Author: Andres-Papazian

OLIGARCHS IN PANIC

The press informs that the tax service checks the companies owned by
Gagik Tsarukyan.

There is information that some oligarchs are abroad to discuss their
own destiny. Yesterday Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan did not attend the
meeting of the RPA Executive Committee. He is has gone away.

The oligarchs are in panic, both the oligarchs of the government and
the PAP camp. Panic intensified after the dismissal of the chief
of police of Yerevan Nerses Nazaryan. The official reason for his
dismissal was his coalescence with business. Panic had started when
offshore assets were declassified, and Russia launched the process
of legalization of capital.

Before submitting declarations on expenditure 30 members of the Russian
Duma divorced their wives in whose name part of their property is
registered. Most property of the Armenian oligarchs, officials and
members of parliament is registered in the name of their wives. Will
they divorce their wives? Already some cases have been reported.

The Russian deputy prime minister Shuvalov proposed an amnesty of
Russian capital hidden in the offshore. Putin has not responded
yet though he is a supporter tough redistribution of property, not
an amnesty.

The Armenian oligarchs and officials own huge capital in Russia.

Besides, Russia used to sponsor the development of the oligarchic
economy of Armenia. Now Russia is not so reliable, which also affects
the moods of the Armenian oligarchs.

It is meaningless to resist because in the past five years the armed
guards of the oligarchs were outlawed. There is no Russian support,
Europe ~Scuts~T illegal assets, Serzh Sargsyan has no commitments to
the oligarchs.

Naira Hayrumyan 14:40 19/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: A. Papazian

US AMBASSADOR COMPLAINS OF HIGH SERVICE COSTS IN ARMENIA

If the prices for services and air tickets remain very high in Armenia,
nobody will visit the country, US Ambassador John Heffern told Tert.am
at an international conference devoted to the tourism development
opportunities in Armenia.

The diplomat said he thinks the prices offered very to be high from
the accepted standards.

The conference, entitled “Harmonization and Issues in European Travel
and Tourism Law: Lessons for Armenia”, was also attended by Minister
of Economy Tigran Davtyan, his deputy, Ara Petrosyan, Chairman of
Armenia’s National Competitiveness Foundation Arman Khachatryan,
President of the International Forum of Travel and Tourism Advocates
Michael Vuksich, and President of the USAID-funded Enterprise
Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC) Project John Downes,

Commenting on the ambassador’s remarks regarding the high prices,
the deputy minister said at a briefing that high costs imply a
corresponding quality. “When we say the prices are high, that means
we have prices forming part of our tourism product,” he said pointing
out to such services as translations, sale of souvenirs and visa
prices. “All that is what generates the package. We have conducted
our research, and the opinion is that the hotels in Armenia are
more expensive than those in Georgia. But we have a fact from the
well-known portal Booking.com, and I declare officially that all the
hotels in Armenia – belonging to the same class – are 10%-15% cheaper.”

Asked why in that case Armenian citizens prefer to spend their holidays
in Georgia, Petrosyan pointed out to the differences between the
products offered. “The Black Sea has absolutely nothing to do with
Lake Sevan. That’s a different tourism product.”

Commenting on the possible impact of the national airline’s bankruptcy
deal, Petrosyan said the decision to suspend Armavia has not in any
way affected Armenia’s tourism potentials. “The situation is under
the Armenian Government’s control and monitoring.

We, as an authorized agency, maintain very intensive contacts with
the private sector which organizes tours to Armenia,” the deputy
minister said, adding that they have no complaints at the moment.

“That means that the air companies, which received an opportunities to
increase the frequency of flights, covered the entire market dominated
by Armavia,” he continued.

Petrosyan noted that intensive discussions are now going on over
the expediency of operating a national airline at all. He stressed
the importance of adopting policies or strategies that would make
Armenia more accessible in terms of visit frequencies. The deputy
minister promised that the government decision regarding the issue
will be make public soon.

  If the prices for services and air tickets remain very high in
Armenia, nobody will visit the country, US Ambassador John Heffern
told Tert.am at an international conference devoted to the tourism
development opportunities in Armenia.

The diplomat said he thinks the prices offered very to be high from
the accepted standards.

