Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN EAGLES LEADER MAKES FIERY SPEECH

02:16 PM | DECEMBER 03, 2012 | POLITICS

Armenian Eagles patriotic non-governmental organization has nine new
branches in the frontier villages of Gegharkunik marz (province). The
organization’s representatives headed by Chairman Khachik Asryan
participated in the opening ceremony.

Residents in Lchashen, Norashen, Zovaber, Tsakhashen, Madina, Aghberk,
Shorja, Artanish and Jill met the NGO representatives with salt and
bread and national dances.

“Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Leader of Armenian
Eagles NGO Khachik Asryan made a fiery speech, emphasizing the direct
participation of every and each Armenian in the in the process of
strengthening the Armenian statehood,” the NGO said in a release.

Armenian Eagles already has 300 branches in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY FINES “THE SIMPSONS” TV CHANNEL FOR “INSULTING RELIGIOUS VALUES”

December 3, 2012 – 19:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s broadcasting regulator is fining a
television channel for insulting religious values after it aired an
episode of “The Simpsons” which shows God taking orders from the devil,
Reuters said.

Radio and television watchdog RTUK said it was fining private
broadcaster CNBC-e 52,951 lira ($30,000) over the episode of the hit
U.S. animated TV series, whose scenes include the devil asking God
to make him a coffee.

“The board has decided to fine the channel over these matters,”
an RTUK spokeswoman said but declined further comment, saying full
details would probably be announced next week. CNBC-e said it would
comment once the fine was officially announced.

Turkey is a secular republic but most of its 75 million people are
Muslim. Religious conservatives and secular opponents vie for public
influence and critics of the government say it is trying to impose
Islamic values by stealth.

“The Simpsons” first aired in 1989 and is the longest-running U.S.

sitcom. It is broadcast in more than 100 countries and CNBC-e has
been airing it in Turkey for almost a decade.

“I wonder what the script writers will do when they hear that the jokes
on their show are taken seriously and trigger fines in a country called
Turkey,” wrote Mehmet Yilmaz, a columnist for the Hurriyet newspaper.

“Maybe they will add an almond-moustached RTUK expert to the series,”
he said, evoking a popular Turkish stereotype of a pious government
supporter.

From: A. Papazian

REMAINS OF FLORA MARTIROSYAN TO BE REPATRIATED ON DECEMBER 10

18:14, 3 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The sitting of the special
governmental committee on the funeral of Armenian People’s artist
Flora Martirosyan took place in Yerevan. As Armenpress was informed
from the public relations department of Armenian Ministry of Culture,
some organizational issues concerning the funerals of the Armenian
singer and the repatriation of her remains from the USA had been
discussed. In accordance with the preliminary information on December
6 the requiem ceremony will take place in Los Angeles. On December 10
the remains will be transferred to Armenia. The farewell ceremony of
the renowned and beloved Armenian singer will take place on December
11 in Aram Khachaturian concert hall followed by the burial ceremony
in Yerevan Pantheon. All the expenses of the repatriation and the
funeral will be covered by the Armenian government.

People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia Flora Martirosyan passed
awayon November 20. The cause of death was the difficulties, which
arose after she was operated on for her gall-bladder. Flora Martirosyan
was the founder of the International Musical School after Komitas,
“Artists for Peace” Charity Organization and the initiator of the
cultural movement “Never Again”. Flora Martirosyan was born in Gyumri
on February 5, 1957.

From: A. Papazian

YOU CAN CALL THIS WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT NEVER ROBERT SARGSYAN’S ELECTION OR VICTORY, STYOPA SAFARYAN SAYS

DECEMBER 3, 2012 16:48

Styopa Safaryan, a candidate for MP in no. 1 electoral district, will
challenge the results of the additional National Assembly election
that took place yesterday in the Constitutional Court.

“Elections of this quality in my country, in my neighborhood
are unacceptable for me. Those votes had nothing to do with the
election campaign of the Republican candidate, the liking for him
and his qualities. If that candidate hadn’t been Taron Margaranyan’s
brother-in-law, if he hadn’t been the candidate of the ruling party, he
would have won 0 votes. No one would have gone to a polling station to
vote for him of his/her own free will. Not a candidate, but the state
apparatus participated in the election, and one can win so many votes
through the state apparatus. Instructing neighborhood administrations,
the city hall, condominiums to get 10 votes each, taking share taxis
off the route and using for transporting that candidate’s voters… you
can call this whatever you like, but never Robert Sargsyan’s election
or victory,” Styopa Safaryan, the Heritage Party candidate nominated
in no. 1 electoral district, said to

Arpine SIMONYAN

From: A. Papazian

Agence France Presse
1 décembre 2012 samedi 5:04 PM GMT

Catastrophe aérienne de Brazzaville : l’avion était arménien (officiel)

EREVAN 01 déc 2012

L’avion-cargo, qui a raté son atterrissage vendredi à l’aéroport de
Brazzaville, faisant une trentaine de morts parmi les habitants du
quartier, appartenait à une compagnie arménienne et transportait sept
membres d’équipage, dont cinq Arméniens, a-t-on appris samedi.

