Author: Andres-Papazian

ATAMANT DIAMONDS; ELEGANCE, SIMPLICITY, FEMINISM & DELICACY

Arab News

April 11 2012
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | [email protected]
Published: Apr 11, 2012 18:49 Updated: Apr 11, 2012 18:49

Atamant Diamonds communicate the spirit of transparency embedded with
luxury. This brand of diamonds emphasizes creativity and attention
to detail. It is a brand collection of diamond jewelry and a name
that has become synonymous with diamonds suitable for all sorts of
customers. Additionally, it is a prime example of diamond jewelry
with its own manufacturers and suppliers.

Nayri Estepanian is the founder and creator of the brand. She is half
Lebanese and half Armenian, raised in Syria, educated in the US and
living in Dubai. She is known for her skills in designing jewelry
and her passion for fashion.

Her designs reflect the cultures and interests she encounters in her
life as she fuses the forward contemporary design with old-world
aesthetics. To help the woman of today complete their look, she
established Atamant Diamonds, a fashionable jewelry line for the
world of fashion.

Atamant means diamonds in Armenian. For Estepanian, diamonds are a
passion. For her they are a necessity to complete a woman’s look.

Estepanian’s rich family background and experience in the diamond
industry lends her the opportunity to manufacture pieces directly at
her own factory in Lebanon. Shewas attracted to making jewelry designs
because of her family’s influence. “I usually like sketching jewelry
in my free time and in addition to that I always prefer seasonal
fashion and apply it in my jewelry designs to add more uniqueness
and to create a trendy look,” she said.

One of the most captivating jewelry pieces that Estepanian designed
is the Ayat Al-Kursi necklace from The Message Collection. “Though I
come from a Christian background, one of my dearest friends asked me
to always keep Ayat Al-Kursi (a Quranic verse) in my pocket or wallet
since it is a form of protection and a prayer as well,” she said. “I
have carried the prayer for many years and since I made the Atamant
Diamonds Nature Collection, I always wanted to do something meaningful
and that people will never forget and connect with,” she said.

The designer wanted something that is not seasonal and timeless. So
the first thing that came into her mind was “Ayat Al Kursi”. “I tried
to make it out of white, yellow, and pink gold and with diamonds using
beautiful Arabic calligraphy,” she said. “Whenever I see the piece,
I feel so blessed that I have made something meaningful to seize a
lot of people’s attention,” she added.

Atamant Diamonds’ most challenging piece is a collection called The
Zipper Collection. “The challenge was to make a real movable zipper
and we have it in gold/diamond in both necklace and bracelet; it was
challenging because it took so much of our time, creativity and effort
to make it look like a real zipper,” said Estepanian.

Estepanian prefers to work with diamonds, semi precious stones
and gold.

Atamant Diamonds targets women of different ages. “I have a Children’s
Collection for 0-10 years old, a Nature Collection, The Message
collection, an Arabesque Collection, and the latest is the Zipper
Collection,” she said. “I make sure that all my designs are fit for
all ages,” she added.

Jewelry design is always evolving, said Estepanian. “Everyone has
his or her own taste and fashion sense. I believe that with jewelry
you can create anything and I make sure the concept of my collection
entails simplicity. To me, to be simple is elegant,” she said.

The jewelry designer usually gets inspiration from her daily life and
surroundings. “Aside from that, my family is really my main inspiration
and especially my experiences in life,” she said. “My style and designs
are casual, funky and classy – all at the same time,” she added.

Making women feel confident is Estepanian’s goal. “I want women to
be comfortable while wearing them with elegance and glamour,” she said.

“My biggest goal is mainly my kids. I want them to be happy and
confident, make them feel that they have great parents who love them
unconditionally and we want to make sure that we always guide them
to find their own successes in life,” she added.

Estepanian is planning to expand her brand in Europe and a few other
countries, she is also looking to explore other places to launch her
jewelry collection, introduce it to other nationalities, and make
them feel that Atamant Diamonds is a distinct fashionable brand.

