Author: Andres-Papazian

TRAFFIC VIOLATION FINES DISPROPORTIONATE TO MINIMUM WAGES IN ARMENIA – EX-PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, June 24. /ARKA/. The second president of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan says the fines for traffic rule violations are
disproportionate to the minimum wages.

The minimum wages is set at 50,000 drams in the country as of January
1, 2014.

For instance, speeding fines in developed Germany is only 2.5-3% of
the minimum wages, Kocharyan said. The principle used almost across
Europe is to penalize the driver for the offence but not deprive him
of his livelihood as it is done in Armenia, the ex-president said in
his interview to Yerkir.am.

The ex-president also said it is unacceptable to have these fines
going to private pockets, instead of being transferred to the state
budget and being used for better security on the roads.

According to Kocharyan, it is the municipality who should deal with
parking in the streets and the entire collection should go to the
municipal budget and be used as required by the Council of Elders.

‘In fact, private companies are carrying out monopolized activities
within municipal territory in our country and earn excess profits as
they are not bound by antimonopoly laws’, Kocharyan said.

The ex-president said the formulae of the
government-communities-private partnership should be revised and
penalties paid by citizens should not go into private pockets.

On June 17 Armenia’s government approved the amendments to the law
about administrative offences setting a fine of 1,000 drams only for
each one to twenty kilometer-hour over the speed limit.

According to the current law, speeding fines are threefold of minimum
wages for 15-30 km-hour over the speed limit, fivefold for 30-40km-hour
over the limit, eightfold for 40-60km-hour and tenfold for 60km-hour
and above in excess of the speed limit. ($1=409drams).

-0–

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

BAKU REMAINS COLD TO FRENCH LEADER’S OFFER OF AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA SUMMIT

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 23 2014

June 23, 21:26 UTC+4 YEREVAN
Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mamedyarov said earlier that Baku was waiting
for concrete proposals following Hollande’s initiative to arrange a
new meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, June 23. /ITAR-TASS/. French President Francois Hollande’s
offer to arrange a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Paris was more than concrete, but Baku did not agree
with it, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said on Monday,
June 23.

“During his visit to the region the president of France made more than
a concrete proposal, including in terms of substance, to organize a
meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris.

Apparently this concrete offer goes against Baku’s position and
it expects some other concrete proposal,” he said at a joint press
conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said at a joint press
briefing with Lavrov earlier that Baku was waiting for concrete
proposals following up on Hollande’s initiative to arrange a new
meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“For some reason, Azerbaijan constantly dislikes proposals put forth
on behalf of the international community by the co-chairs, including
those to strengthen the ceasefire regime, withdraw snipers and create
a mechanism for investigating incidents. It does not like proposals
made as one whole and contained in five statements of the presidents
of the five co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group. There are
simply no concrete alternatives to proposals made by the co-chairs
and aimed solely at ensuring a peaceful resolution of the conflict,”
Nalbandyan said.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed earlier reiterated
Armenia’s commitment to a speedy resolution of the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a de facto independent but unrecognized state in
Azerbaijan populated mainly by Armenians, on the basis of international
law and join statements of the Minsk Group co-chairs.

“We firmly believe that a new war cannot resolve the conflict,”
Sargsyan said.

In his opinion, “confrontation will only lead to destabilization,
provoke tensions and arms race, and further aggravate interstate
contradictions, foment ethnic and religious strife, and threatens
the security of other countries”.

Sargsyan said that his country would do everything it can to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue peacefully.

“We will do everything we can to solve the Karabakh problem
peacefully,” the president said.

“The [settlement] process is underway, and we are acting constructively
in this process,” Sargsyan said.

“We will do our best to find a fair solution,” he said. “The stronger
we are, the more combat capable our army is, the better our positions
at the talks will be.”

However, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be resolved only if the territorial
integrity of his country was ensured.

“The conflict can be resolved only within the framework of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. There is no other solution,
and I have no doubts that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity,” the head of state said.

He stressed that Azerbaijan was seeking to solve the issue
“peacefully”.

“We hope for a peaceful resolution yet. To this end, the Armenian side
should unconditionally comply with the resolutions of international
organizations, including the UN Security Council, free the occupied
territories and Azerbaijani citizens should return to their homes.

