Author: Babajanian Karo

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LE PREMIER MINISTRE TURC MENACE LA FRANCE DE CONSEQUENCES “IRREPARABLES”

Liberation

16 dec 2011
France

Recep Tayyip Erdogan menace la France de consequences “graves,
irreparables” si elle adopte un projet de loi reprimant la negation
du genocide armenien.

“Je souhaite exprimer clairement que si ces demarches arrivent a
terme, les consequences sur les relations politiques, economiques,
culturelles et dans tous les domaines avec la France, seront graves”,
a-t-il detaille dans une lettre adressee au chef de l’Etat francais.

Le Premier ministre turc, dont le pays a toujours refuse de reconnaître
le genocide armenien, perpetre entre 1915 et 1916, exhorte Nicolas
Sarkozy a faire obstacle au projet. “Je souhaite sincèrement que
vous tiendrez votre promesse de faire echouer des initiatives de ce
genre et empecherez ainsi des demarches qui auront des consequences
irreparables” sur les relations bilaterales, dit-il dans sa lettre.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan appelle en outre appele la France a faire preuve
de “bon sens” et a empecher que les rapports bilateraux deviennent
“l’otage des revendications de parties tierces”, faisant reference
a l’Armenie. “Ce projet de loi vise directement la republique de
Turquie, la nation turque et la communaute turque de France, et nous
le considerons comme hostile.”

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 15, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA PARTICIPATES IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EVENT ON
CAPITOL HILL

Washington, DC – Last month, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly),
the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and the Knights of
Vartan Ani Lodge, joined Members of the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus
on Capitol Hill for the first annual St. Andrew’s Human Rights and
Religious Freedom reception. Organized by Hellenic and Armenian Caucus
member Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), the reception was hosted by
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) of the Helsinki
Commission, Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA)
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Representatives Trent Franks
(R-AZ) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) of the International Religious Freedom
Caucus, and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
of the Hellenic Caucus.

The State Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, Suzan
Johnson Cook, Senator Ben Cardin, Co-Chair of the Helsinki Commission,
Senator Robert Menendez, and sixteen Representatives, many who sit on both
the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus, were on hand illustrating the
growing support among Members of Congress in protecting religious freedom
at home and abroad. In fact, just this week, the House of Representatives
unanimously adopted H. Res. 306. Introduced by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Ed
Royce (R-CA), H. Res. 306 urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its
Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties. Rep.
Sarbanes joined his Armenian Caucus colleagues in speaking in support of H.
Res. 306 on the House floor.

“The Armenian Assembly and the greater Armenian-American community know
first-hand the effect religious discrimination and persecution have on
people,” stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. “For far
too long the Turkish government has pursued a policy that provokes,
discriminates and fails to protect religious minorities against extremists
and ultranationalists, as evidenced by the 2006 murder of Father Santoro,
the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink, the 2010 murder of Roman Catholic Bishop
Padovese and the decades-long attempt to expunge the Ecumenical
Patriarchate from Turkey,” stated Koushakjian.

Opening remarks on the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were offered
by Peter Marudas. Ambassador Johnson Cook also spoke to the Obama
Administration’s support for the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate. These
remarks were followed by a presentation of “The Apostle of Love, Hope and
Reconciliation,” a short documentary film about the mission of Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew.

The event was widely attended by the Pan-Orthodox community and others who
support the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its struggle for human rights and
religious freedom. The many Members of Congress who came to offer their
best wishes were given a brochure detailing the plight of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and a replica coin of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew by the U.S. Congress.

“I was pleased to see so many Members of Congress attend and delighted to
join the Armenian-American community in support of our Christian and
Hellenic brothers,” stated Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetian from St. Mary
Armenian Church in Washington, DC who was present at the event. “Patriarch
Bartholomew is a very well respected voice in the Orthodox Church and his
work is important to addressing our mutual concerns, especially in the
context of human rights and religious freedom,” stated Fr. Karapetian.

St. Andrew is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and on
November 30th he is venerated in both the Western and Eastern Churches.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

2011-059

Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Members of Congress Honored

Photo Caption 2 (L-R): Taniel Koushakjian, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and
former Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)

COMMENTARY: THE POPULATION WEAPON
By Edmond Y. Azadian

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Editor

Population growth is a strategic weapon for many nations. For long,
European countries have adopted “birth encouragement” programs to
overcome the drop in their populations. France, especially, has a very
generous “birth encouragement” program, which was adopted a long time
ago due to concerns about the decline in births there.