Atamant Diamonds are now sold in several select outlets worldwide.

From: A. Papazian

NO EMIGRATION FROM ARTSAKH

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 21:18:10 – 11/04/2012

There is no emigration from Artsakh and the population grows, stated
the NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan in a press conference today. He
says unemployment in Artsakh is 5-6%, there is no extreme poverty.

Last year the GDP grew by 9.1%. Growth was constituted by small and
medium businesses.

The NKR prime minister says there is no unemployment in Artsakh,
sometimes even builders are invited from Armenia to supply shortage.

The NKR government funds the program of reproduction which favors the
growth of population of NKR. “Hundreds of applications were received
for settlement in Kashatagh,” he says. Ara Harutiunyan noted that the
Armenian government helps Artsakh by way of the interstate loan. Part
of this loan is spent on resettlement, he says.

Artsakh expects the participation of the Diaspora but there is not
much enthusiasm. Ara Harutiunyan noted that the Armenian Diaspora
investors never face problems in Artsakh. “The government of Artsakh
has special attitude to investors.” The investors get preferential
treatment, both during the office of Arkady Ghukasyan and now.

Ara Harutiunyan says inflation is high in Artsakh because goods are
imported from Armenia. To fight inflation, the government of Artsakh
boosts local production.

The government of Artsakh does not approve tax privileges because,
according to the prime minister, it will not boost the economy. “We
have such a plan. The region of Kashatagh was exempt from taxes
but no company was set up there. On the contrary, some wily people
registered businesses here and operated in Yerevan or Stepanakert,
thus avoiding paying taxes.”

Noting the importance of equal opportunities, he says they are now
fighting shadow business, it has not been eradicated but there is
considerable progress.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN MOD AND CSTO OFFICIALS DISCUSS PREPARATION FOR EXERCISES

news.am
April 11, 2012 | 20:38

YEREVAN. – First Deputy of the Armenian MOD David Tonoyan discussed
on Wednesday cooperation issues with the Deputy Secretary General of
the CSTO Valery Semerikov.

Parties discussed in particular issues on preparation for the exercises
with the participation of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces,
which is scheduled for Sept. 3-8 in Armenia, MOD reports.

Besides, Semerikov informed about the preparation works on the
organization’s regular meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers
of the CSTO member states scheduled on May 3 in Kazakhstan.

From: A. Papazian

EMPLOYEES OF RUSAL-ARMENAL COMPANY TURN TO THE COURT DEMANDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DRAMS COMPENSATION

arminfo
Wednesday, April 11, 16:56

Employees of RusAl-Armenal foil-rolling and producing company demand
hundreds of millions of drams compensation for working in hazardous
conditions. Lawyer Levon

Baghdasaryan representing the employees of the company said in a press
conference in Yerevan Wednesday that around 100 employees have been
working in hazardous conditions at the plant for many years and their
old-age retirement pension comes into effect earlier than stipulated
by the law. However, none of them has received the additional payments
stipulated by the Law On Labor Activity. He said that the employees
have already turned to the court for compensation of the arrears.

The lawyer said that he tried to establish contacts with the
administration of the plant to settle the problem. But the leadership
of the company neglected his efforts. The employees of the plant
told media they still work at the plant 3 shifts in a day despite
their claims.

L. Baghdasaryan recalled the visit by the Armenian prime ministry
to the plant during which the company’s leadership declared that
the employees receive 260,000 drams salary in average. The premier,
in turn, said that the salary at the plant is twice as high as the
average salary in Armenia. In the meantime, the lawyer said, the
salary of the employees is 130,000 drams in average. “Let’s compare
what is the difference between the salary of the employees and the
leadership of the plant,” he said.

To recall, ARMENAL foil rolling mill was founded in May 2000 as part
of the Kanaker aluminium smelter. It is one of the biggest production
facilities in Armenia and is the only producer of aluminium foil in
the Caucasus and Central Asian regions. On May 18th, 2000 the mill was
integrated into United Company RUSAL . Together with two other foil
mills, Sayanal in the Russian republic of Khakasia and Urals Foil,
ARMENAL forms the company’s Packaging Division.