The conference, entitled “Harmonization and Issues in European
Travel and Tourism Law: Lessons for Armenia”, was also attended
by Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan, his deputy, Ara Petrosyan,
Chairman of Armenia’s National Competitiveness Foundation Arman
Khachatryan, President of the International Forum of Travel and
Tourism Advocates Michael Vuksich, and President of the USAID-funded
Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC) Project
John Downes,Commenting on the ambassador’s remarks regarding the
high prices, the deputy minister said at a briefing that high costs
imply a corresponding quality. “When we say the prices are high,
that means we have prices forming part of our tourism product,” he
said pointing out to such services as translations, sale of souvenirs
and visa prices. “All that is what generates the package. We have
conducted our research, and the opinion is that the hotels in Armenia
are more expensive than those in Georgia. But we have a fact from the
well-known portal Booking.com, and I declare officially that all the
hotels in Armenia – belonging to the same class – are 10%-15% cheaper.”

Asked why in that case Armenian citizens prefer to spend their holidays
in Georgia, Petrosyan pointed out to the differences between the
products offered. “The Black Sea has absolutely nothing to do with
Lake Sevan. That’s a different tourism product.”

Commenting on the possible impact of the national airline’s bankruptcy
deal, Petrosyan said the decision to suspend Armavia has not in any
way affected Armenia’s tourism potentials. “The situation is under
the Armenian Government’s control and monitoring.

We, as an authorized agency, maintain very intensive contacts with
the private sector which organizes tours to Armenia,” the deputy
minister said, adding that they have no complaints at the moment.

“That means that the air companies, which received an opportunities to
increase the frequency of flights, covered the entire market dominated
by Armavia,” he continued.

Petrosyan noted that intensive discussions are now going on over
the expediency of operating a national airline at all. He stressed
the importance of adopting policies or strategies that would make
Armenia more accessible in terms of visit frequencies. The deputy
minister promised that the government decision regarding the issue
will be make public soon.

  Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

L’EXPOSITION ” LA MEMOIRE DE LA TERRE, ARTSAKH ” AU MUSEE ” EREBOUNI ” A EREVAN

L’exposition ” La memoire de la terre, Artsakh ” qui vient de s’ouvrir
au musee ” Erebouni ” a Erevan presentent plus d’une centaine d’objets
(liturgiques, monnaies anciennes, outils) du Haut Karabagh (Artsakh).

Des objets issus des fouilles archeologiques de Tigranakert, Karkar,
Gueren et Dzidzernavank au Haut Karabagh. Une douzaine de panneaux
retracant la memoire et les fouilles archeologiques effectuees
au Haut Karabagh seront egalement exposes durant un mois. Lors de
l’inauguration de l’exposition une foule importante de plusieurs
centaines de personnes etait venue. Dans son discours, Gaguik Kyurdjian
le directeur du musee ” Erebouni ” a remercie tous les partenaires
pour la realisation de cette belle exposition. Parmi ces derniers,
le ministère de la Culture, ainsi que Varhram Kajoyan le representant
de l’UNESCO en Armenie et Karlen Avedissian le representant permanent
du Haut Karabagh en Armenie. L’exposition se tiendra jusqu’au 18 mai.

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 19 avril 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

LE DIRECTEUR DE L’INSTITUT GOMITAS COMMEMORERA LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN A DIYARBEKIR ET A ISTANBUL

Le 23 avril 2013, Ara Sarafian se rendra a Diyarbekir, où il rendra
hommage aux victimes de 1915 dans les eglises de Saint Guiragos,
de la Vierge – Marie, et Mar Petyun. Il rencontrera les officiels
locaux de la ville et le Maire Osman Baydemir, et participera a une
manifestation a Ongozlu Koprusu, a Diyarbekir, l’ancien pont de la
ville sur le Tigre. C’est de la que 630 personnalites de la communaute
armenienne ont ete envoyes a la mort en 1915, avant que la communaute
soit detruite.

Le 24 avril 2013, a onze heures, Sarafian, accompagne par les
representants de l’Association des Droits Humains de Turquie, se
rendra sur la tombe d’Ali Faik Ozansoy au cimetière, Esentepe Mh.,
34394 Sisli/Istanbul. Ali Faik Ozansoy etait le Mutasarrif de Kutahya
qui refusa de deporter les Armeniens de sa province en 1915. Sarafian
rendra hommage a Ozansoy et a d’autres justes, des fonctionnaires
ottomans qui se sont opposes a la persecution des Armeniens.

A 12:30, Sarafian participera a la principale commemoration organisee
par l’Association Turque des Droits Humains (IHD) a Istanbul. La
commemoration des deroulera au Musee d’arts Turcs et Islamiques,
Atmeydani Caddesi 46 Sultanahmet/Istanbul. C’etait en 1915 la
prison centrale de la ville, et les intellectuels armeniens qui
ont ete arretes le 24 avril 1915 y avaient ete detenus avant d’etre
emmenes a l’interieur de l’empire. La commemoration de cette annee
est particulièrement importante parce qu’on y evoquera le Seyfo –
la destruction en 1915 des communautes assyriennes de la Mesopotamie
superieure.