However, with the flow of immigrants, mostly from France’s former
North African colonies, the program has benefited these immigrants,
rather than the ethnic French people.

Now that many similar programs are in place throughout Europe, many
politicians have been alarmed that within the next half century,
Muslim populations may make up the majority population on the European
continent.

The former Soviet Union had a similar plan in place, which also
benefited the Muslim population; women with multiple children were
awarded the title “hero mothers.” Most of those “hero mothers” in
Soviet Armenia were either Kurds or Azeris. China, with a population
well over 1.5 billion, has a reverse population policy. Families are
discouraged from having more than two children. China is an economic
super power developing at a very fast rate, and its population
control plan is intended to calibrate its birth rate with the pace
of its economic progress. Runaway population growth may hamper its
economic growth.

Armenia has a half-hearted population program in place, which has not
contributed much to its growth because such a program needs solid
infrastructure to sustain the intended rise in population. Surveys
taken in Armenia have demonstrated that many families are reluctant to
have children because of economic problems and uncertainties facing
the youth there. Should Armenia one day enjoy a strong economy and
help its citizens resist the lure of foreign countries, it would
benefit from fertility clinics for some population increase.

In Muslim countries polygamy is standard practice and it contributes
significantly to the population growth. As a Muslim country,
Turkey’s population grew at a faster pace and now it is over 70
million. Parallel economic progress has justified the population
growth, although out of 70 million, 20 million are Kurds who have
become, over the years, more and more assertive of their ethnic
identity.

On the other hand, Egypt’s overpopulation has become a national
trauma, because the economy does not keep pace with the population
growth. Birth control is a voluntary option for Egyptian families
and it is not encouraged by the religious authorities. With the
recent emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood, that problem can only
be compounded, as the fundamentalist party will try to impose on the
country Sharia law.

In its December 10 issue, the New York Times ran a feature article
about the population problem in Nagorno Karabagh, under the title,
“The National Womb.” The article refers to a recent government
program to encourage population growth, because, the ethnic profile
of the Karabagh Republic is a critical one, well beyond economy and
politics. The future of that tiny republic hinges on its population
retention and growth. The Times has also given some statistics which
seem to be disappointing: “Since its introduction four years ago,
the birth encouragement program has been credited for an increase
in births, 2,694 in 2010 from 2,145 in 2007. The program pays each
couple about $780 at their wedding and then an additional $260 for
the first baby, $520 for the second, $1,300 for the third and $1,820
for the fourth. Families with six or more children under the age
of 18 are given a house. These payments are quite substantial in a
region where an average monthly salary is $50.” The above statistics
demonstrate that the population growth has been at a snail’s pace;
only an incremental growth in three years, yet Karabagh’s future
depend on its population growth.

Throughout all the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
under the auspices of the Minsk Group, a referendum has been one
of the sticking points. Azerbaijan insists that in order to have
a national referendum, Karabagh’s Armenian population, along with
Azerbaijan’s 7-million population should participate to determine the
future status of Karabagh. In that scenario, it is obvious what the
outcome would be. The Armenian side maintains that referendum must be
limited to the Karabagh population. In this case, the outcome can also
be predicted very easily. But there is an inherent danger here. Even
if the exiled Azeri population returns to Karabagh to participate
in the referendum, their numbers could have increased to dangerous
levels, because, even in refugee camps, the Azeri population can grow
at a faster pace than the Armenian population, without counting the
decrease of Armenian population due to the youth seeking employment
in foreign countries. There is also a caveat in this scenario; the
Armenian side maintains pre-war ratio of 20 percent to 30 percent in
favor of the Armenian population.

No one knows exactly the number of Karabagh’s current population and
no one wishes to know. The generally-accepted figure is 180,000.

Since Israel’s independence in 1948, the Jewish population has
grown exponentially trying to outnumber Palestinians, particularly
the right-wing, religiously-intolerant faction wanting to settle
in Palestinian territories, despite the wars and siege mentality,
all helped with US tax dollars.

Despite the rise in the Jewish population, the growing Palestinian
population within Israel and in the occupied territories poses a
serious demographic problem for Israel’s future.

That is why some extremist groups in Israel maintain that all
Palestinians must be expelled to Jordan.

Despite a massive infusion of funds and military support, Israel is
still under a demographic threat. Which brings us back to Armenia
and Karabagh: where will that support for Armenia come from?