RusAl company has such problems not only at the Armenian plant. A few
days ago, the staff of Fruquia plant belonging to RusAl (Guinea) went
on a strike demanding increase of the salary to $400 and compensation
of medical assistance. However, RusAl’s representative said in an
interview with the Russian newspaper Vedomosti that the employees at
Friquia receive $600 salary in average.

From: A. Papazian

IN ARMENIA SUITORS AGAINST MASS MEDIA NO LONGER DEMAND ASTRONOMIC SUMS OF MONEY FOR “MORAL DAMAGE”

arminfo
Wednesday, April 11, 15:56

Priority of Law human rights defender NGO has monitored 44 trials
against Mass Media in the country. The lawyers of the NGO Ara Ghazaryan
and Artak Zeynalyan told media on Wednesday that the monitoring was
conducted in the period from Jan 2010 up to Jan 2012.

They said that most of the suitors against Mass Media were privates
and non-governmental establishments, while civil servants, state
establishments and political figures proved on the second, third and
fourth positions, respectively.

Ghazaryan said that the number of suits against Mass Media initiated
by statesmen and state bodies has grown over the last years. In most
cases, the suitors complain of “insults and slander.” Out of 44 suits,
33 were against newspapers and magazines (75%), 12 against news portals
(28%) and the remaining 5 were against television (12%).

Experts say that suitors often demanded financial compensation for
moral damage in the amount of 2-4 million drams. Total moral damage
caused by Mass Media amounted to 102 million 266 thousand drams,
with only 11 million 466 thousand drams being recompensed.

Nevertheless, experts say that despite numerous trials against Mass
Media, the situation has been improving over the last months. The
parties began to more and more frequently agree with each other. In
addition, suitors no longer demand astronomic sums of money.

To recall, trials against Mass Media became especially frequent after
the parliament passed amendments to the Civil Code initiated by the
human rights defender of Armenia Karen Andreasyan. The amendments
provide for decriminalization of defamation. In fact, over 15 suits
were lodged against the local newspaper Hraparak, Aravot, Iravunk,
Yerkir, Haykakan Zhamanak and some portals and quite big amounts of
money were demanded as compensation. Among the suitors were the family
of the ex-president Robert Kocharyan, oligarch-parliamentarians Samvel
Aleksanyan, Levon Sargsyan, Ruben Hayrapetyan and Tigran Arzakantsyan.

Experts and journalists say that in conditions of the corrupt judicial
system, the given law may restrict freedom of speech in Armenia,
and high fines may make Mass Media bankrupt.

From: A. Papazian

“CONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION EXPO 2012” EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 11, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: International, specialized exhibition
“Construction and Restoration EXPO 2012” will take place at Karen
Demirtchyan concert and sport complex April 13-15. An official from
the LOGOS EXPO center told Armenpress that the exhibition is being
conducted for the ninth time. The goal of the event is to reinforce
ties between the companies, increase of their rating, development
of business.

Construction brands from Turkey, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine and Iran,
as well as from developed industrial countries will participate in
the event.

From: A. Papazian

HERITAGE OFFERS PROSPEROUS ARMENIA QUIT RULING COALITION FOR ANTI-FORGERY HEADQUARTERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 11, 2012 – 14:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Deputy chairman of the opposition Heritage Ruben
Hakobyan voiced doubts that Prosperous Armenia party can participate
in the inter-party headquarters to counter election forgery, along
with its membership in the ruling coalition.

The very establishment of such headquarters casts doubts and
demonstrates distrust to organization of free and fair elections by
the ruling coalition.

“Gagik Tsarukyan (Prosperous Armenia leader) has signed both this
document (on inter-party headquarters) and the coalition memorandum,”
Hakobyan said with irony.

Heritage member said that all coalition parties are currently
“vote-hunting”, and he does not want to point to any of them, since
they all are responsible for the current situation in the country.