Après la manifestation commemorative, Sarafian se rendra avec la
delegation de l’IHD au Cimetière Armenien a Sisli en hommage a la
memoire de Sevag Sahin Balikci, le militaire armenien abattu pendant
qu’il effectuait son service militaire a Diyarbekir le 24 avril 2011.

Sarafian visitera ensuite l’exposition photographique ” Avant 1915
: la vie des Assyriens dans l’Empire ottoman “, au siège de l’IHD,
Cukurlu Cesme Sokak, Bayman Ap.n° 10/1, Taksim/Istanbul.

Voir pour d’autres informations, ou ecrire
[email protected] ou s’enregistrer dans notre liste d’envoi

Ara Sarafian est un historien specialise dans l’histoire ottomane
recente et armenienne moderne. Il est directeur de l’Institut Gomidas –
une institution d’enseignement independante d’etudes et de recherche
armeniennes modernes.

vendredi 19 avril 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Alberta Daily Herald Tribune, Canada
April 18 2013

By Minister’s Message

Thursday, April 18, 2013 1:37:51 MDT PM

Brian Zahnd, in his book Unconditional? tells an amazing story which
took place during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-17. An Armenian home
was invaded by soldiers, the parents killed, the daughters raped and
given to the soldiers. The oldest daughter was kept by the leading
officer for his personal use.

Eventually this girl was able to escape and became a nurse. In a twist
of fate she found herself working in a hospital ward which cared
for the soldiers of the army that had invaded her home. One night,
she recognized the man who had killed her parents and committed
the terrible violations against her. He was in a life threatening
condition, without exceptional care he would die!

This Armenian nurse decided to give him the exceptional care he so
desperately needed. Later, as the officer was recovering, a doctor
pointed the officer’s attention to the nurse and said “If it weren’t
for this woman, you would be dead.” The officer, recognizing the nurse
asked, “why didn’t you kill me?” She replied “I am a follower of him
who said, “love your enemies.”

This wonderful story calls us to inquire as to who this nurse was
following? Who was this person that so influenced her thinking that
she turned away from an opportunity to take revenge? Her extraordinary
care saved the life of the man who had taken so much of life away
from her. He lived because of who the nurse was following, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Through her connection with Jesus the nurse was enabled
to overcome horrific evil and repay it with good.

Jesus suffered many evils. He was betrayed, beaten, mocked and
crucified by people who misunderstood him or wanted him dead. As he
hung on the cross he prayed “Father forgiven them, they do not know
what they are doing.” Jesus modelled forgiveness rather than revenge.

This nurse, following his example, chose love over revenge. She cared
rather than killed. That’s the power of forgiveness.

In our quest to live happy and peaceful lives, we run into a daunting
challenge – getting along with other people. Although we may never
suffer as this Armenian nurse suffered, we do find ourselves wounded by
those who knowingly or unknowingly perpetrate hurt. Our human tendency,
as the officer in this story expected, is to exact revenge.

We find ourselves waiting for opportunities to strike back, pay back
pain for the pain we have felt. This begins a cycle of revenge, a cycle
which often turns into an unending circle of hurt. Forgiveness breaks
the cycle of revenge; it puts a stop to further hurtful activities. It
enables us to care rather than to strike back.

Forgiveness also has other powers. Not only does it break the cycle
of revenge, it frees us to move forward with our lives. So often
our minds endlessly rehearse what others have done to us. It doesn’t
seem to matter how long it’s been since the incident happened. If we
choose not to forgive, things that happened 10 years ago are often
as fresh in our minds as if they had happened yesterday. Forgiveness
frees us to look ahead rather than back. We can be released from the
constant “video replays” of past painful events. It’s not that we
don’t remember these events, but we are not chained by them. We are
free to look ahead, hope again, to see our future with possibilities
rather than pain. It releases the bitterness which can reside in our
hearts and be so destructive to those around us. Too often our family
and friends bear the brunt of our bitter spirit.

I am no way saying that forgiveness is easy. In fact, it is brutally
hard; it is unnatural to choose to forgive the painful errors of
others. It’s here that we have some much needed help. We not only
have the example of Jesus, we have his strength that comes to us
through the practice of prayer. Jesus enables his followers to model
his example as they sincerely ask for his assistance. He taught us
to pray “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

Perhaps you are stuck in the cycle of revenge. Perhaps people in your
life, past or present have hurt you and you have been looking for ways
to get even. Let me encourage you to consider the example of Jesus.