That is why the Times sees a very gloomy prospect for that policy, by
stating: “In a region as economically deprived as Nagorno Karabagh,
is the solution simply to increase the birthrate? Without first
improving education, infrastructure and employment opportunities for
future generations and raising the standard of living, the children
of today’s baby boom may grow up to leave in search of better lives
abroad, just like the youths of today.”

The Karabagh population demonstrated its patriotism and heroism by
winning the war but patriotism and heroism are not enough to win the
peace and to win the future of the land.

Something more tangible is necessary.

WHY ARE ORPHANAGES TERRIBLE? RECOLLECTIONS OF FORMER ARMENIAN STUDENTS.
by Hasmik Hambardzumyan

HULIQ.com

Dec 15 2011
SC

This is the latest in a series of articles on orphanages in the country
of Armenia, in which the recollections of former students are retold.

“I felt myself very lonely.” A graduate of Lichk asylum in Meghri
marz of Armenia Artak Sargsyan recollects his entering adult life at
a distance of 30 years. He and his two sisters found themselves in the
orphanage in 1979, when they lost their parents. Artak at first lived
in orphanage in the town of Gavar, Gekarkunik marz. However, a few
years later he was moved to Meghri. Four years after it was opened,
the Lichk orphanage was closed as it did not meet the expectations of
Soviet authorities to complement population of Meghri with children
from an orphanage. The graduates of Lichk argue that just few of them
have received apartments in Meghri and live there until now.

In Armenia, the children from orphanages are treated with a certain
stigma; people either feel sorry for them or do not trust them.

Sometimes, they just reject them. “The felling of rejection always
accompanied me”, Artak recalls.

In general, who is the child from an orphanage? The students in an
orphanage argue that they are just like all the other children in
everything. Their feelings and their perceptions are the same, just
like all the others they start with not what the adults want to get
from them, but with how they sense the world around them.

To respond to the question of who the orphanage kid is, first one
should realize what this child is deprived of. It will not be correct
to say that the child lacks communication with people. To say that the
child lacks communication with other children would not be true either,
since these children do not have a lack of communication with other
children. What these children lack is the mother and the sense of
proximity, by which we understand the relatives and the world around
them. This world suggests communication based on preferences —
I want to talk to these relatives and I do not want to communicate
with those, suggests communication with the street as of caprice,
when the mother has to feed the kid but he is running out into the
garden to play with others. This is to say a kid from an orphanage
is someone who does not have opportunity to choose and their feelings
are shaped, so to say, within limited choice.

“If I had felt the tenderness and caressing by my parents, that would
give me power, would be my support. Separation from a family creates
a stress in a child. The feeling of missing accompanies the person
all throughout the lifetime, the child is not self-confident in this
respect, the natural distraction often brings about the sense of
hopelessness, results in psychological declines for the person —
there are no parents”, Artak recollects his situation from the past.

After all, the orphanage child is not destined to feel the aura which
creates the childhood of a person, to bring an example, when a child
growing in a family wants a candy, the mother will provide this candy
at any cost. And if she cannot buy it, she feels pain in her heart,
and her only mother’s look can replace the lack of candy for a kid.

The child from an orphanage has never seen that look, has not
sensed it.

Gagik Shamshyan, a well-known photo correspondent in Armenia,
was left by his mother 41 years ago when he was just three months
old. “When I used to ask my teachers about my mother, father, they
would either tell me I was born from a red apple, or under the walls
of the orphanage building,” he recollects 25 years after leaving the
orphanage. “There are no illegal children, there are illegal parents”.

This is a nail in one of the papers written by him when a child. His
teachers in the orphanage tried to compensate for the caring of mother,
absent from his life — comrade Lusja and comrade Vera.

Later, when he with great difficulty managed to find his mother, meet
with her, he realized: “each time I saw her I remembered the orphanage,
the teachers, comrade Lusja and comrade Vera, I was missing them”.

Writer and journalist Mher Arshakyan, who left an orphanage 22 years
ago, describes the location where the abandoned kids live: “Orphanage
is the creation of those mothers who had seen their child. This is
to say the orphanage begins for a kid after the mother looks into the
child’s eyes. The orphanage is the opposite of a mother. This is the
reason that an orphanage is so terrible”.

