Author: Andres-Papazian

NO IDS FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS
Ruzan Hovhannisyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:31:14 – 13/07/2012

Upon the invitation of the Ministry of Diaspora, a lot of young
Armenians of the Diaspora are currently in Armenia to attend the
school of young Armenian Diaspora leaders. The first impression of
the young Armenians from all over the world is not positive.

A young Armenian of Syria is surprised to see the protests and
the cries of mothers of killed soldiers in front of the house of
government. The Syrian-Armenian says they are worried about the social
and economic crisis in Armenia and high emigration rate. As they can
see, people have no jobs so they leave the country.

A young Armenian of Syria named Palik Azarkyan noted that since the
crisis in Syria the number of Syrian Armenians leaving for Armenia
has increased sharply. But flights to Armenia are so few that not
everyone can get a ticket.

There is another problem. The Armenians from Syria who come here want
to have double nationality and get an Armenian passport. Meanwhile,
there is an issue with passports. They say there should be really
positive facts about Armenia for the Diaspora youth to return.

Member of Pashkovski Armenian Cultural Center of Krasnodar Arthur
Tashchyan is surprised at the bad treatment by the Armenian youths. He
says they feel alien here.

According to Tashchyan, the state has a lot to do in order to eliminate
this feeling of being alien. He thinks the reason for the negative
attitude of Armenians is the tough social and economic conditions
since they are jealous of the Diaspora but they do not know why they
had to spread all over the world, he says.

The young professor says he is ready to start working in Armenia
since September. He says he is willing to return but he wonders what
conditions could be offered to him as a young professional.

Artur and his friends are going to launch volunteer activities to help
vulnerable families of bolder villages, as well as Artsakh and Javakhk.

Artur notes that if the Armenian authorities do not create obstacles,
a lot of Diaspora Armenians will invest in Armenia.

Arin Ghazaryan of Beirut says being in Armenia for only 2 weeks he
has already understood how hard it is to live and work here.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN FRUIT MANAGED TO ESTABLISH ITS BRAND IN THE WORLD

ARMENPRESS
13 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS: It is necessary to elaborate new
mechanisms and formulate special loans for the increase of export
volumes growth. At the briefing with the journalist Armenian Employers
Republican Union head Gagik Makaryan came forth with the statement
on July 13.

” There was a decline in export volumes from Armenia due to financial
and economic crisis and only recently a growth has been registered.

Armenian fruit succeeded to form its brand in the world. “The same
development is observed in the CIS countries, but, in general, at the
course of the years the export structure did not suffer much change
” Makaryan stated, Armenpress reports.

The task is the banks do not want to finance the development of
management by low interest rates. Besides Armenian enterprises are
ignorant in markets’ marketing.

” Alcoholic beverages export dominates, which is mainly directed to CIS
countries. Dairy produce, fish are considered risky for transportation:
cans are safer to export. Armenian fruit for rather a long period
was unknown, yet thanks to the exerted efforts it started to form
its brand. There is a demand, we have to provide the needed amount”
Makaryan concluded.

Dwelling on the dollar fluctuations, he stressed that the revaluation
of dollar may motivate the development of small business.

From: A. Papazian

ALARM SIGNAL FROM GREEN ACTIVISTS: FORESTS OF IJEVAN AND DILIJAN ARE VICTIMIZED

arminfo
Friday, July 13, 00:08

A green activist, a member of the “Trchkan” initiative, Gor
Hovannisyan, has sent an open letter to Armenia’s Nature Protection
Minister, Aram Harutyunyan, because of the forest devastation in
Ijevan and Dilijan.

Green activists were witnesses of the mass cutting of trees using
special equipment. When the activists tried to photo the event,
their cameras were taken away and all the photos wiped off.

From: A. Papazian

SERJ TANKIAN’S CONDEMNS HOLOCAUST IN NEW MUSIC VIDEO

tert.am
13.07.12

World-renowned US-Armenian singer and song writer Serj Tankian has
depicted the horrors of holocaust in a new music video.

The song, Õ~Uccupied Tears, is from the singer’s album Harakiri. It
can also be accessed on YouTube.

The music video, in a narrow sense, is not devoted to the Armenian
Genocide or the Jewish Holocaust as such. It is a protest against
the crimes of genocide in general. It addresses the topic from the
philosophical rather than the political standpoint.

Reminding of the horror of what he terms as “holocaust” and criticizing
belligerency, the System of a Down vocalist confirms that the humankind
has not forgotten anything. He periodically poses the rhetorical
question, how can you just occupy another child’s tear?