Stop the revenge cycle, release yourself to look ahead rather than
back by letting go of the bitterness. Contemplate the example of
Jesus and ask for his help. Put yourself in the place where you can
enjoy the power of forgiveness.

– Lyndon Wall, Refresh Ministries

Check out grandeprairiechurch.com for more information about local
churches and upcoming events.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND BELARUS TO COOPERATE IN NUCLEAR SPHERE

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 18 2013

The Government of Armenia approved the signing of the
Armenian-Belarusian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in
the peaceful use of nuclear energy at its meeting held on Thursday,
News-Armenia reported, says Trend.

According to the draft agreement, the parties will cooperate on
issues of construction, safe operation and technical and economic
improvement of nuclear power in Armenia and Belarus, and provision
of security to nuclear power plants.

The document also provides cooperation in the processing and storage
of nuclear waste, radioactive waste management and environmental
protection.

Armenian authorities are actually going to build a new station at the
place of the current nuclear power plant near Metsamor city (about
20-30 kilometers south of Yerevan). The station was commissioned in
1976; only the second unit with a 407.5-MW capacity functions now,
generating on average 40-50 percent of the electric power produced
in Armenia.

Now it is planned to build one additional power unit with a 1,000-MW
capacity. According to the Nuclear Control Service, the construction
cost of the new unit will comprise about $ 5 billion. In February
2012, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said
that it is planned to build the unit in 2019-2020.

From: A. Papazian

NEW TALENTED SINGERS TO GIVE A CONCERT IN YEREVAN WITHIN FRAMES OF FRANCOPHONIE MONTH

ARMINFO
Thursday, April 18, 20:13

Within the frames of the Francophonie Month, authors and performers
of Francophone songs will give a concert in Yerevan on April 19.

The press service of the French Embassy in Armenia reports that the
concert will take place within the frames of the festival “New Talents
of Francophone Songs in Diaspora”. The Francophonie Month started on
March 19 and will last till April 30, 2013. The Month covers over
350 events, including films and concerts. Helene Segara opened the
Francophonie Month in Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

INCREASED DEMAND FOR ARMENIAN LANGUAGE SKILLS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

20:23, 18 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Though its Western counterpart has been
on an UNESCO endangered language list for a few years, there seems
to be a demand for Armenian-language skills in Southern California,
a mecca for the Armenian diaspora that has settled more steadily in
the area over four decades, reports Armenpress referring to Glandale
News- Press.

The local linguistic landscape of the area is definitely changing.

Rob Sheiffele is one student in ESL-trained teacher Marina Adamian’s
10-week Beginning Conversational Armenian class hosted by the Burbank
Adult School that sees the Armenian language as an increasingly
valuable skill.

Having found himself seated at a wedding table as the only non-Armenian
speaker not too long ago and coming in contact with the language
increasingly in both his professional and social life, Sheiffele
thought it was time to start learning.

“I thought it was a practical language to learn,” he said between
reciting hard to pronounce words he’s mastered. “I wanted to be ahead
of the curve.”

Registering at L.A. Valley college was impossible, said Sheiffele,
as the Armenian-language classes there are packed, and usually with
native speakers.

Cristina Ramirez is taking the class for reasons that hit closer to
home: she wants to be able to communicate with her boyfriend’s family.

It took her a while learn how to say “shnoragalutuyn,” the Armenian
word for “thank you,” but she’s made some great gains so far.

“It’s a lot easier than I thought,” she said, adding that her
boyfriend’s family is very excited to help her with acquiring her
new language skills.

When Sarita Gomez, a teacher from Burbank, found herself at a local
supermarket unable to speak to an older Armenian-American woman who
asked for help with pricing, she knew it was time to conquer Armenian.

She struggled to connect at first, but then realized the intersection
of her own personal interests and the culture of her newly acquired
skills had another type of language in common, that of food.

“I love to cook, I love to eat, I thought ‘that’s what I have in
common with you.”

Her favorite Armenian treats – “hats yev paneer,” bread and cheese,
usually Feta or “lahmajoun,” otherwise known as Armenian pizza –
are quite simple, yet ask any Armenian-American and they’ll agree
that the simplicity of the meal is what makes it so, so good.

Of course, Sheiffele, Ramirez and Gomez couldn’t have come this far
without the help of Adamian and her unique teaching style, blending
language, history and culture together.

“She’s very patient with us,” Gomez said. “She does it so well,
that all of a sudden, we find ourselves suddenly speaking.”

