Author: Andres-Papazian

Vanadzor residents protest against gas price hike – Video

05:53 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

Some 60 residents of Vanadzor, a major city in the county’s northern Lori
province, took to the street on Wednesday to protest against the announced
rise in the natural gas prices. The angered citizens marched to the
Governor’s Office of Lori demanding a meeting with the governor. However,
they were met by the deputy governor.

Lori Governor Arthur Nalbandyan showed up eventually to talk to the
protesting residents.

Participating in the protest was also Garnik Sahakyan, head of the Vanadzor
Office of the opposition Heritage party and party members.

Arthur Nalbandyan said he was equally concerned about the hike in gas
prices. He also said that the new tariffs have not been fixed yet.

From: A. Papazian

*Aghvan Vardanyan: New government program repeats previous one – Video*

Panorama.am
13:57 22/05/2013 » POLITICS

Secretary of ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction Aghvan Vardanyan says
that the new government program repeats the old one and that it is not
ruled out that it will also be a failure.

`Both the government and its program have remained almost unchanged, but
the life has changed and the problems have become sharper,’ he said during
the discussion of the government program in parliament.

`We do not say that nothing is being done, but we say that what is being
done is insufficient and leads to nowhere. Everyone bears responsibility.
It is time to stop and think,’ Vardanyan said.

From: A. Papazian

Eurovision organizers confirm Azerbaijan gave no points to Russia

12:13 22.05.2013

Eurovision organizers have responded to media reports on voting.

`The millions of viewers in Europe and the contestants, who have put
heart and soul into their performances, deserve a fair and transparent
result,’ said Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision
Song Contest, in response to media reports that question the integrity
of the voting.

Undercover in Lithuania

On Saturday, hours before the Final, an undercover video surfaced in
Lithuanian media, apparently showing how two individuals approached
people to cast large amounts of votes in favor of one particular
entry.

Sand responds: `We are looking into this case, but would emphasize
that the intention of these individuals have not yet been clarified,
and nor has a link been established between the individuals in the
video and the Azeri delegation, the Azeri act or the Azeri EBU Member
Ictimai TV.’

The EBU has worked with Digame on the televote processing for nearly
ten years. Digame’s platform is built to handle the televoting with
absolute professional care, and incorporates systems to detect any
attempts at so-called power-voting, where people or systems
systematically vote for a chosen contestant. Based on criteria
established by the EBU and Digame and overseen by a PwC observer,
votes garnered through any instances of power-voting are disregarded.

Azerbaijan to Russia: no points

The EBU also took note of reports in international media of an
investigation by the President of Azerbaijan into the Azeri jury and
televoting in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The EBU holds the
independence of the professional juries in all participating countries
to be of paramount importance.

The combination of televotes and jury votes, each bearing a 50%
influence on the outcome, did not result in a top 10 position for
Russia in the overall result from Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijan
awarded Russia no points – a result confirmed by a notary onsite, by
our voting partner Digame and by an independent observer from PwC.

Sand comments: ‘ We believe that the Song Contest’s apolitical spirit
is a cornerstone of its enduring success, and we will do all we can to
protect it.’

Any form of political pressure on professional juries that could lead
to anything other than an independent evaluation of the participating
entries is a violation of the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest,
and will be duly dealt with.

A pro-active approach

`I have been around at the Eurovision Song Contest since 1998, and
every year there are rumors about irregularities in the voting.
Particularly this year, we felt it was time to firmly deal with these
rumors,’ Sand commented on various media enquiries.

To tighten the procedures, PwC has sent additional observers to
broadcasters unannounced shortly before the broadcast, to verify as
well if the jury voting is being conducted in accordance with the
Rules. A PwC observer has also conducted interviews with broadcaster
representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest, to evaluate rumors.

To assure a fair jury voting, judges are asked to sign a document
declaring their independency, and are asked to submit details about
their professional background. The jury voting is overlooked by an
independent notary who confirms to the EBU and PwC that the voting has
been conducted in accordance with the Rules.

In support of the fairness and transparency of the voting as one of
the corner stones of the Eurovision Song Contest, the EBU constantly
evaluates rules and procedures and tightens them if necessary.

We act immediately

Several journalists have asked what the consequences would be in case
the Rules governing the voting would be breached.