After that peace and stability will come to the region,” Aliyev said.

He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the “biggest source of
threat” in the region.

Azerbaijan and its people “will never allow a second Armenian state
to be created on their historical land”, he said.

“Nagorno-Karabakh will never get independence. The people who live
in Nagorno-Karabakh now, and the Azeris will certainly return there
should live in autonomy. This is a well known international approach,”
the president said.

He made it clear that Azerbaijan would “never step aside from its
position of principle”.

The head of state called for a speedy and fair settlement in Karabakh
on the basis of international law.

Speaking of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said it was
“a matter of the future”.

“We have said many times that we will never agree to any status for
Nagorno-Karabakh outside Azerbaijan, and international law supports
our positions,” the president said.

Aliyev urged Armenia to continue peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: A. Papazian

Le Monde.fr, France
Samedi 21 Juin 2014

Andranik Teymourian, porte-drapeau des Arméniens d’Iran au Mondial

par Anthony Hernandez; Ghazal Golshiri

C’est une image qui le hante encore aujourd’hui. Un moment qu’il ne
veut pas revivre, même s’il l’a rendu célèbre. En foulant la pelouse
du stade de Belo Horizonte, samedi 21 juin face à l’Argentine,
l’Iranien Andranik Teymourian, 31 ans, aura sans doute en tête un
autre 21 juin. Celui de 2006, quand, à l’issue d’un match nul de
l’Iran face à l’Angola (1-1), il s’effondra en sanglots sur la pelouse
de Leipzig parce que son équipe quittait la Coupe du monde.

Argentine – Iran en direct à partir de 18 heures

Cet épisode, plutôt fréquent sur les terrains de sport, a fait parler
de lui en Iran. Parce que son appartenance à la minorité chrétienne et
arménienne en renforçait la portée symbolique. Huit ans après, fort
d’une expérience de quatre ans sur les pelouses anglaises (de 2006 à
2010), le milieu de terrain au catogan a, de nouveau, l’occasion de
montrer son talent et son patriotisme. Même si les gradins du stade
brésilien seront remplis par les supporters de l’Albiceleste.

Au côté du capitaine vedette de l’équipe, Javad Nekounam, il pourra
une nouvelle fois faire parler son expérience. Pour cette deuxième
rencontre du groupe F, l’Iran de Teymourian tentera de faire bonne
figure face à l’un des favoris du Mondial. ‘ Aucun match n’est facile
pour nous mais, de même, jouer contre l’Iran n’est jamais une chose
facile pour n’importe lequel de nos adversaires ‘, déclarait-il avant
le début de la compétition. Le Nigeria, champion d’Afrique en titre,
s’est en effet déjà cassé les dents (0-0) sur l’Iran, lors de son
premier match.

117 000 CHRÉTIENS EN IRAN

Avec 80 sélections depuis ses débuts internationaux en 2005, le joueur
de l’Esteghlal Téhéran a un rôle particulier au sein de la ‘ Team
Melli ‘. Le 18 mai, en match de préparation face à la Biélorussie
(0-0), il est ainsi devenu le premier chrétien à porter le brassard de
capitaine de l’équipe iranienne. Seul chrétien et arménien des 23
joueurs dirigés par le Portugais Carlos Queiroz, Andranik Teymourian
n’est pas le premier membre de la minorité arménienne à porter le
maillot national iranien. L’un de ses prédécesseurs les plus célèbres
se nomme Andranik Eskandarian. Cet ancien joueur du Cosmos de New York
a participé à la première Coupe du monde disputée par l’Iran, en 1978
en Argentine.

‘ Le football est très populaire chez les Arméniens, et nous y avons
toujours été actifs, assure Robert Beglarian, député de Téhéran et
membre de cette communauté. On suit de près Teymourian parce qu’il est
brillant et parce que les Arméniens ont toujours eu des joueurs au
sein de l’équipe nationale. Le sport crée effectivement un sentiment
de cohésion et une unité nationale en Iran et tout particulièrement le
football. ‘

