msryan.

The Presidential press service told Armenpress that the address of
condolence reads as following:

‘With profound grief I was informed about the death of RA People’s
Artist Vladimir Msryan. His bright images with deep dramatic accents,
created in the theatre and cinema, will always remain in the memories
of art lovers. I express my deep condolences to the family, relatives,
colleagues and fans of the famous artist,’.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN MILITARY REPORTS ANOTHER DEADLY SHOOTING

Armenia — Soldiers hold exercises, undated.

24.08.2010

The Armenian military confirmed on Tuesday reports of yet another
non-combat shooting within its ranks that left one soldier dead.

In a written statement, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said Sergeant
Arsen Chobanian, 26, was shot dead by a fellow serviceman last
week at an army outpost guarding an unspecified section of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It said the suspected shooter, Harutiun
Vartanian, was arrested and charged with premeditated murder.

“A criminal investigation into the case is continuing,” the statement
added. It gave no further details, saying only that the two soldiers
are natives of the northeastern Tavush region bordering western
Azerbaijan.

According to Armenian media reports they served in an army corps
stationed in Tavush on a contractual basis.

The military unit was already rocked late last month by the mysterious
shooting of Lieutenant Artak Nazarian. His relatives believe that
the 30-year-old was killed by fellow servicemen.

Military investigators insist, however, that Nazarian committed
suicide after being badly ill-treated by a deputy commander of his
battalion and three soldiers. All four men are now under arrest
pending investigation.

Nazarian was found dead the day before another officer and five
soldiers serving at an army unit in Nagorno-Karabakh were shot dead
in still unclear circumstances. Military investigators say one of
those soldiers went on a shooting spree and killed himself after a
bitter dispute with the officer.

The deadly incidents cast a renewed spotlight on chronic abuse,
corruption and mismanagement within Armenia’s Armed Forces. Eight
senior and mid-level officers were dismissed and more than a dozen
others demoted as a result.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian discussed the deaths at an emergency
meeting with the top army brass and senior Defense Ministry officials
earlier this month. He ordered them to “meticulously analyze what
happened” and “take steps to strengthen discipline in the troops.”

From: A. Papazian

THE “GOLDEN APRICOT” INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF YEREVAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HELD INMALATIA.

06:37 pm | Today | Social

Nothing to do

This was the statement made by the news service of “Golden Apricot”
International Film Festival of Yerevan. On August 20, “Milliyet”
published an article according to which the Turkish city of Malatia
will be holding the 1st International Film Festival of Malatia and
the grand prize will be called “Golden Apricot”.

According to a press release, the issue of appealing the use of
the name in court will be discussed after receiving final, complete
information.

From: A. Papazian

NO WATER SUPPLY IN KANAKER

05:50 pm | Today | Social

On August 25, starting from 10 a.m. there will be no 24-hour water
supply for residents living in “Kanaker-Zeytun” district’s Kanaker
community, the streets of Rubinyants, Raynis, Gogol, Norashkharhyan,
Shovroyan, Sevak, Lepsius, Dro, Ulnets, the cul-de-sacs and nearby
areas.

As reported by “Yerevan Water”, the water supply will be restored
only after finishing restoration due to an accident.

From: A. Papazian

15 COMPANIES WERE PENALIZED

05:45 pm | Today | Economy

Employees of the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic
Competition have registered changes in vegetable oil prices during
inspections in August.

With the purpose of studying the reasons, the State Commission on
Protection of Economic Competition has taken the decision to ask the
“Alex Grig” LTD to provide information about the sales, the reasons
behind price changes and the justifications.

For presenting data on the reasons and justifications for the sales
and price changes, the Commission has also decided to address the
companies producing milk, baby food, porridge, baby juices, as well
as the businesses in the “Steel framework” market, particularly “Alex
Grig”, “Natali Farm”, “Baby Sim”, “Slavex”, “New Fors”, “MikMetal”,
“Evropa”, “Geostil Armenia”, “Metex” companies, which are dominant
in the trade markets.

By other decisions, the Commission has decided to bring to justice a
number of businesses selling children’s food, importing and selling
tiles, milk-producing companies and other businesses working in the
“Egg shell” market, which have submitted the required information
late or haven’t presented it at all.

Fifteen companies have been bought to justice.

During the session, the Commission also took a number of protocol
decisions.

Information provided by the press service of the RA State Commission
on Protection of Economic Competition.

From: A. Papazian

8117.5 KG OF HEMP

05:25 pm | Today | Social

On August 23, 8117.5 kilograms of green hemp was collected in Armenia
after operative investigations within the framework of the “Hemp-Poppy
2010” event.

According to police, it was entirely burnt.

From: A. Papazian

SARGSYAN MET WITH THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES IN ARMENIA

05:16 pm | Today | Official

Serzh Sargsyan today received newly appointed representative of the
UN High Commissioner on Refugees in Armenia Damtiu Dessalegn.