Dr. Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest
Reference Group, the event’s governing body on behalf of EBU Members,
states: `Let me be clear on this. If we find any clear evidence that
the Rules are being breached, including attempts of power-voting, we
act immediately to do what we are obliged to do on behalf of the
Members: to protect the Eurovision Song Contest brand.’

Based on all criteria laid out in the Rules, PwC confirmed to the EBU
the validity of the result of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

From: A. Papazian

Government’s program of demoralization

2013-05-22 19:47:39

The old and the new Prime Minister finally introduced the program of
the new government for the next five years. He talked about
everything- from poverty to pensions, but, in fact, his speech, spiced
with emotional beatings, was just repetition of the previous years’
performances, which were presented tand read, and remained only on
paper.

And at the end the Prime Minister once said confirmed, “Yes, this is a
revolution, a revolution that we implement not in the squares… the
rest is not so important. In other words, the fact that the word
“revolution” day by day appears on everyone’s lips, from RA citizen,
to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, gives an idea of
possible and likely implementation of a minimum step for change.

So if this time the Prime Minister from the platform presented well
planned speech, and at the same time perspective program of the
Government for the coming years, then previously, it used to be,
according to the logic, there needed to be errors and flaws in
Government’s program for 2008. But no matter how irrational it may
seem, exactly 5 years ago, Prime Minister in the same way, with the
same facial expression, read the noble and exciting program of the
Government, which, according to RA Government projections, should be
brought the Republic of Armenia out of economic collapse.

Of course, the percents about which the Prime Minister was talking
about at that time, shoul have 50-60% economic growth during 5 year,
today people can only laugh at it, therefore, to expect that this time
the Prime Minister and the Government will go back to the same
populist move, is impossible.

As a result, once again this program will be forced to all citizens,
society, growing up generation, and this is just based on the results
of their own mercenary considerations, and the words that years ago
Moses Georgisyan said, which encouraged the Armenians, can now keep
the Armenia alive, which will come tomorrow.

And “Long live Armenia, which will come tomorrow” was heard in the
Square of the Republic of Armenia years ago. At that time people did
not imagine Armania emptied, did not consider it occupied and left, at
that time all believed in Armenia’s tomorrow, strong and stable
Armenia, for Armenian…

But today, disappointed people are leaving, leaving their homeland and
home, leaving the emotions and hopes, which were connected with
Armenia and their homeland. Only those, who steal and those, who are
stolen, stay in Armenia, to eat, to prosper and to demoralize.

Gevorg Avetisyan

From: A. Papazian

Karabakh war veteran: I lost 12 friends at war and decided to have 12
children – Video

May 22, 2013 | 22:07
By Inga Martinyan

YEREVAN. – Participant of Karabakh war Gagik Hovhannisyan lost 12
friends at wartime and promised himself to have 12 children.

He kept his promise. Hovhannisyan, a father of 7 sons and 5 daughters,
says he wants to have 5 more sons to name them after the deceased
friends.

`I ask God for health to have another five sons and name them after my
friends. Perhaps it will comfort me,’ he said in an interview with
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

On May 20, a 41-year-old resident of Kharberd, Armenuhi Mnatsakanian
was transported to the medical center Erebuni where she gave birth to
her 12th child.

The first grandson of Gagik and Armenuhi was born about seven months ago.

`Now when my 12th child is born, I feel as if I were a newlywed,’ Gagik says.

All children got school education and are working in construction.
Gagik and Armenuhi are not receiving financial aid as a large family.
As a Karabakh war veteran, Gagik is getting pension and assistance
from the Defense Minister.

Armenuhi Manukyan added that they kept the promise and gave birth to
12 children and now it is for the government to pass a law on large
families.

Telling her love story, Armenuhi said it was love at first sight. She
ran away with her husband at the age of 16, as the family was against
their marriage. A mother of 12 says she wishes peaceful Armenia for
her children.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Transport Ministry denies rumors about rise in fares

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Armenia’s transport and communications
ministry denied today rumors going around that public transport fares
will go up saying it is not discussing something like that.

The ministry said in its statement that it has received no such proposals.

The statement came after allegations in social networks that the
expected increase in natural gas prices will be followed by the rise
in public transport fares from June 1.