Selon le dernier recensement officiel, la République islamique d’Iran
compte près de 117 000 chrétiens, dont environ 80 000 Arméniens. La
Constitution iranienne reconnaît quatre minorités religieuses :
chrétiens arméniens, chrétiens assyriens, juifs et zoroastriens. Au
Parlement iranien, 5 sièges sur 290 sont réservés à ces minorités,
dont deux aux Arméniens. Si leur accès à certaines responsabilités
militaires reste limité, et si le président de la République doit être
musulman, le député Beglarian ne se plaint pas du sort des minorités
en Iran : ‘ Il n’y a pas de méfiance en Iran par rapport aux minorités
; dès lors qu’un pays est dirigé avec un regard religieux, il est
peut-être naturel que certains postes ne soient pas ouverts aux
minorités. ‘

L’ARRIVÉE DES BI-NATIONAUX

Présents notamment à Tabriz et Oroumieh (nord-ouest du pays), à Shiraz
(sud) à Ispahan (centre), et bien entendu à Téhéran, les clubs
sportifs arméniens participent au maintien de l’identité de la
communauté. Henrik Khalouian, directeur du club arménien Ararat,
implanté dans la capitale, et dans lequel Teymourian a été formé, ne
cache pas l’importance que revêt la présence de son coreligionnaire en
sélection. ‘ Cela fait 400 ans que nous vivons en Iran. Il est vrai
que notre nombre a diminué et que nous sommes peut-être moins
visibles. Voilà pourquoi la présence de Teymourian au sein de l’équipe
nationale est d’autant plus importante. Nous en sommes fiers ‘,
affirme-t-il.

Finalement logique, bien que symbolique, la sélection d’Andranik
Teymourian s’accompagne cette année d’une révolution importante pour
le football iranien. A la demande du sélectionneur Carlos Queiroz, la
Team Melli s’est également ouverte aux joueurs bi-nationaux : un
Irano-Allemand (Ashkan Dejagah), un Irano-Néerlandais (Reza
Ghoochannejhad) et un… Irano-Américain, en la personne de Steven
Beitashour.

Entre minorités et diaspora, le football iranien ne veut se priver
d’aucun atout pour espérer remporter une deuxième victoire en Coupe du
monde, après celle obtenue en 1998 face aux Etats-Unis.

From: A. Papazian

Checking to reach Kokobelyan’s mine too

12:30 / 21.06.2014

Leader of Free Democrats party Khachatur Kokobelyan owes Karevard Ltd
registered in Artik since 2003. He is the owner of the biggest mines
of coloured tuffa of Artik.

His production is not common tuffa but the most expensive one. But the
issue is not his being the owner of it. The thing is that no one is
allowed to enter there and make checking. The tax committee is not
daring to do it. Until now it has not done it. While now the Control
Chamber headed by Ishkhan Zakaryan has started wide scale checking in
the energy and natural resources sphere. The work started from
Ashtarak territory. Nyut.am source reports that this time Kokobelyan
will hardly split and the turn will reach Artik too.

So, there is nothing strange that he voted with the ruling party. He
just did not have any other choice.

P.S. Of course he could say that these mines are not his, but his
relatives like for instance his brother Sevak Kokobelyan who is
appointed the director of the company.

From: A. Papazian

IteNovas – Made in Sardegna, Italia
18 Giugno 2014

Cagliari tra le città della Memoria degli armeni

Ñ?аблонÑ? Ñ?айÑ?ов
joomla templates
Dettagli Pubblicato Mercoledì, 18 Giugno 2014 14:07 Scritto da Effe_Pi

Proposta al comune dell’ambasciatore armeno Ghazaryan, durante una
visita in Sardegna: del genocidio commesso dai turchi ricorre il
centenario nel 2015.

Cagliari potrebbe essere uno dei luoghi della Memoria per ricordare il
genocidio del popolo armeno in occasione del suo centenario, che
ricorre nel 2015. Se ne è parlato oggi durante un incontro tra
l’ambasciatore della Repubblica d’Armenia in Italia, Sargis Ghazaryan,
e l’amministrazione comunale di Cagliari; è stato proprio
l’ambasciatore a lanciare la proposta al vicesindaco della cittÃ,
Luisa Anna Marras. Per Ghazaryan il capoluogo sardo, già candidato a
Capitale europea della cultura nel 2019, deve ospitare, insieme a Roma
e Milano, uno degli eventi culturali in programma a livello nazionale
previsti per l’anno prossimo”.