In figurative terms, Tankian can be said to have hara-kiri’ed the
terms genocide and holocaust, by using different figurative expressive
means of art.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN FILM IS 100 YEAR OLD: NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT FIRST ARMENIAN FILM

ARMENPRESS
13 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian film dates already 100 year.

The start of national cinematography should be considered the beginning
of 1912 and not 1925, when ‘~RNamus’~R film was created.Film expert,
art specialist Artsvi Bakhchinyan found evidence and prove the above
mentioned statement and depicted in his book entitled ‘~RArmenian
film 100’~R.

As the author of the book stated at the briefing with Armenpress
journalist, Armenian film science has traditionally associated Armenian
film history with Soviet authorities.

‘~RIt seemed everything was already obvious in this branch, yet it
there were things unrevealed. The authors engaged in Armenian film
history particularly stated that by 1923 particular individuals made
attempts to screen films, which were failed’~R the interlocutor
noted.’~RYet my philological searches showed, that besides
unsuccessful attempts, there were certain realities of film, which
remained unfortunately unknown in the film history and ,in general,
in Armenian culture’~R the author of the book shared with.

Artsvi Bakhchinyan authored one more new book, called ‘~R Armenian
film, the years of independence”. The book presents the whole picture
of Armenian cinematography created since the independence of Armenia,
during two decades.

From: A. Papazian

UN LEADER DASHNAK POINTE ” L’INTERFERENCE EXTERNE ”
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 13 juillet 2012

Un des leaders de la Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne
(Dashnaktsutyun) a accuse sans les nommees ” des forces externes ”
essayant d’etendre la discorde au sein du parti d’opposition et ainsi
de l’affaiblir.

Hrant Markarian, le chef de facto du bureau du parti, a pretendu que
ces forces sont derrière les articles des medias disant que beaucoup de
membres du Dashnaktsutyun sont maintenant fâches avec leur direction.

Selon les resultats officiels, le parti Dashnaktsutyun a reuni environ
5,5 pour cent des voix, juste assez pour conserver une presence dans
le nouveau Parlement armenien en vertu du système de representation
proportionnelle. Le parti dispose seulement de 5 places au Parlement
contre 16 auparavant.

” Vous savez, nous sommes un organisme vivant ” a dit Hrant Markarian
au service armenien de RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am). ” Nous n’avons pas reussi
brillamment au cours des elections, pour ne pas dire plus. Donc il est
très naturel d’avoir du mecontentement, des inquietudes et des avis
differents dans le parti. S’il n’y avait pas cela, cela signifierait
que nous ne sommes pas un parti sain “.

Mais il a affirme que certains articles dans les medias armeniens
exagèrent extremement le mecontentement pour creer ” un terreau
fertile pour une interference externe “. Il a refuse de specifier
qui se mele des affaires du Dashnaktsutyun enoncant, vaguement ”
differentes sortes de forces de differents centres du pouvoir “.

” On nous accuse de devenir une force pro-americaine, on nous accuse
de renoncer a la lutte parlementaire et devenir un parti purement
revolutionnaire, on nous conseille qui soutenir et ne pas appuyer dans
[la course presidentielle au] Karabakh. Il y a un tas de tels conseils
” a-t-il dit. ” C’est une interference. Ils essayent de creer des
problèmes dans le Dashnaktsutyun “.

Hrant Markarian a aussi minimise la performance du parti lors des
elections du 6 mai affirmant que le vote n’etait pas democratique. ”
Si ces 5 pour cent sont vrais, donc il est aussi vrai que 80 pour
cent de notre peuple sympathise avec ces autorites …, mais si vous
dites que 80 pour cent des gens sont heureux avec les autorites,
meme un poulet bouilli rira ” a-t-il dit.

From: A. Papazian

VICE GOVERNOR OF KOTAYK REGION ARRESTED FOR TAKING A BRIBE WORTH 100 USD

arminfo
Friday, July 13, 20:18

The employees of the National Security Service have arrested Vice
Governor of Kotayk region of Armenia, Levon Mikayelyan, when the
latter was taking a bribe worth 40 thsd AMD (100 USD).

The NSS press service told ArmInfo that Mikayelyan was taking the
bribe from a school headmaster. The NSS officers have found out that
during his term in office of the Kotayk region’s deputy governor,
Mikayelyan regularly demanded bribes from Kotayk’s school headmasters
not to conduct any inspections at their schools.

A criminal case has been instituted; investigation is underway.