Adamian, who makes it a point to teach her students about Armenian
history, culture as well as food hopes this is just the beginning and
that more courses, including intermediate can be added. A few weeks
ago, she took them on a trip to local Armenian landmarks in Glendale,
including St.Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church and Sardarabad Bookstore.

“Unless you understand the culture, and history, there’s no way you
can make a connection to learn the language,” she said. Something
tells me she’s absolutely right.

From: A. Papazian

ISSUES ON ARMENIAN AND INDIAN STUDENTS EXCHANGE PROGRAM DISCUSSED

18:06, 18 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Acting Minister of Education and
Science Armen Ashotyan hosted extraordinary and plenipotentiary Indian
Ambassador to Armenia Babu Tadapaneni. As Armenpress was informed
from Armenian Ministry of Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan
greeted and congratulated the Ambassador on the occasion of diplomatic
mission, hoping that his activity would promote the strengthening of
Armenian-Indian educational cooperation. At the meeting sides referred
to the historical friendship of Armenian and Indian nations, noting
education is one of the traditional spheres of bilateral cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICS VS MANAGEMENT: RPA SAYS YEREVAN ELECTIONS NOT POLITICAL, OPPOSITION DISAGREES

POLITICS | 18.04.13 | 13:26

Photolure

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN ArmeniaNow reporter

While the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) believes next
month’s municipal vote in Yerevan is not of political nature, the
opposition forces contesting the elections have an opposite view.

Opposition members, in particular, say that the elections held
according to party lists are a good opportunity to defeat the political
majority. Thus, the Heritage Party of Raffi Hovannisian, which has
teamed up with several other parties in a bloc called Hello Yerevan,
believes the May 5 ballot will only reaffirm the de-facto “victory
of the Armenian people” registered in the February 18 presidential
election in which Hovannisian claims victory.

Enlarge Photo Armen Martirosyan Even the first president of Armenia,
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who cited his age (he is 68) as the main reason
for not running for president last December, said at the founding
congress of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party last weekend
that wining in the upcoming elections in the capital is the only way
to achieve a power change in the country.

Top candidate on the Hello Yerevan bloc’s list Armen Martirosyan
said during a campaign meeting in one of the capital’s districts on
Wednesday: “The fact that asphalting work in the city is being done
actively is a result of a political decision. The fact that we have no
proper waste management and every official becomes head of a garbage
collection company is also a result of a political decision.

Therefore, our approach will be purely political”.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Edward Sharmazanov, who manages the
RPA’s current election campaign, said that the upcoming vote is a
purely local one and unlike other political parties the RPA is not
inclined to politicize it.

“You may be a very good foreign minister, politician or orator but
still lack professionalism in this area,” Sharmazanov told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service. “We will be electing administrators for the
community of Yerevan, people that are not supposed to address things
like political doctrines, foreign policy strategies, economic policy
or pension rises. That is the prerogative of the government and the
National Assembly.”

While Sharmazanov named no names, it is clear that his message
and criticism were particularly directed against former coalition
partner Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), whose list of candidates in
the Yerevan elections is topped by ex-foreign minister Vartan Oskanian.

Many RPA members say and political observers agree that it is difficult
to imagine Oskanian, or Armen Rustamyan, who tops the list of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), becoming mayors
of Yerevan should their parties succeed in the elections. Both of
them are currently lawmakers with their respective parties.

It is remarkable that PAP, Dashnaktsutyun and the ANC refused to
take part in the presidential election earlier this year. PAP did
not give any explanation regarding its decision, while the ANC and
Dashnaktsutyun roughly explained it the following way: there is no
point in taking part in the race as the authorities will rig the
election outcome in favor of the government candidate in any case.

Still, even though different opposition forces now argue that Yerevan
elections are a serious opportunity to achieve a power change in
the whole of Armenia, they still appear to be unable to put their
differences aside and unite in a single front against the ruling force.

Political analysts say this inability to consolidate seriously
reduces the opposition chances for winning in the elections. They also
acknowledge that politicizing the elections is not in the interests
of the RPA as it would not need another period of political tensions
in the country so soon after the end of the post-election standoff
following the February presidential ballot.

Meanwhile, the opposition, according to expert in political and
election technologies Armen Badalyan, on the contrary, should prove
that they are fighting against the government. “The political parties
that did not contest the presidential election are keen on recovering
what they’ve lost, restoring voter trust, especially that the next
major elections in Armenia are to be held in four year’s time only,”
said Badalyan.

From: A. Papazian