Selon le service de presse du ministère arménien des Affaires
étrangères, l’avion appartenait à la compagnie aérienne arménienne Rij
Airways, spécialisée dans le transport de fret.

“Selon de premières informations, l’équipage de l’avion se composait
de sept personnes, dont cinq étaient des citoyens arméniens”, a
déclaré pour sa part la porte-parole de la Direction de l’Aviation
civile, Nelli Tchertchinian, sans préciser la nationalité des deux
autres personnes.

“Tous sont morts”, a-t-elle ajouté.

L’avion, un gros porteur Iliouchine, en provenance de Pointe-Noire au
Congo, a raté son atterrissage vendredi à l’aéroport de Brazzaville,
sans doute en raison d’un violent orage qui s’abattait sur la région.

N’ayant pu freiner suffisamment, il est sorti de la piste, a rasé une
quinzaine d’habitations avant d’aller s’écraser dans un ravin et de
prendre feu. Une trentaine de personnes habitant le quartier de La
Poudrière, situé au bout de la piste de l’aéroport, ont été tuées.

L’appareil transportait des voitures et d’autres marchandises pour le
compte de la compagnie locale Aero-services.

Le président arménien Serge Sarkissian a présenté ses condoléances au
président du Congo-Brazzaville Denis Sassou Nguesso, selon un
communiqué de la présidence arménienne.

mkh-edy/sym

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Facebook

December 3, 2012

Dear AUA Community:

As you know, in recent weeks we have welcomed students from Syria to join
our AUA family. To date, we have assisted nearly 80 students with
tuition-free enrollment in both degree-granting and Extension classes. We
were able to accommodate these students due to the generosity of
philanthropists Sonia and Zaven Akian and Rita and Adam Kablanian.

Sonia and Zaven Akian
Akian Family Foundation

The Akian Family Foundation pledged $125,000 for scholarships for
Syrian-Armenian students at AUA. A portion of the gift has been earmarked
to underwrite the current classes offered to the Syrian-Armenian students.
The remainder will be used for scholarships for qualified Syrian-Armenian
students, as they complete their undergraduate or graduate education at AUA.

This generous gift further expands the commitment of the Akian Family to
AUA. With this gift, the Akian Family significantly increases their past
scholarship support to Armenian students. The Akian Family has also
supported AUA in naming the Akian Gallery, a space for art and culture, in
AUA’s Paremaz Avedisian Building.

With his philanthropic leadership, Zaven Akian has enabled AUA to meet the
ever-increasing needs of Armenia’s students. In Mr. Akian’s own words, “My
family and I believe that investing in AUA is an investment in Armenia’s
future. We feel providing an American education in the region will help
build a stable economy, and that is why we support AUA’s mission.” He
further remarked, “I have personally met and spoken with AUA’s students and
faculty and I continue to be impressed by their level of dedication and
passion.”

Rita and Adam Kablanian

Rita and Adam Kablanian pledged $132,000 to establish The Kablanian Family
Scholarship. This new scholarship is targeted for qualified Syrian-Armenian
students in the undergraduate program starting in Fall 2013. A portion of
the pledge has also been earmarked for AUA’s immediate needs to underwrite
the classes taken by currently-enrolled Syrian-Armenian students.

As recent major donors to AUA, the Kablanians did not hesitate to lend their
support to allow AUA to meet the emerging needs of the Syrian-Armenian
students, endorsing the high-quality American education offered at AUA.
Upon touring the campus, Mr. Kablanian noted, “I was so impressed by the
quality of the students and the faculty. I also loved the state-of-the-art
campus facility.” He continued, “I can see how AUA is making a difference
in the lives of so many students, as they offer such a high-caliber
education.”

These generous, visionary gifts came at a critical time for us. We were
able to swiftly develop classes and meet the needs of the students who were
coming to us for help. By offering classes to Syrian-Armenian students free
of charge, AUA is able to provide some stability to these students at a time
of uncertainty in their lives. We are truly grateful to Sonia and Zaven
Akian and to Rita and Adam Kablanian for their continued support of our
mission.

The popularity of the program has been overwhelming. There are many, many
students still on a waiting list for the tuition-free classes offered in
this program. AUA will need to raise more than $50,000 to enroll these
students in the program. So more help is needed. To join the Akians and
the Kablanians in supporting Syrian-Armenian students who wish to study at
the American University of Armenia, click on

With warm regards,
Bruce Boghosian
President

From: A. Papazian

Agence France Presse
26 novembre 2012 lundi 11:27 AM GMT

L’Arménie, du duduk ancestral au pianiste de jazz Tigran Hamasyan

PARIS 26 nov 2012

La Cité de la Musique présente à Paris un cycle Arménie, avec le 27
novembre une soirée traditionnelle au son du duduk, sorte de hautbois,
et une seconde, le 1er décembre, conçue par le pianiste prodige Tigran
Hamasyan entre jazz, mélodies populaires et classique contemporain.