Durante la sua visita ufficiale in Sardegna, il diplomatico ha
incontrato anche l’arcivescovo, Arrigo Miglio, con il quale ha parlato
del valore dell’identità del popolo sardo e delle sue affinità con il
popolo armeno. ”La cristianità dell’Armenia – ha detto – ha
consentito al paese di essere una porta verso l’occidente e
l’oriente, una porta fatta di accoglienza e dialogo”. L’ambasciatore
Ghazaryan ha visitato inoltre la Basilica monumentale di Nostra
Signora di Bonaria ed ha partecipato, ieri, al convegno ”Genocidio
del popolo armeno”, coordinato dal direttore di Spondasud, rivista di
geopolitica di Alessandro Aramu, insieme al Segretario generale del
Centro Italo Arabo Assadakah Schiavone, al Senatore Ignazio Angioni,
il responsabile esteri del Centro Italo arabo Assadaka Talal Khrais.

Il genocidio cui ci si riferisce è quello compiuto dal governo
ottomano dei `giovani turchi’ nel 1915, che viene commemorato dagli
Armeni il 24 aprile. In un solo mese, più di mille intellettuali
armeni, tra cui giornalisti, scrittori, poeti e perfino delegati al
Parlamento furono deportati verso l’interno dell’Anatolia e massacrati
lungo la strada, mentre in tutto il periodo del Genocidio, le `marce
della morte’coinvolsero 1.200.000 persone, centinaia di migliaia delle
quali morirono per fame, malattia o sfinimento.

From: A. Papazian

States News Service
June 20, 2014 Friday

THE WORLD BANK HELPS BOOSTING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ARMENIAN AGRICULTURE

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the World Bank:

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$ 32.67
million financing for the Second Community Agricultural Resource
Management and Competitiveness (CARMAC) Project for Armenia . This
Project is designed to improve productivity and sustainability of
pasture and livestock systems in up to 100 communities in eight
regions of Armenia with significant pasture areas and increase the
marketed production from selected livestock and high value agri-food
value chains.

For the women and men living in Armenia’s rural communities,
agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihoods.
Thus, developing farmers’ productivity, including through cooperatives
and associations, and strengthening the links between agricultural
producers and the food processing industry are critical. The project
will help address key constraints by improving market access,
supporting the commercialization process, and enhancing employment
opportunities while protecting the natural environment. The second
CARMAC expands the scope of the first project, notably its successful
pasture-based livestock activities, to include a new value chain
component linking livestock and other agriculture production with
markets.

“Enhancing productivity and strengthening market access of farmers are
key to reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity in rural areas”
says Jean-Michel Happi, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia .
“Project activities are devised in such a way as to mainly benefit
pasture users, farmer cooperatives, as well as food business
operators. At least 50,000 farmers are expected to participate in this
project through their membership in Pasture Users’ Cooperatives
(PUC).”

The proposed project will further implement an efficient and
sustainable community managed pasture based livestock production and
include new communities exhibiting a strong interest, adding to the
already existing 86 communities covered by the on-going CARMAC
project. Pasture users cooperatives will be established in about 100
communities, which will be the key players in developing sustainable
pasture/livestock management plans and receiving grant resources of
about US$ 200,000 per PUC for their implementation. Funding may
include financing of infrastructure to access and use remote pastures,
milk collection points with cooling equipment, machinery to produce
and harvest fodder, and other activities of community importance.

“I would highlight the long-term benefits of value chain development
for the efficiency of agricultural output,” says Nicolas Ahouissoussi,
World Bank Task Team Leader of the project . “The project will support
agricultural producers and processors to improve the ability to meet
domestic demand and access international markets, building on the
competitive advantages of the Armenian market.”

Support programs for women and youth are planned to enhance their
participation in the PUCs along with their communal decision-making
process around pasture management. Along with other activities, the
project pays special attention and will contribute to increasing the
capacity of public sector institutions, such as regional-level
Veterinary Service Centers and State Service for Food Safety, to
facilitate business development and enable market access in the
selected value chains.