A Facebook user said he heard the word of the imminent price rise from
a minibus driver. -0-
21:02 21.05.2013

From: A. Papazian

Turkey’s stance fails to bring justice to the millions of genocide
victims, Australian scholar says

15:44 22.05.2013

Turkey has condemned a move by the NSW Parliament to recognize as
genocide Armenian, Assyrian and Greek deaths while Turkey was under
Ottoman rule.

The Turkish Consul General in Sydney Gulseren Celik says it’s not up
to individual governments to pass judgment on historical events that
occurred outside of Australia.

Professor Vrasidas Karalis of the University of Sydney said Turkey’s
stance fails to bring justice to the millions of victims, Neos Kosmos
reports.

`Who is going to bring some justice and closure to the victims and the
descendants of the victims?’ he asked.

`I think Turkey at this very moment, with its very sterile rejection
of every allegation, evolves into a sort of mythmaking process for the
state instead of looking to the past with a fair and honest
appreciation of what happened.’

From: A. Papazian

U.S. ambassador calls for transparency in talks on gas price

Wednesday,
May 22

We call for transparency in the talks on the possible gas price
increase, U.S. Ambassador Joh Heffern told reporters today.

When asked if the increase in the gas price results from Russia’s
pressure on Armenia, the ambassador declined to comment.

“Armenia and Russia are close partners. The talks are being conducted
by these countries. The Unites States are not involved in the talks,’
John Heffern said.

According to him, Armenia has much potential for using hydropower
plants. The ambassador stated that cooperation of the U.S. with
Armenia is also aimed at developing renewable energy sector.

TODAY, 13:57
Aysor.am

From: A. Papazian

Charles Aznavour celebrates his 89th birthday today

11:01 22.05.2013

Charles Aznavour celebrates his 89th birthday today. Beloved French
Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, who wrote more than 800 songs,
recorded more than 1,000 of them in French, English, German and
Spanish and sold over 100 million records in all, was born Chahnour
Vaghinag Aznavourian on May 22, 1924, in Paris, the younger of two
children born to Armenian immigrants who fled to France. His mother
was a seamstress as well as an actress and his father was a baritone
who sang in restaurants. Both Charles and his sister waited on tables
where he performed. He delivered his first poetic recital while just a
toddler. Within a few years later he had developed such a passion for
singing/dancing, that he sold newspapers to earn money for lessons.

He took his first theatrical bow in the play `Emil and the Detectives’
at age 9 and within a few years was working as a movie extra. He
eventually quit school and toured France and Belgium as a boy
singer/dancer with a traveling theatrical troupe while living the
bohemian lifestyle. A popular performer at the Paris’ Club de la
Chanson, it was there that he was introduced in 1941 to the songwriter
Pierre Roche. Together they developed names for themselves as a
singing/writing cabaret and concert duo (`Roche and Aznamour’). A
Parisian favorite, they became developed successful tours outside of
France, including Canada. In the post WWII years Charles began
appearing in films again, one of them as a singing croupier in Goodbye
Darling (1946).

Eventually Aznavour earned a sturdy reputation composing street-styled
songs for other established musicians and singers, notably Édith Piaf,
for whom he wrote the French version of the American hit `Jezebel’.
Heavily encouraged by her, he toured with her as both an opening act
and lighting man. He lived with Piaf out of need for a time not as one
of her many paramours. His mentor eventually persuaded him to perform
solo (sans Roche) and he made several successful tours while scoring
breakaway hits with the somber chanson songs `Sur ma vie’ and `Parce
que’ and the notable and controversial `Après l’amour.’ In 1950, he
gave the bittersweet song `Je Hais Les Dimanches’ [“I Hate Sundays”]
to chanteuse Juliette Gréco, which became a huge hit for her.

In the late 50s, Aznavour began to infiltrate films with more relish.
Short and stubby in stature and excessively brash and brooding in
nature, he was hardly leading man material but embraced his
shortcomings nevertheless. Unwilling to let these faults deter him, he
made a strong impressions with the comedy Une gosse sensass’ (1957)
and with Paris Music Hall (1957). He was also deeply affecting as the
benevolent but despondent and ill-fated mental patient Heurtevent in
Head Against the Wall (1959). A year later, Aznavour starred as piano
player Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan in `Francois Truffaut’s
adaptation of the David Goodis’ novel Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
[Shoot the Piano Player], which earned box-office kudos both in France
and the United States. This sudden notoriety sparked an extensive tour
abroad in the 1960s. Dubbed the `Frank Sinatra of France’ and singing
in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian,
Armenian, Portuguese), his touring would include sold-out performances
at Carnegie Hall (1964) and London’s Albert Hall (1967).