La soirée de mardi s’ouvrira au son doux et mélodieux du duduk. Ce
petit hautbois en bois d’abricotier à hanche double est à l’Arménie ce
que la kora est au Mali ou le bandonéon à l’Argentine: son instrument
emblématique.

Quatre joueurs de duduk, parmi lesquels Armen Ghazaryan,
interprèteront notamment la musique des ashug, ces bardes qui allaient
de village en village, une tradition qui connut son apogée au sein du
peuple arménien entre les 17e et 19e siècles.

Quelques musiciens occidentaux le pratiquent, tels Didier Malherbe,
saxophoniste et joueur de divers instruments à vent au sein du Hadouk
Trio, formation de world-jazz, ou l’Allemand Stephan Micus dans sa
musique contemporaine.

“C’est un instrument ayant énormément d’expressivité, dont le son a
des capacités émotionnelles très fortes”, estime Didier Malherbe.

Les Armenian Voices, un septette d’hommes dirigé par une femme, Sona
Hovhanisyan, sont aussi à l’affiche de cette soirée.

Cet ensemble puise dans le riche répertoire des chants liturgiques
arméniens, qui remontent au 5e siècle et furent enrichis dans la
première moitié du 20e siècle par le compositeur arménien Komitas,
dont les Armenian Voices chanteront quelques pièces.

La soirée de samedi sera plus contemporaine, avec comme maître
d’oeuvre Tigran Hamasyan. Ce pianiste prodige de 25 ans, apparu sur la
scène jazz il y six ans, a explosé l’année dernière avec “A Fable”,
son cinquième album, le premier en soliste, alchimie de jazz et d’airs
traditionnels.

Il jouera en première partie en duo avec un pianiste arménien encore
plus jeune que lui, Varduhi Yeritsyan, un répertoire entre jazz et
musique classique.

Il reviendra en trio piano-basse-batterie, agrémenté d’un guitariste
et d’un joueur de duduk, interpréter sa musique fabuleuse, un jazz
contemporain imprégné de mélodies et chants populaires de son pays,
qu’on l’entend parfois fredonner, avec des clins d’oeil à Erik Satie.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian environmentalist concerned over polluted river

TERT.AM
16:12 – 02.12.12

The desperate situation of Voghji River poses a serious agricultural
hazard to the valleys irrigated with its waters, says Karine
Danielyan, an environmentalist.

Speaking to Tert.am, the specialist explained that the waste water
flowing into the river’s tributary after a wreck in a tailing dump
exploited by the Dino Gold Mining, may cause a serious damage to the
Syunik region.

`The waste may contain heavy metals and poisonous substances used for
mining gold,’ she said.

Danielyan said the polluted water may add to the environmental
problems in the Syunik.

`If there has been a leakage, it is impossible to do anything at all.
That will definitely cause a harm to the river’s fauna. And also,
Armenia’s neighbors may complain,’ she added.

This is the second wreck in the past months, the president of the
environmental NGO EcoLur, told our reporter.

The coordinator of Syunik’s anti-corruption center, Arshavir
Khalapyan, had earlier told the legal website Iravaban.net that that
the pipeline exploited by the Dino Gold Mining was damaged on the
Armenia-Iran border early in the morning on Saturday, causing the
waste water to mix with the river Geghanush.

From: A. Papazian

UNESCO to consider including Armenian epic poem in Intangible Cultural
Heritage list

news.am
December 02, 2012 | 08:26

UNESCO will hold a meeting next week to select new items, among them
the Armenian epic poem `David of Sassoun’, for the Representative List
of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The seventh session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will take place in
Paris from 3 to 7 December.

The agenda of the session included the examination of almost 60 nominations.

Last year the Armenian khachkar – `Armenian cross-stones art.
Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars’ – was included in the Lists
of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE-SOCIAL
La situation des handicapés s’améliore en Arménie

Ces dernières années l’Arménie a fait des progrès importants envers
les handicapés ou personnes à mobilité réduite. Dans le cadre d’un
projet européen, Vartan Tatevossian, le directeur du centre de
rééducation des handicapés « Lady Cox » a dit lors d’une conférence de
presse à Erévan que l’Arménie avait effectué des progrès importants
pour intégrer et faciliter la vie des handicapés. « A Erévan deux
trolley bus sont aménagés pour l’accueil des handicapés et la ville
prévoit de multiplier ce nombre » dit V. Tatevossian. La semaine
dernière, Erévan accueillit un séminaire de deux jours destiné aux
pays de l’Est de la Communauté européenne, lié au développement de la
situation des handicapés et leur intégration.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 2 décembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian