Author: Babajanian Karo

POPE MEETS WITH ARMENIAN PATRIARCH AT THE VATICAN

Rome Reports, Italy
June 4 2013

June 4, 2013. (Romereports.com) The Pope welcomed the patriarch
of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics, His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX
Tarmouni. He also met with those who manage the Armenian seminary in
Rome. The rector, who is quite young, joked with Pope Francis.

As a gift, the Patriarch gave the Pope a bronze crucifix that actually
had to be carried out by two people.

This couple, also accompanied the Patriarch. The woman told the Pope
that her family was a victim of the Armenian genocide back in 1915.

-It was the first major genocide of the XX century.

The Armenian Church has about 350,000 members which are in different
parts of the Middle East. The Church has a strong presence in Egypt
and Turkey.

View video at

WE CAN PRODUCE TABLE GRAPE, BUT … WE CAN NOT?

Sarke Economic Press Monitor, Georgia
June 3, 2013 Monday

by Kviris Palitra

The article, considering prospects of table grape production in
Georgia, brings comments of Jemal Khatiashvili, chairman of Farmer
Association of Alazani Valley, and expert Levan Kandelaki.

As Khatiashvili notes, production of table grape is not developed
in Georgia, but several farmers have already launched cultivation of
table varieties. He advises the farmers not to concentrate solely on
traditional varieties, bur look after Turkish, Iranian, American,
Egyptian, Italian or Greek ones as well, noting that “it will not
cost too much”.

According to Khatiashvili, these varieties are cultivated in Armenia
for a long time. The newspaper reports that Georgia has purchased
365,000 kg in Armenia (i.e. more than 28% of this country’s total
grape export) in the 1st quarter.

As Kalandadze notes, varieties for wine production are more common
in Georgia.

He points that cultivation of table varieties is not a problem at all,
but keeping of this grape is difficult enough, as it requires special
storages and refrigerator equipment, the expert declares. Georgia
lacks development of such infrastructure in contrary to Armenia,
the expert adds.

LOS GATOS: BREWSTER’S ‘OLD EYES’ SEE PLENTY IN ARMENIA

San Jose Mercury News, CA
June 3 2013

By Stewart Brewster, for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers Posted:
06/03/2013 07:30:53 PM PDT

My two-year Peace Corps service shortly ends. A year ago, the Los
Gatos Weekly-Times ran my earlier article wherein I described what
Americans can admire about Armenians–like intense hospitality,
frugality, self-sufficiency, fortitude, quiet perseverance against
enormous challenges and their immense love of children.

There is an old Armenian saying: “We cannot see with the eyes of
others.” Well, my old eyes have now seen much thanks to the Peace
Corps.

Serendipity had a hand in it. I ruminated about serving after college,
but the timing was not right. Flash forward to 2010. I was 63, healthy,
comfortable, well-traveled–but my musing resurfaced and on a lark
I completed the application.

I earnestly told my Oakland Peace Corps interviewer Nicole that I
would go anywhere, do anything, because I thought, “What would the
Peace Corps want with a retired insurance broker?” After acceptance,
my wife chuckled when she had to sign a required affidavit declaring
I was not running away.

Following in-country training, I swore my allegiance to the U.S.

Constitution and promised to be a dedicated “community and youth
development volunteer.”

I have now worked diverse community projects and met many wonderful
Armenians. My most rewarding activities have been working with eager
teenage English students, promoting a Love-of-Reading poster contest,
forming a community diabetes support group (the first in Armenia)
and helping to plan a regional art festival. I have regularly shared
anecdotes with Donna, my supportive wife, who has just completed her
third trip to Armenia in two years.

The first mission of every PCV is to honorably represent the U.S. and
share cross-cultural values. For some I may be the only American
they’ll ever meet. This then is a great responsibility, and may I
dare say something that has filled me with patriotism and pride in
our country, particularly our shared belief in the potential of every
child born in the U.S.

Armenians have a deep-seated respect for older folks, so maybe my
grey hair gives me an edge. I have not suffered one incident of ill
treatment in two years. Even more so, I have a feeling living here
of an enveloping community protection. When on my daily walk-about,
kids get a kick by calling out my nickname: “Hi Skip!” This small
shout-out is joyful because it confirms the community’s acceptance
of me as their adopted American volunteer.

The local police chief told me when I arrived that he feels a personal
commitment to my safety. Hasmik, the director and president of the
nonprofit to which I have been assigned, has introduced me to many
community leaders, teachers, doctors, business owners and has been
my dedicated champion.

Peace Corps statistics show that 1,084 Californians are now serving
in 76 countries–204 are from the Bay Area–with 28,422 Californians
having served since President Kennedy sounded the call in 1961.

Female PCVs have outnumbered males since 1985 and now top 62 percent.

The average age is 28 with only 7 percent above age 50 and only 1
percent my age or older. About 350 married couples serve or 9 percent
of the 8,073 PCVs now in service. The Peace Corps recognizes that
mature volunteers are rich in life experience and through its “50 Plus
Initiative” the average age has crept up over the last decade. [See:
]

I want to sound a call-to-arms (open arms) to similar minded mature
citizens to also consider the plunge into the unknown. But the job is
not for the weak. PCVs quickly need to adapt to potholed dirt roads,
avoiding cow pies, flies and strange bugs, hand-washing clothes,
filtering drinking water, meetings that start late, or not at all,
and finally grasping to remember important foreign words like toilet
paper (zak’arani t’ught), because pantomiming its urgent need is
not attractive.

I have not had a TV in two years–OK, that is a good thing (except
for Giants games)! Once you culturally adjust, you will be amazed on
how lifetime experiences come in handy for solving problems or how
acquired patience allows you to pause from doing but rather work to
empower others to do.

So even if I am seeing new things through old eyes, this enriching
life chapter has expanded my horizon, invigorated my life and renewed
my spirit. Throw off caution, be courageous–dare to step off!

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your
riches but to reveal to him his own”–Benjamin Disraeli, British
prime minister, 1874-1880

Stewart “Skip” Brewster is a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Armenia,
2011-2013.

PREPARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA MAKES STATEMENT ON GORIS INCIDENT

21:02 ~U 04.06.13

The Preparliament of Armenia has issued a statement on the incident
in Goris, Syunik region.

Commander of a military unit, Colonel Artak Budaghyan is one of the
victims of the notorious incident in Goris, on June 1 evening, 2013.

Less than a year has passed since the cruel murder of military
surgeon Vahe Avetyan, who fell victim to the criminal system. The
investigating authorities and the prosecutor’s office concealed the
details of the case. Some of those guilty have not been prosecuted,
and misclassification of the crime makes it impossible to punish
those guilty with full rigor of the law.

Head of the Proshyan village community Hranch Muradyan fell victim
to the criminal system a few months ago. His murder has not so far
been detected. The suspect’s guilt cannot be proved in any way.

It is obvious that the investigation into the deadly incident in
Goris will be conducted in the same way.

The aforementioned facts prove that the system is unwilling and unable
change its essence. It is based on criminal customs and elements. So
any changes are tantamount to self-destruction.

The criminal and oligarchic system, which is the core of the state
government system, has turned into an enemy within and is now
indiscriminately murdering even military commanders with impunity.

The Preparliament offers its condolences to the family of Avetik
Budaghyan, who fell victim to the criminal system, and wishes soonest
recovery to Colonel Artak Budaghyan.

The Preparliament expresses the confidence that Armenia’s people,
including commanders and freedom-fighters, have come to realize that
an anti-national and inhuman government system has been established
in Armenia. So it must be replaced with a law-abiding and humanitarian
one, says the Preparliament’s statement.

Armenian News – Tert.am

TURKOLOGIST: MOST ACTIVE OF TURKISH ARMENIANS SUPPORT LEFTIST MOVEMENT

Tuesday,
June 04

Turkey is a state with unpredictable society as even an insignificant
event there may give rise to a new movement, Turkologist Ruben
Melkonian said at a meeting with reporters today. In his words,
one cannot rule out that an environmental movement may grow into a
political one.

“We should not forget that in Tunisia the death of a street vendor
became a catalyst for the revolution. I cannot say if a “Turkish
revolution” will start or not, but nothing can be ruled out,”
Melkonian noted.

He expressed an opinion that an internal political struggle has
begun between President Abdullah Gul who takes a soft stance and
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan whose position is rather tough.

As regards the Armenian community’s involvement in the ongoing
developments in Turkey, Ruben Melkonian said that some of the Turkish
Armenians take an active part in these developments.

“Naturally, the Armenian community couldn’t stand aside and the
most active of the Armenians in Turkey currently support the leftist
movement,” the expert said.

TODAY, 19:08

Aysor.am

LIVERPOOL PREPARE TO LAUNCH £20M BID FOR SHAKHTAR’S MIDFIELD STAR MKHITARYAN

11:10 04.06.2013

Liverpool are ready to launch an ambitious bid to land Henrikh
Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Daily Mail reports.

The Armenia international has a burgeoning reputation and Liverpool,
who have scouted the midfielder on several occasions, would have to
pay more than £20million to stand any chance of signing him.

Such a price tag, though, would not deter Liverpool from moving for
Mkhitaryan and he, along with Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos,
is one of the club’s prime targets for the summer window. Liverpool
are also tracking Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.

The decision to move for the skillful Mkhitaryan has not been triggered
by Luis Suarez’s declaration that he is determined to leave Anfield.

Liverpool intend to bolster their forward line and the 24-year-old
is viewed as a player who could significantly enhance their bid to
get back in the top four – he scored more than 20 goals for Shakthar
last season.

A significant proportion of the fee that Liverpool would be required
to pay for Mkhitaryan could be recouped before the end of the week,
as Andy Carroll edges closer to a move to West Ham United.

The England international has been considering his options since
the clubs agreed a £15million deal and had not given up the idea of
reviving his Anfield career but that avenue is no longer feasible
and Carroll has accepted he must move on.

LA LEGISLATION SUR LES FORETS D’ARMENIE DOIT ETRE MODIFIEE

Le cadre juridique et legislatif de la sphère forestière en Armenie
doit etre change et reforme, a declare Artur Petrosyan, chef du
Departement des forets au ministère de l’Agriculture.

Selon lui, il y a un certain nombre de failles dans la legislature
actuelle.

” Un groupe de travail qui comprend les membres concernes des
ministères de l’agriculture, de la protection de la nature, de
l’administration territoriale. Le groupe a prepare un nouveau projet
legislatif relatif a l’exploitation forestière. Dans certains cas,
nous avons dû faire des coupures et en quelque lieu que nous avons dû
ajouter des donnees supplementaires pour le rendre conforme aux normes
internationales “, a declare Artur Petrossian lors de la conference”
Etapes vers une gestion forestière stable ” a l’occasion de la Journee
internationale de la foret.

Selon lui, la pression pour convoquer un groupe de travail a surgi
après un expert du GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale
Zusammenarbeit) a devoile l’analyse de la loi, la strategie de
la politique forestière et un certain nombre de règles concernant
certaines zones protegees.

Arthur Petrossian a salue les efforts de la GIZ (association allemande
pour la cooperation internationale), non seulement dans la conduite
de l’analyse de la sphère legislative de l’Armenie, mais aussi dans
l’elaboration des programmes precis sur la strategie de l’utilisation
rationnelle des ressources forestières.

GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit) a ete
cree par le gouvernement de l’Allemagne. Elle est presente dans plus
de 130 pays a travers le monde principalement dans le secteur public.

mardi 4 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’ETAT DE LOUISIANE, A SON TOUR, VOTE UNE RESOLUTION ENN FAVEUR DU KARABAGH

Le Senat de l’Etat de Louisiane vient d’adopter une resolution par
laquelle il salue l’independance de la Republique du Haut Karabagh
et appelle le president et le Congrès des Etats-Unis a soutenir
l’autodetermination et l’independance de ce jeune Etat democratique
en construction. La resolution, introduite et defendue par le senateur
Edwin Murray, affirme que le “Senat du Parlement de Louisiane encourage
et soutient par ce texte les efforts continus de la Republique du Haut
Karabagh visant a s’affirmer comme une nation libre et independante
a meme de garantir a ses citoyens les droits propres a toute societe
libre et independante”.

Le texte de la resolution appelle le president des Etats-Unis et le
Congrès a “soutenir l’auto-determination et l’independance democratique
de la Republique du Haut Karabagh et son implication constructive dans
les efforts de la communaite internationale en vue de parvenir a une
solution juste et durable des questions de securite dans cette region
d’importance strategique”. Le vote de cette resolution recompense les
efforts des associations armeno-americaines qui ont lance une vaste
campagne pour sensibiliser le monde politique americain a la question
de la reconnaissance du Haut Karabagh. Les legislateurs de plusieurs
Etats de la Côte Est s’etaient deja engages sur cette voie. Le vote
des senateurs de Louisiane montre que le processus gagne du terrain
sur la carte des Etats-Unis.

mardi 4 juin 2013, Gari ©armenews.com

AMBASSADOR: FRANCE IS COMMITED TO FIND SOLUTION FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT

Trend, Azerbaijan
June 3 2013

France as a co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group is very much commited to
find a solution for peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier told media today.

“France and Azerbaijan discuss bilateral relationships and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement on the level of foreign
ministers,” he said. “The think tanks must think about the future
of the region. So I think that if this kind of report is brought
to the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan and OSCE Minsk Group,
it can be a positive contribution to settlement of the conflict.”

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

MYASNIKOVICH, SARGSYAN OPEN NEW ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN BELARUS

Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
June 3 2013

MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) – Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich
and his Armenian counterpart Tigran Sargsyan took part in the opening
of a new Embassy of Armenia in Belarus on 31 May.

The embassy is located in 50 Bumazhkova Street in Minsk.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Mikhail Myasnikovich noted
that the two countries enjoy good and trust relations. He expressed
confidence in further successful development of the Belarusian-Armenian
cooperation and wished the embassy staff every success in their work.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Belarus
Armen Khachatryan added that the opening of the new embassy marks
the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two
countries. “We are always open, and our friends are always welcome
here,” he said.