Total financing of the project is US$42.67 million, of which US$10
million will be the Government’s and beneficiaries’ contribution. The
World Bank will provide a US$9.67 million equivalent credit, of which
US$3.8 million on standard blend IDA terms at a fixed interest rate of
1.25% per annum with a maturity of 25 years and a 5 year grace period;
US$5.87 million on hard IDA terms at a fixed interest rate of 1.40%
per annum with a maturity of 25 years and a 5 year grace period; and
US$23 million IBRD loan of variable spread with a 10 year grace period
and the total repayment term of 25 years.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the commitments
to Armenia total approximately US$ 1,871.73 million.

Media Contacts

In Yerevan
Vigen Sargsyan
Tel : (374 10) 52 09 92
[email protected]

In Washington
Elena Karaban
Tel : (202) 473-9277
[email protected]

For Broadcast Requests
Mehreen Sheikh
Tel : (202) 458-7336
[email protected]

From: A. Papazian

SYRIE
Un envoyé arménien à Alep pour évaluer la situation

Le consul général d’Arménie à Alep Tigran Gevorgyan a eu une réunion
avec le gouverneur d’Alep, Mohammed Wahid Akkad selon la Radio
Publique d’Arménie. Le gouverneur a félicité le Consul général pour sa
nomination et lui a souhaité plein succès dans son travail. Tigran
Gevorgyan a souligné l’importance de la coopération historique entre
les autorités du consulat général et les Arméniens d’Alep.

Les parties ont échangé des vues sur la situation actuelle en Syrie,
les problèmes socio-politiques de la province et les efforts pour sa
résolution.

Soulignant le rôle important de la communauté arménienne dans la vie
syrienne, les interlocuteurs ont discuté des problèmes auxquels la
communauté arménienne est confrontée aujourd’hui.

Lors de la réunion Mohammed Wahid Akkad a informé le consul arménien
sur les mesures prises pour l’amélioration de la situation humanitaire
dans la région. La réunion a eu lieu dans le contexte de deux morts
arméniens en raison de la poursuite des attaques par missiles par des
militants extrémistes, visant le quartier arménien de Nor Kyugh à
Alep.

Un jour avant la réunion, dans le quartier Sebil d’Alep, une femme
arménienne est mort des suites de blessures suite à des tirs de
mortier. La victime était Seda Basmajian, né en 1942. Sa cérémonie
funèbre a eu lieu le 17 Juin à l’Eglise apostolique arménienne de
Sainte Mère de Dieu. Au cours des deux derniers mois, des dizaines
d’Arméniens ont été blessées ou tuées à Alep. La situation s’est
rapidement détériorée, en particulier, dans le quartier arménien de
Nor Kyugh, depuis les premiers jours de Juin. Les groupes terroristes
ont attaqué le quartier avec des tirs de roquettes et des attentats.
Les attaques ont causé des dégts matériels, y compris des propriétés
historiquement importantes.

dimanche 22 juin 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
7 détenus suite à une nouvelles manifestation contre les amendes routières

Sept personnes ont été arrêtées jeudi à Erevan alors que la police a
arrêté des dizaines de voitures afin des empêcher de s’approcher du
centre-ville à l’occasion d’une nouvelles manifestation par leurs
propriétaires contre ce qu’ils considèrent comme des amendes
extrêmement lourdes pour des infractions routières.

Un groupe de pression appelé > a commencé à faire
campagne contre ces règles plus tôt cette année, obtenant que ses
partisans descendent dans la rue et conduisent leurs voitures à
travers les principales artères de la ville dans des cortèges
organisés.

Leurs demandes incluent une réduction de cinq fois des amendes
infligées par la police de la route pour les violations enregistrées
par un nombre croissant de caméras de surveillance avec les radars
installés à travers l’Arménie. Ils veulent que le gouvernement
arménien annule également le paiement des amendes en cours contre des
milliers d’automobilistes, dont beaucoup de chauffeurs de taxi.

Une autre demande du groupe est une suppression complète d’un nouveau
système de stationnement qui a été présenté à Erevan Septembre
dernier. Le système couvrant essentiellement le centre-ville a placé
sur les propriétaires de voitures une lourde charge financière. Il est
mis en exécution par une entreprise privée qui récupère 70 pour cent
des frais de stationnement perçus par voie électronique.