According to him, a child from an orphanage will never learn what a
mother is, this child will not be a son or a daughter, in the chain
of responsibilities towards the environment some natural values will
be missing – parents and relatives. “And there is just a small hope,
that on his/her path of life the child will realize that no matter
how mother’s love is needed, she should not be condemned, as there is
not a single sin in the world not worthy of forgiveness,” he writes
in one of his works.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 9-15, 2011

HIGHLIGHTS:

“E-CLUB” CYCLE: ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN INTERNET

DISCUSSIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LAW HELD AT SPECIALIZED PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEE

NEWLY ELECTED PARLIAMENTARY CHAIRMAN SIMPLIFIES THE ACCESS OF JOURNALISTS TO
THE DEPUTIES

PHOTOJOURNALIST GAGIK SHAMSHIAN ASSAULTED WHILE SHOOTING A CAR ACCIDENT

FOI CENTER PRESENTED ITS STUDY

“E-CLUB” CYCLE: ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN INTERNET

On December 13 another program from “E-Club” weekly cycle went on the online
broadcast of “A1+” TV company (). The “E-Club” is produced by
Yerevan Press Club in cooperation with “A1+” TV company under “Alternative
Resources in Media” project, supported by USAID.

The program was dealing with the presence of Armenian language in the
Internet: opportunities for using Armenian fonts, network sources, programs
in Armenian, etc. The news bloc of “E-Club” particularly told how Pope
Benedict XVI set fire the Christmas tree in the Italian city of Gubbio with
a Sony Tablet S right from Vatican. According to another information, Net
Index named Vilnius, Lithuania, as the city with the most high speed
Internet in the world. The ratings of online sources and headlines of last
week were presented by writer and blogger Dorian. The websites’ top list was
headed by Google Reader, while the most popular news was the intensifying
tensions in the US-Iran relations.

The next “E-Club” will be aired on “A1+” on Tuesday, December 20 at 15.50
(rerun – on Thursday, December 22 at 18.20).

DISCUSSIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LAW HELD AT SPECIALIZED PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEE

On December 15 discussions on the amendments to RA Law “On Television and
Radio” were held at the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. The working meeting was attended by
representatives of state bodies, international organizations, journalistic
associations, including Yerevan Press Club and Internews Media Support
public organization.

As it has been reported, the draft law “On Introducing Amendments and
Supplements to RA Law ‘On Television and Radio'” was developed by the
working group on reforming the broadcast legislation, regulating the process
of switching from analogue to digital broadcast in Armenia, formed by the RA
Human Rights Defender in 2010. On May 31, 2011 the document was submitted to
the parliament, and the working group stopped its activities. On June 15 the
Heads of the three media NGO-members of the group, Nouneh Sarkissian,
Managing Director of Internews, YPC President Boris Navasardian and Arzuman
Harutiunian, President of Audio-Visual Reporters Association, released a
statement. The latter noted that the version of the draft, presented to the
parliament, is imperfect, and the shutdown of the WG activities is
premature: “The draft contains a number of important clauses that were not
properly addressed and still require a thorough discussion and analysis.
Suggestions and recommendations provided by the experts, including the
feedback from the Council of Europe and OSCE, were not considered in full
and completely. Such a situation questions the initial key objective of our
activities, which is to contribute to the adoption of a perfectly worked out
law by the RA National Assembly.” The statement authors emphasized that they
will continue their activities over the improvement of the draft and they
would submit it to the RA National Assembly in a separate package. Given
this fact, the Heads of the three journalistic organizations requested the
parliamentary specialized Committee to postpone any possible discussion on
the draft (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 10-16, 2011).

On November 4 the revised amendments to the broadcast legislation were
presented to the RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sport.

At the meeting of December 15 the Committee Chairman Artak Davtian stressed
that the suggestions voiced during the discussion will be taken into
account, and in five business days the draft law will be put into
circulation at the National Assembly.

NEWLY ELECTED PARLIAMENTARY CHAIRMAN SIMPLIFIES THE ACCESS OF JOURNALISTS TO
THE DEPUTIES

On December 9 upon the decision of the newly elected Speaker of Armenian
parliament Samvel Nikoyan, the Order of Journalists’ Accreditation in RA
National Assembly was modified. Specifically, the Clause 21 was amended:
from now on the journalists accredited in the parliament are again permitted
to visit the NA on workdays, as well as the events held on the weekends,
which are notified by the RA NA Department on Public Relations and Media.
Earlier, the Order, approved on August 21, 2009 by the then-Chairman Hovik
Abrahamian, stipulated the access of accredited journalists to National
Assembly only during the sessions of the parliament and the Standing
Committees, briefings, press conferences, parliament hearings, as well as
other events announced by the NA press service.

Likewise, the restriction that significantly curtailed the possibility of
covering the activities of the MPs, was abrogated. At the same time, the
Order still contains provisions that concern the media community,
particularly on the conditions of accreditation and its anticipatory
suspension, the responsibilities of journalists (see details in YPC Weekly
Newsletter, September 3-10, 2009).

PHOTOJOURNALIST GAGIK SHAMSHIAN ASSAULTED WHILE SHOOTING A CAR ACCIDENT

On December 8, at about 21.30 in one of the highway tunnels of downtown
Yerevan, where a major accident hade happened, photojournalist Gagik
Shamshian was attacked. According to Gagik Shamshian, noticing that he is
shooting the site, three young men, who were in one of the crashed cars,
assaulted and swore at him, trying to take away the photocamera. As
Shamshian emphasized, he managed to keep the camera and even shoot the
assaulters and the car number. The skirmish was over after the intervention
of the police, who had arrived to the site.

As the communique of the RA Police, stored on later on
December 8, reported, the young men were detained and conveyed to police.
The men “have displayed outmost disrespect to the citizens around, have
disturbed the public order for over 15 minutes, cursed, gave blows and
caused physical injuries to the photojournalist Gagik Shamshian, who was
carrying out his professional duties”, the RA Police clarified.

As Gagik Shamshian informed YPC Kentron Police Department of Yerevan has
instituted criminal proceedings upon the case on Articles 164 (“Impeding
legitimate professional activities of a journalist”) and 258 (“Public
disorder”) of RA Criminal Code.

FOI CENTER PRESENTED ITS STUDY

On December 14 in at “Hayeli” Club of Yerevan the Freedom of Information
Center released the results of the 2011 monitoring “Freedom of Information
in the Republic of Armenia”. The study was administered by FOI Center under
the project supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and USAID. The brochure
(in Armenian and English) presented the analysis of 250 inquires, made in
May-June 2011 to 50 information holders – state structures, local
self-government bodies and organizations of public importance.

Find the results on the monitoring on FOI website:

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

KIRIL’S LINCOLN AND NAVASARD’S BENTLEY

Lragir.am
15/12/2011

Archbishop Kiril of the Bulgarian patriarchy resigned because of the
anger of the believers due to the fact that he came to church in a
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid car, The Orthodox Church reports. He explained
his resignation saying that he as if was dissatisfied with the
“insufficient activities” of the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox
Church. But experts concluded that Kiril, who wanted to become the
next Patriarch of Bulgaria, resigned because of his new luxurious car.

By the way, this limousine is the only one in Bulgaria. Kiril used to
boast of the fact that the car was built especially for him and only
the U.S. President has a similar one. He said he was not afraid of
checking because the money for the car does not belong to the church.

According to him, his friends helped him and bought the car in the U.S.

Unfortunately, it is a familiar story, isn’t it? Probably, everyone
remembers the story of the Bentley of the Archbishop of the Ararat
Patriarchal Diocese Navasard Kjoyan. He used to state that the car
was a present by his godchild. Kjoyan is rumored to want to become
the next Catholicos of Armenia, and for this reason Echmiadzin is
divided into the supporters of Garegin and Navasard.

The only difference between these stories is that Navasard Kjoyan did
not resign after the Bentley scandal not because there are more than
one Bentleys in Armenia or it is a worse car than Lincoln, and not
because the believers were not angry. But just because the opinion
of the believers in Armenia does not matter either for the secular,
or for the religious leadership.

BUSINESSWOMAN: TO BE RESPECTED IN ARMENIA ONE MUST WORK AT LEAST AT PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION

arminfo
Thursday, December 15, 16:25

Armenian businesswoman Silva Hambartsoumyan told media Thursday if
Syunik Governor Surik Khachatryan decides to run for the parliament,
she will nominate her candidature in the same electoral district
with him.

Hambratsoumyan said she has no desire to go into politics, but she
is ready to reveal the true moral portrait of the government by all
means possible.

Silva Hambartsoumyan disagreed with the opinion that her conflict with
the Syunik governor is a pre- election PR-campaign. She has all the
necessary resources to go into politics in case of desire, she said.

Commenting on the decision of the Special Investigation Commission
to stop the criminal case over her beating by Governor Khachatryan,
the business lady said is satisfied with the given decision as such
man as Khachatyan repented of his actions.