During the meeting, Sargsyan mentioned that the Armenian government and
the Commissioner’s Office have been in collaboration for nearly two
decades. Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the office’s support
to the Armenian government’s efforts for integration of refugees and
solving their problems.

Sargsyan underlined that despite the great efforts, many refugees
are still temporarily living in hostels. The head of state attached
importance to the continuation of cooperation between the government
and the Commissioner’s office in providing homes to refugees.

The representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that
the long-running, correct and oriented cooperation between the Armenian
government and the Commissioner’s Office has been highly effective.

The President and Damtiu Dessalegn spoke about the upcoming projects
for cooperation and particularly attached importance to the 2011
Assembly of Donors with the participation of the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees.

The head of state also addressed the issue of refugees living in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Mentioning that Armenia and the NKR have never
turned the issue of refugees into one of political speculations,
Serzh Sargsyan expressed concerns over the fact that the refugees
are not included in the UN’s refugee support programs.

From: A. Papazian

TWO WINNERS OF TATEV REVIVAL PROJECT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 24, 2010 – 17:47 AMT 12:47 GMT

In an effort to involve compatriots, both in Armenia and in the
Diaspora, and also non-Armenians in the Tatev Revival Project, the
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia has come up with an intriguing
fundraising idea – i-Buy Campaign, the CFA said in a press release.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the project and present the
opportunity to join forces and help save our historical monastery,
strengthen community-based business and economy and, of course,
develop tourism assets along the Southern Corridor. All those willing
to contribute to the project can purchase the 10$ Tatev Revival Project
fundraiser tickets on-line from
website.

Fundraiser entry donations will go towards achieving the project’s
target of $50 million. At the same time, the i-Buy Campaign aims to
raise awareness about the project and the fascinating touristic site
so each of the $10 ticket can also win one of the two $5,000-value
prizes. The winning participants will get an exceptional opportunity
to receive all-expenses-paid invites for two persons to Armenia and
Tatev Revival Project grand opening event scheduled for October 16,
2010. The more tickets are purchased by an i-Buy participant, the
bigger is the chance to win a trip to Armenia.

The two winners of the fundraiser will also take a ride on the world’s
longest aerial tramway over the picturesque Vorotan River Gorge, to
Tatev on its opening day. I-buy is one of the many community-building
outreach campaigns that are part of the major Tatev Revival Project.

From: A. Papazian

BEKOR PAPAZYAN: FIRST HOTELS AT TATEV MONASTERY TO BE OPENED BY 2013

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 24, 2010 – 17:33 AMT 12:33 GMT

Executive Director of the National Competitiveness Foundation of
Armenia Bekor Papazyan said that the first hotels at Tatev monastery
complex will be opened by 2013. Meanwhile, it is planned to increase
the number of tourists and develop the southern corridor from Noravank
to Goris by that time, Papazyan told a press conference.

Referring to reasons of high prices for hotel services in Armenia, he
pointed to low demand in this field. “If a sharp growth is recorded
in the number of tourists, the number of hotels will also increase,
facilitating competition, while large businessmen will prefer the
policy of availability, earning money due to great number of visitors,”
said Papazyan.

For his part, Vice Chairman of the Association of Hotels of Armenia
Hakob Hakobyan noted that in other tourist countries, like Turkey
and Georgia, where Armenian tourists prefer to spend their vacations,
the tax field is more favorable for tourism development.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Association of Tour Operators of Armenia
Robert Minasyan noted that Armenia’s hotels are occupied only by
25-30%, as prices are unreasonable and it scares tourists.

From: A. Papazian

SHAHAN ARZRUNI TO PERFORM AT AKHTAMAR

[ 2010/08/24 | 10:05 ]

Shahan Arzruni, an accomplished piano virtuoso based in New York,
has accepted an invitation to perform at the church services that
will take place on September 19 on the island of Akhtamar, Lake Van.

My long-time desire is about to come true. The Turkish Consulate
General in New York, with the cooperation of the Van Governor’s Office,
the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, organized and put together a full-length concert in a most
satisfying way,” Arzruni told the Hurriyet Daily News.

Mr. Arzruni was born in Istanbul and visits the city several times
a year. He says he feels equally at home in both.

The most striking work of the concert is likely to be “Akhtamar,”
by Arzruni’s aunt, master composer Sirvart Karamanukyan, who died in
Istanbul last year.

When asked if the current problems between the two peoples could
be overcome and a dialogue could be established, Arzruni said:
“Communication is perhaps the only means to understanding each other’s
aspirations, desires, intentions, thoughts and sentiments. Sometimes
a simple smile is enough to communicate a host of feelings. Whatever
the case, I am sure the people who will come to visit Akhtamar Island
on that historic weekend will be met with open arms by the residents
of Van.”

From: A. Papazian