Armenian National Congress coordinator Levon Zurabyan voiced support
for the Prosperous Armenia saying this document contradicts the
coalition memorandum.

To this, Hakobyan responded that “forces representing different
political poles should not advocate for each other”.

“Heritage will not engage in imitation processes and create arena for
[coalition forces’] manoeuvres,” Hakobyan concluded.

For his part, Prosperous Armenia representative Vartan Oskanian said
if Hakobyan believes his party’s withdrawal will promote work of the
headquarters, they will quit it.

At the same time he pledged full support to this headquarters
emphasizing that Prosperous Armenia intends to allocate large funding
to tackle violations during the elections.

From: A. Papazian

BLACK THREAD – KNOW-HOW OF ELECTORAL PROCESS

Panorama.am
11/04/2012

Voters in Armenia have invented a new technology for the upcoming
parliamentary elections, Hraparak reports.

“Those giving money to voters put forth the condition that voters are
to take a picture of their completed ballot paper in order to prove
that they have voted for whom they have been told to.

Now the voters have found a way to overcome this seemingly
insurmountable obstacle. They take a little black thread with them
when they are entering the voting cabin, place it on the ballot paper,
take a picture of it and then vote.

This method gives voters the possibility to take different photos
and to receive money from multiple candidates at once,” says the paper.

From: A. Papazian

HERITAGE TO ATTEMPT QUITTING ANTI-FORGERY AGREEMENT, PAPER SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 11, 2012 – 10:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Zhoghovurd paper says that Heritage party will
shortly try to withdraw from the single inter-party headquarters
established on April 4 to counter election forgery.

According to the paper’s data, Heritage is going to come up with
proposals at April 11 meeting which definitely will not get support
by any of the forces.

For instance, Heritage will allegedly suggest that the declaration
of the headquarters should be signed by the leaders of the political
forces, being well aware that Armenian National Congress head Levon
Ter-Petrossian or Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan will
hardly attend the meeting to personally sign the documents.

Heritage may withdraw from the agreement if its proposal fails,
the paper says.

Vice-chairman of Heritage Ruben Hakobyan said they are going to submit
two significant proposals to the headquarters. “Our proposals must
be approved, if this is a fair and practical initiative, and not an
imitation,” he told the paper.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI FILM FESTIVAL FAILS IN GYUMRI

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 12, 2012 – 14:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 12, about 50 activists representing
political and non-governmental organizations gathered on Central Square
in the city of Gyumri to oppose the so-called festival of Azerbaijani
films, an event organized by Georgy Vanyan, pro-Azerbaijani activist
who has repeatedly tried to promote Azerbaijani ideas in Armenia.In
Yerevan, about 20 youth activists gathered at Aram Khachatryan monument
with posters saying “NO to grant-taker Vanyanogly and anti-Armenian
activities”.

They handed in an open letter to the Ministry of Culture which, in
particular, said: “Armenia has neither diplomatic nor cultural ties
with Azerbaijan; therefore, organization of such festivals should
be banned in Armenia once and for all,” action participant Edgar
Khachatryan told a reporter of PanARMENIAN.Net

Member of the protest action in Gyumri Vazgen Martirosyan told a
reporter of PanARMENIAN.Net that they have blocked the entrance to
Asparez club where films were expected to be screened.

Earlier, participants of the action entered Asparez club to negotiate
with Georgy Vanyan; following the talks, Vanyan said no screening
will take place if he is allowed to leave the scene.

“He rushed to jump into the car and left, rather fled, with eggs and
other things thrown towards his vehicle,” Martirosyan said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture told the protesters it was unaware
of the “festival”. The officials will respond to the letter on April
13, pledging to look into the matter.

It is worth noting that Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives
NGO was going to organize a so-called festival of Azerbaijani films
in the city of Gyumri.

The idea came from Georgy Vanyan who got a grant from the U.S. embassy
in Armenia for this purpose. He had earlier attempted to hold such
festivals, which however, have all failed again.

From: A. Papazian