Le gouvernement n’a jusqu’à présent accepté de réduire les amendes
pour excès de vitesse que de moitié. Hovik Abrahamian le premier
ministre a décrit mardi cela comme une concession majeure aux
militants. Ces derniers ont rejeté cependant l’annonce d’Abrahamian,
insistant sur le fait que leurs demandes doivent être satisfaites dans
leur intégralité.

Un cortège de voitures organisé par > a été
bloqué par la police de la route du centre-ville juste à l’extérieur
d’Erevan alors qu’il cherchait à s’approcher du bureau du Premier
ministre sur la principale place de la ville Place de la République.
Les policiers ont dit que la manifestation causerait des
embouteillages et ont exhorté les participants à partir du centre. Les
manifestants ont refusé de le faire.

Les unités de police anti-émeute dirigées par Valeri Osipian, chef
adjoint du département de police d’Erevan, arrivés sur les lieux peu
de temps après, ont arrêté au hasard 7 conducteurs pour débloquer la
rue. Ils ont également remorqué et mis en fourrière six voitures.

Les dirigeants du mouvement de protestation ont dit qu’ils rallieront
davantage d’automobilistes d’une manière similaire dans les prochains
jours.

dimanche 22 juin 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN TRAIN THROUGH GEORGIA?

EurasiaNet.org
June 20 2014

June 20, 2014 – 11:24am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

Armenia needs a train to make full use of its upcoming economic
integration with Russia’s Customs Union, but the only track still
accessible to it runs via separatist Abkhazia. Now, after years of
firm opposition from Tbilisi, Yerevan appears to sense an opening.

During a June 18-19 drop-in visit to Tbilisi, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan revisited with his Georgian hosts the idea of re-launching the
Soviet-era train route. The reopening of the railway though Abkhazia,
closed since Tbilisi’s 1992-1994 war with Abkhaz separatists, “is of
vital importance for us,” Sargsyan said, news sites reported.

It is vital, indeed. For landlocked Armenia, the land route to Russia –
a prime market for Armenia exports and migrant workers – bottlenecks
through the Georgian mountains. This route is susceptible to political
and natural disasters, such as the 2008 war with Russia or a recent
deadly landslide, and has limited cargo transit capacity.

Georgia did not leap at Sargsyan’s overture, but indicated that
there is room for discussion. Georgian officials said that Moscow and
Tbilisi may discuss the Abkhazia railway at their next round of talks,
and that the National Security Council will also mull over the matter.

Retired Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is widely seen as
the real ruler of Georgia, has indicated in the past that he looks
favorably on the railway both as a way to bridge Abkhaz and Georgian
differences and as an economic boon for everyone involved.

Moscow, for its part, also has an interest. Vladimir Yakunin,
the chief executive officer of Russian Railways, which essentially
operates Armenia’s domestic railway system, stated recently that now
was the time to start thinking about the topic.

But while everyone seems willing to sit around and think about the
railway, the Abkhaz train, like any international project in the South
Caucasus, touches a web of conflicting or interconnected interests.

Any consent by Tbilisi to the line reopening will inevitably face
domestic criticism from political opponents, who believe the railway
would only consolidate Abkhazia’s claim to independence.

The Abkhaz themselves have indicated that, while the railway could
bring benefits, they would expect to be included in the planning as
a full-fledged state. That’s unlikely to come from Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s neighbor , Azerbaijan, has its own territorial
conflict to think about. The struggle over Nagorno Karabakh means Baku
will hardly be pleased to see Tbilisi facilitating trade opportunities
for Yerevan, Baku’s sworn enemy .

Azerbaijan has a separate railway project in Georgia designed to
connect both Caucasus countries to Turkey’s railway system, and
potentially further afield, to Europe.

And then there are the differences between Armenia and Georgia. The
two countries are opting for different final destinations – Russia
and Europe, respectively – both in terms of railway routes and
geopolitically. Armenia plans to sign on with Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus’ Eurasian Union, while Georgia is about to connect to the
European Union through an association and free trade agreements.

With all this happening, Yerevan-Moscow train is unlikely to be
departing soon.

From: A. Papazian

THESE NEWLYWEDS TOOK OFF WITH THEIR PHOTOGRAPHER FOR MAGICAL DESERT TRIP

SF Gate, CA
June 20 2014

Couple reconnect years later and turn their vows into a magical
desert trip

Louise Rafkin

People often describe a first date as “magic.” But for San Mateo
couple Paulette Harutnian and Mark Emerson, their first date was more
Magic Kingdom.