Nevertheless, she is discontented with the fact that statesmen are
punished only for a conflict with the presidential administration. “It
turns out that to be respected, one must work at least at the
presidential administration”, she said. The businesswoman, hereby,
hinted at the last year’s incident between ex-mayor of Yerevan Gagik
Beglaryan and the employee of the Armenian president’s administration
that led to Beglaryan’s resignation.

To recall, Special Investigation Service of Armenia has detected no
“criminal actions” in Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan’s slap in
businesswoman Silva Hambartsoumyan’s face.

Completing the preliminary investigation over the incident between
the governor and businesswomen in line with the with Article 118
of the Criminal Code of Armenia (beating), the SIS has arrived at
a resolution that Hambartsoumyan and Khachatryan had unfriendly
relations. Hambartsoumyan got a slap in her face by Khachatryan on
November 14 at Armenia-Marriott Hotel cafe. The businesswoman refused
to undergo forensic examination, for she got no bodily injuries. All
this was fixed by the video recorders and confirmed by witnesses.

Khachatryan said in his testimonies that he regrets for this deed.

Considering all the above circumstances, the above incident contains
no criminal actions stipulated by Article 118. In fact, on Dec 12
2011 the criminal case was cancelled.

The relations of Hambartsoumyan and Khachatryan have became tense
because of the business woman’s entrepreneurships in Syunik region.

Hambartsoumyan has disputed the decision of the Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources of Armenia to deprive her company Sipan-1 of
the license for exploitation of Lichkvaz-Teys deposit in Meghri. The
minister has set the right to exploitation of the deposit to auction
and Sagamar Company belonging to Govenror Surik Khachatryan has
bought it. Hambartsoumyan says the governor has stolen the equipment
of Sipan-1 in the amount of 102 mln drams and the case has been at
the prosecutor’s office for already two years.

KIM KARDASHIAN ‘MOST GOOGLED CELEBRITY’ IN 2011

Tert.am
15.12.11

US Armenian reality star Kim Kardashian was Google’s most searched
for celebrity in 2011, according to UKPA.

Her profile was reportedly boosted this year when she married and
divorced basketball player Kris Humphries within the space of three
months.

She rose to fame after appearing in reality show Keeping Up With
The Kardashians which launched in 2007 and follows the personal and
professional lives of members of her family.

Second most popular for web users on google.co.uk was Victoria
Beckham, followed by Harry Potter star Emma Watson and actress
Scarlett Johansson. Friends star Jennifer Aniston rounded off the
top five celebrities.

The creator and star of The Office, Ricky Gervais, was the only man
in the top 10 list.

It was drawn up by staff at the internet search giant as part of its
annual zeitgeist which examines the latest online trends.

Other popular searches reveal a more serious side with the most popular
“what is” search being “what is AV?”

Almost 20 million people took part in the national referendum on
the electoral system this year which saw two thirds vote to keep the
first-past-the-post system to elect MPs.

The two next most popular searches reveal a nation easily confused
by food with searches for “What is scampi” and “What are truffles”.

ARMENIA, GREECE DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 15, 2011 – 15:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On December 14, the chief of the general staff of
the Armed Forces of RA, colonel general Yuri Khachaturov met with the
defense attache of Greek embassy in Armenia, Colonel Christos Dovas.

The parties focused on military cooperation, summarized the results
of 2011 activities and discussed plans for 2012, Defense Ministry’s
press service reported.

VILLAGE HEAD V AUTHORITIES

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:23:50 – 15/12/2011

On December 14, Ecolur reported that Rafik Atayan, Head of Kajaran
village of Syunik Marz, was taken to the Police and kept there till
the evening.

Today, Rafik Atayan said that he was not taken to the police, but to
the Marzpetaran. “I was called to the Marzpetaran and the authorities
pressured me trying to make me sign the agreement. They said the
agreement must be signed. But I did not sign anything, and I would
never sign it. I handed in my resignation and today, I’m going to
resign from the Republican Party”, said Atayan.

He did not give names, only said that “authorities” repressed him.

Rafik Atayan once again reiterated he is not going to quit fighting
for Kajaran. “As a villager, I have my opinion, and I am a defender of
my village, our cemeteries, my homeland like the others. I am ready
to fight till the last drop of my blood”, said the Kajaran village
Head to hra.am.

Recall, Kajaran villagers started fighting against the decision
of the government of Armenia recognizing 181.7 hectares of land of
agricultural significance in Syunik Marz, including Kajaran village,
as supreme public interest.