From: A. Papazian

A NEW GARBAGE TRUCK GIVEN TO SEVAN

ARMENPRESS
14 July, 2012
GAVAR

Gavar,July 13, Armenpress: The Sevan citizens are already used to
the existence of the garbage cans for plastic bottles in different
parts and districts of the city. A year ago Sevan was also introduced
with the program “Plastic bottles separation from everyday garbage”,
which is funded by the UNO development program and USAID.

As “Armenpress” was briefed by the Sevan municipality press secretary
Armine Ghukasyan, the “Urban” stable development fund implemented a
three-month outreach program with the support of “Sevan youth club”
and local authorities. Various public awareness events were held
during that time.

After the program implementation the UN Development Program provided
the Sevan municipality with a garbage truck for the plastic waste
collection and transportation. On this occasion the UN Resident
Coordinator in Armenia, the UNDP Resident Representative Dafina
Gercheva, USAID Armenian workers visited Sevan.

After visiting the public beach, the guests were hosted in the
municipality where a reception was organized for them. Petrosyan
greeted the guests and attached importance to the program being
implemented in the community. “Taking into ground the environmental
and health dangers of plastic bottles, the process should be carried
out through everybody’s active participation and civic responsibility.

The new garbage truck will make our work more coordinated”, concluded
the Mayor.

Till June 1, 2012, more than 1000 special garbage cans were posted
in the republic 13 cities, 140 of which are in Sevan.

The UN Resident Coordinator Gercheva attached importance to the
environmental problems solution and noted that they joint their
capacities and cooperate with such municipalities which are willing
to the waste collection and recycling function.

The USAID Armenian specialist on Economic Growth Jason Mcnabe was
satisfied with the process.

The Deputy Mayor Petrosyan and the UNResident Coordinator Gercheva
signed the agreement on using the property gratuitously.

From: A. Papazian

YOUNG DIASPORANS’ PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM
by Lilly Torosyan

July 13, 2012

Every year, one college-aged member of each parish in the Diocese
is chosen to make the pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem. The
nine-day journey consists of frequent church visits and Bible study,
in addition to many hours spent sightseeing all across the Judean
Desert. This year, the travelers’ itinerary included Bethlehem,
Jericho, and the Dead Sea.

Group photo from the pilgrimage From St. George’s Armenian Apostolic
Church in Hartford, Conn., Sara DerAprahamian and Anna Abalyan made
the voyage this summer as part of the 40-person ensemble. Abalyan’s
sister, Karina, had made the trip two years prior and recommended
that her sister go, too. “I was really excited to see the Armenian
Quarter in Jerusalem. It was such a surreal experience,” said
Abalyan. DerAprahamian agreed. “I would definitely recommend that
every Armenian try to go at least once, especially with the Diocese!”

Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian accompanied the
20-somethings and performed various prayers, including the Blessing of
the Water ceremony at the Jordan River. At the beginning of the trip,
Barsamian had a message to convey to the eager students. “You too
have reached [the place of Jesus Christ’s birth]. You are having this
experience. And we as a group will be able to share that experience,
as we embark on a journey that has the power to shape us, and direct
us, throughout our lives.”

Many of the past participants say they were enlightened by the
experience. “I have been to Armenia before, but there is just something
special about this community of very few, devoted Armenians.

They are keeping alive one of the most ancient communities in the
world,” said Shant Ghokasiyan, who participated in the trip in 2010.

“Those who support the program are doing a good thing for these people
and for us, the new generation of Diaspora Armenians, so that we can
one day do our part and help out, too,” added Shant, whose father is
the Deacon at St. George’s.

The program is funded every year by benefactors who wish to help the
Jerusalem-Armenian community by engaging young Armenians from all
over the world.

From: A. Papazian

PETR LOM: MY FILM SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD IN ARMENIA

news.am
July 13, 2012 | 22:30

YEREVAN. – Canadian documentary film director Petr Lom’s documentary
Back to the Square is dedicated to the revolution in Egypt. The film
is nominated in the ‘Documentary film’ program of the 9th annual
Golden Apricot Armenian International Film Festival.

“I think that my film will be understood here as your country
too experienced a historical injustice,” Lom announced at a press
conference on Friday in Yerevan.

According to the director, it is a universal story about injustice
which tells the story of five people who had become the victims of
the Mubarak regime.

To note, Lom’s pictures appear in the Golden Apricot for the third
time.

Peter Lom was born in Prague but grew up in Canada. At Harvard
University he was awarded a Ph.D. in political philosophy after which
he read lectures in several European universities. In 2004 he started
filming documentaries focusing on human rights.

From: A. Papazian