Nine years ago, both lived in Southern California and were launching
careers in film production when they met at Disneyland on a blind date.

Paulette worked with Mark’s brother, and often they shared rides. On
the way home one day, he asked to be dropped at Disneyland, where
he’d be joined by his wife and also his brother. They had an extra
ticket to the park, might she join them? Though she wasn’t dressed
for a date, Paulette, with her usual zest for life, accepted the offer.

“When I met Mark, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight, but it was
something,” Paulette said.

Within weeks, they were seriously dating and enjoying the synergy of
a good match. Mark was as shy as she was chatty, said Paulette. And
Mark was charmed by Paulette’s voracious curiosity. “She researches
all kinds of random subjects, from solar power to serial killers to
viruses,” he said.

“Mark is the most genuine person I know,” Paulette said.

For a year, talk of marriage floated heavily above the relationship
like a fog, though both, then in their early 20s, felt they were
perhaps too young for such seriousness.

In addition to their age, the couple faced a bank of cultural
differences. Paulette, born in Iran, was tight with her Christian
Armenian family. “It was expected that she live at home until she met
and married another Armenian,” said Mark, whose parents had concerns
about their youth.

A year and a half in, Paulette called it off. “There were pressures
from both our families, and I had things to do to get my life
together,” Paulette said.

It wasn’t an easy split, although both moved on – both romantically
and in their careers. Paulette, now a computer graphics modeler at
DreamWorks, began what would become a three-year relationship. Mark,
now an assistant editor in animation for Lucasfilm, went as far as
planning a destination wedding in Italy with another woman before
that relationship suddenly fell apart.

For four years, both admitted to thoughts of “what if” but didn’t so
much as speak a single word.

It was Mark who broke the silence. Post-engagement, he sent a message
via Facebook to Paulette, who’d recently admitted to herself that she’d
made a mistake in letting Mark go. As soon as she saw his message,
she knew she would tell him that painful truth – that is, if he were
single. Their reconnection was instant, and they began talking four
or five hours a night. A reunion was planned for – where else? –
the Magic Kingdom.

During a magical night at Disneyland, they shared stories of their
“lost years.” Paulette showed him a sunset photo from a trip she’d
taken to South Africa and admitted that at that moment, admiring
that sunset, she had realized how much she missed him. Mark matched
that story with one of his own: On a trip to Greece, while watching
a different sunset, he, too, had questioned whether they could have
made a go of it.

With both harboring renewed hope, they agreed on one thing: In their
former relationship, they’d let their families have too much influence;
this time, they’d listen only to their own hearts.

On April 25, with full support from both families, the couple married
in Glendale (Los Angeles County), at the Brand Park friendship garden.

Cristiano Ostinelli, an award-winning Italian photographer whom Mark
had contacted for the wedding he’d abandoned, flew in from Europe
for the ceremony.

“Bringing Cristiano actually cost less than most of the local wedding
photographers,” Mark said. “I loved his work, and we wanted artistic
photos we could hang on our walls.”

The imported talent led to more adventure. After the wedding, the
couple, with the photographer and his girlfriend-assistant, embarked
on a four-day trip through the Californian desert, stopping to shoot
at Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, the Salton Sea and Ivanpah, a solar
energy plant deep in the Mojave Desert.

Aside from the challenge of wearing a wedding dress fastened with
100 tiny buttons for four days, Paulette, who gushes with enthusiasm
for solar technology, said the journey was inspiring. And the photos
speak for themselves.

“We need change in energy technology, and embracing the sun is what
brought us back together,” said Paulette, who says visiting Ivanpah
was the highlight of the trip.

“Our relationship is all about renewable energy,” added Mark, who
successfully made the connection to the solar plant by e-mailing its
public relations people with a simple request: “Help me make my future
wife happy.”

photo: Paulette Harutnian and Mark Emerson of San Mateo, who both work
in film in the Bay Area, wed April 25 in Southern California. After
the wedding, the two embarked on a four-day trip with their wedding
photographer, Cristiano Ostinelli, which included a stop at the Ivanpah
Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert. Photo: Cristiano Ostinelli

From: A. Papazian