Aznavour served as actor and composer/music arranger for many films,
including Gosse de Paris (1961), which he also co-wrote with
directorMarcel Martin, and the dramas Three Fables of Love (1962)
[Three Fables of Love”) and Dear Caroline (1968) [Dear Caroline]. The
actor also embraced the title role in the TV series `Les Fables de la
Fontaine’ (1964), then starred in the popular musical `Monsieur
Carnaval’ (1965), in which he performed his hit song `La bohême.’

His continental star continued to shine and Aznavour acted in films
outside of France with more dubious results. While the sexy satire
Candy(1968), with an international cast that included Marlon Brando,
Richard Burton and Ringo Starr, and epic adventure The Adventurers
(1969) were considered huge misfires upon release, it still showed
Aznavour off as a world-wide attraction. While he was also seen in the
English drama _Games, The (1970), _Blockhouse, The (1973) and an
umpteenth film version of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians (1974)
[And Then There Were None/Ten Little Indians], it was his music that
kept him in the international limelight. Later films included Yiddish
Connection (1986), which he co-wrote and provided music, and Il
maestro (1990) with Malcolm McDowell; more recently he received kudos
for his participation in the Canadian-French production Ararat (2002).

Films aside, hus chart-busting single `She’ (1972-1974) went platinum
in Britain. He also received thirty-seven gold albums in all. His most
popular song in America, `Yesterday When I Was Young’ has had
renditions covered by everyone from Shirley Bassey to Julio Iglesias.
In 1997, Aznavour received an honorary César Award. He has written
three books, the memoirs `Aznavour By Aznavour’ (1972), the song
lyrics collection `Des mots à l’affiche’ (1991) and a second memoir
`Le temps des avants’ (2003). A `Farewell Tour’ was instigated in 2006
at age 82 and, health permitting, could last to 2010.

In 2009 Aznavour was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia’s new government unlikely to work for five years – PAP MP

23:11 – 21.05.13

Gurgen Arsenyan, a Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) parliamentary group
member, has serious doubts that Armenia’s new government will be
capable of working for the next five years because it has not the
necessary resources.

Talking to journalists on Tuesday, Arsenyan voiced the opinion that
Armenia would be able to endure only if it had oil or mineral
resources. Otherwise, the only way out is to earn your living, but it
is a vicious circle because the country’s labor force has emigrated.

`The government is now going to implement reforms. But what are they
reforming?’ Arsenyan said. He does not think that the government’s
promise to raise the minimum monthly wages by AMD 13,000 (about $30)
is an adequate response to the expected rise in the gas price and,
consequently, a likely rise in the prices for other products.

`I love science fiction very much,’ Arsenyan said ironically, drawing
a parallel with the Armenian government’s program, which envisages
8-10 percent reduction in poverty and creation of 100,000 jobs.

`A specific feature of science fiction is that events expected to take
place in 30 years may produce both positive and negative results. Now
we have an analysis which shows the percentage of true forecasts,
positive results turn to be ten percent and negative results, eighty
percent,’ he said.

As regards the possibility of subsidies in case of a gas price rise,
Arsenyan stressed the need to ensure employment to enable people to
improve their living conditions.

Armenia’s population still thinks that the country’s government must
provide them with everything.

`But when the government ceases doing, they begin complaining to other
members of society,’ Arsenyan said.

In response to complaints, the government says they are actively working.

With respect to emigration, Arsenyan pointed out two reasons. First, a
person cannot agree with the manners and customs in the country.
Secondly, when living in a particular country is impossible. In both
cases the government is responsible.

The third reason is emigration because of civil clashes or hostilities.

`We have not had civil clashes in Armenia, but the government
indicates `emigration’ in its documents,’ Arsenyan said. People
building up their fortunes stay in the country for the purpose of
privatizing it.

Asked about such people in the PAP parliamentary group, Arsenyan said:
`Yes, we have. But since the PAP group is not in power, it may be a
consequence, not the cause.’

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian