Author: Babajanian Karo

Charente Libre, France
21 mai 2013

Cognac: le chteau de Chtenay revit grce au magnat arménien

Le 22 mai à 06h00 par Stéphane URBAJTEL

Le fils de l’homme d’affaires Hrayr Hakobyan veut faire du lieu “le
sixième site touristique de Cognac”. Le luxueux domaine, rénové à
coups de millions d’euros depuis quatre ans, ouvre le 15 juin.

Un chteau somptueux entièrement rénové, planté sur un site de 40
hectares au coeur de Cognac. Au rez-de-chaussée, un restaurant
gastronomique – 30 couverts à l’intérieur mais 100 en terrasse l’été –
trois salles de séminaire, une salle des mariages. Au premier étage,
au bout d’un escalier monumental, le siège d’un “club” très chic,
futur espace de dégustation. Meubles italiens, casiers en bois
réservés aux membres pour mettre les bouteilles sous clef, ambiance
british, prédominance des couleurs chaudes.

Dans les ailes, cinq chambres d’hôtes luxueuses, toutes différentes.
L’heure de la renaissance a sonné pour le domaine de Chtenay, situé
sur le boulevard du même nom, à deux pas du lycée Jean-Monnet.
L’ancienne propriété de Louise de Savoie (1), réhabilitée à coup de
millions depuis quatre ans (lire encadré) s’apprête à accueillir ses
premiers clients et adhérents le 15 juin. À la tête de l’affaire, une
famille arménienne connue, les Hakobyan, propriétaires du site depuis
2006: ils exploitent déjà sur place 13 ha de vignes, une dizaine de
céréales, dispose d’une distillerie et de deux chais de
vieillissement. Et se sont engagés, en parallèle, dans le projet
d’élevage d’esturgeons de Bourg-Charente avec un autre Arménien connu,
Armen Pétrossian.

“La plus grande collection de cognacs”

“L’objectif est de faire du chteau de Chtenay, le sixième site
touristique de Cognac” (2) annonce Hakob Hakobyan, fils du businessman
Hrayr Hakobyan. À 24 ans, le jeune maître des lieux, expert financier
formé à Londres, vante la singularité du projet: son espace de
dégustation, affirme-t-il, accueillera “la plus grande collection de
cognacs ouverte au public”.

“Nous ouvrons déjà avec le soutien de 100 producteurs et j’ai
l’ambition de proposer les produits de 350 professionnels”. Soit 1.100
bouteilles différentes.

“Aujourd’hui, quelqu’un qui vient à Cognac pendant trois jours repart
sans avoir une image globale du produit. Ici, il aura une vitrine. Et
pourra goûter ce qu’il veut en fonction de ses goûts, avec les
conseils de spécialistes”. L’entrepreneur insiste: son chteau ne sera
pas l’ambassadeur d’une marque ou d’une autre. “J’ai un souci de
neutralité”. Pas de guerre locale mais une vraie ambition de “piquer
des touristes à Bordeaux, Royan et La Rochelle. Je suis sûr qu’on
peut, à Cognac, multiplier le nombre de visiteurs par dix”.

Reste que pour devenir membre du club ou espérer déguster la variété
des cognacs, il faudra passer à la caisse. En bon businessman, Hakob
Hakobyan proposera des “forfaits” à la carte aux visiteurs. Un
exemple: pour adhérer, il faudra faire un chèque de 1.000 euros. “Plus
1.000 autres euros correspondant aux consommations de cognac à
l’année”.

Un domaine pour visiteurs fortunés ? Il s’en défend. Meilleure preuve
selon lui, les concerts de Blues Passions prévus le 7 juillet auront
lieu, pour la première fois, dans le “thétre de verdure” créé juste
devant le chteau. On pourra y écouter Leon Newars, Syleena Johnson,
Alice Russel et Ray Collins. Gratuitement.

(1) Le chteau a été construit au XVIe siècle, remodelé au XVIIIe. Les
ailes ont été construites au XIXe.

(2) Sous entendu après les cinq grandes maisons de cognac: Hennessy,
Martell, Rémy Martin,

Courvoisier et Camus.

,1836820.php

Environmentalists to try to meet the prince

02:17 pm | Today | Social

A few members of the civil program of Teghut protection has met with
officials of the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Armenia who told
them that the expected visit of Prince Charles to Armenia is private
and has nothing to do with the Amulsar mine.

The visit is arranged by the former ambassador of Armenia to the UK
Armen Sargsyan who has personal relations with the prince.

“We know that Prince Charles is engaged in environmental benevolence,
so we want to use the chance and inform him about the environmental
problems connected with the Amulsar mine during his visit”, activist
Lena Nazaryan has written on her Facebook page.

NKR President meets member of `Hayastan’ Fund’s Board of Trustees

14:53 25.05.2013

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received a
group of members of the `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’s Board of
Trustees, Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR
President reported.

Issues related to socioeconomic development of Artsakh as well as its
domestic and foreign policy were discussed during the meeting.

President Sahakyan considered important the fund’s activities,
describing it as one of the most full-fledged pan-Armenian
organizations, which since its creation actively participates in the
development and strengthening of the Motherland, adding that without
this organization it would be impossible to overcome many difficulties
and stand firmly on the way of stable development.

Almost-bankrupt businessman discovers gold in Karabakh?

May 25, 2013 | 00:01

YEREVAN. – Armenian businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan, who stands on the
edge of bankruptcy, might have discovered gold-filled areas in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Hayrapetyan himself told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`There are traces that we [might] have discovered areas with gold. We
gave [the samples] to the laboratory to check [and] see whether our
suspicions are well-founded,’ he added.

To note, businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan had gone to Nagorno-Karabakh
to take his brand there, and had added that he had headed there to
examine the earth’s entrails.

He had informed that he did not take loans, but rather he was using
his savings to carry out this new initiative.

`Our rich [Armenians], who take those amounts [and] fill them in
foreign countries, should bring [them] to Karabakh. That is why I want
to take my brand there. New jobs will be created, too,’ Paylak
Hayrapetyan had added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Boston man recounts frightening fight with a man later tied to
Marathon bombing suspects

05/22/2013 6:14 PM

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Three years before he was shot and killed by an FBI agent at an
Orlando apartment while being questioned about the Boston Marathon
suspects and a triple murder in Waltham, Ibragim Todashev admitted to
instigating a brawl in Downtown Crossing, revealing a frightening
temper, according to court documents and the man he fought.

On a Thursday afternoon in February 2011, Many, a 28-year-old father
from Brighton, was riding with his son’s mother; his sister was behind
the wheel of the red Mazda. The three were driving through Downtown
Crossing, trying to get home to celebrate Many’s son’s seventh
birthday. As the car idled at a traffic light in front of Felt, a
nightclub on Washington Street, a gray food delivery van suddenly
pulled up close behind the Mazda, Many recalled in an interview
Wednesday. Many asked to be identified only by his nickname because he
wants to maintain his privacy.

Behind the wheel of the truck was a young, dark-haired man so eager to
squeeze past them in the tight right lane that he seemed to be trying
to pull the van up on the sidewalk.

Many’s sister honked her horn lightly, trying to get him to back off,
and drove ahead of the truck when the light turned green.

“He began to follow,” Many recalled. “He was honking the horn real
hard, holding down the horn. He was acting real aggressive. I was just
thinking, ‘What the hell is wrong with this guy?’ I thought he was on
something.”

Terrified, Many’s sister turned onto Tremont Street, trying to lose
the driver, who continued his pursuit. She began to turn left on Avery
Street, in front of AMC Loews Boston Common, when the van screeched
ahead of her from the right lane, trying to cut her off.

Instead, Many recalled, the driver hit a blue Pontiac, totaling the
car and damaging the front end of his own gray van.

Many said he got out the car to help the driver of the Pontiac, an
elderly man who looked shaken and scared.

The driver of the van, later identified as Todashev, got out of his
vehicle, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

“He starts blowing smoke in my face,” Many said. “He gets real close
to me. He swears and I swear back.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Many asked him.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” Todashev replied in a thick accent.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Many’s sister and his son’s mother pleaded with Many to back off.
“‘It’s your son’s birthday,’” his sister told him. “‘Don’t get in a
fight … Let’s just wait for the police to get here.’”

Many said he tried to walk away, but Todashev yelled “[Expletive] you
and your son.”

Furious, Many yelled back, though he could not recall what he said.

According to the police report of the incident, Todashev said, “ ‘You
say something about my mother, I will kill you.’”

“I don’t’ remember saying something about his mother,” Many said. “To
be honest, I probably did.”

Then, Many said, Todashev rushed him and grabbed him by the shirt
collar. Afraid of what Todashev might do next, Many said he hit him.
Though Todashev, at 5 foot 10, was taller, Many said he was able to
subdue him, placing him in a chokehold as Todashev tried to kick him
and his sister wept, begging him to let him go.

“Don’t fight! Don’t fight!” she kept crying. His son’s mother also
wept, kicking at Todashev.

“I had to defend myself,” Many said.

When the police arrived, he said he finally let him go. Todashev kept
struggling as police tried to handcuff him.

Witnesses later told the officers that Todashev was the aggressor,
according to a Boston police report.

Todashev admitted to sufficient facts in November 2010 on charges of
disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and reckless driving. Admission
to sufficient facts is a plea that allows a defendant to avoid a
conviction while at the same time conceding there is enough evidence
for a guilty finding.

The resisting arrest charge was dismissed. The other two charges were
continued without a finding and dismissed after nine months.
Todashev’s lawyer at the time, Anthony Rossi, a Chelsea defense
attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Many said he was shocked to learn the man he fought had ties to the
brothers accused of orchestrating the Boston Marathon bombings.

“I can’t believe that was him,” he said. “Is it really him?”

Many said he was also surprised to learn he subdued a man described as
having a martial arts background. Before Todashev moved to Florida, he
lived in the Boston area and was brought to an Allston gym where
Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, trained as a
boxer. Todashev was a mixed martial arts athlete.

“I’m guessing he wasn’t [a fighter at the time] because I don’t know
anything,” Many said. “I’ve never trained in my life.”

Maria Cramer can be reached at [email protected]

50 anti-hail devices to be installed in Armavir province

Thursday,
May 23

The government will pay for use of land and irrigation water in 22
communities of Armavir province hit by the recent hailstorm, Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced today. According to him, in those
22 communities the crops were destroyed, while crops in some
communities were damaged by 20-50%.

Tigran Sargsyan said that banks will use an individual approach to
each farmer who received a loan. Social assistance will be provided as
well. 50 anti-hail devices will be installed in Armavir province;
private stations will also be connected to the network. 350 million
AMD will be allocated for this work.
TODAY, 14:27

Aysor.am

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 23 2013

Minister: Baku is Turkey’s way to Caucasus

23 MAY 2013, 14:35 (GMT+05:00)

Baku is a way for Turkey and the Turkish people to the Caucasus,
Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said at the opening
ceremony of the Europe-Azerbaijan Society office in Istanbul, Anadolu
news agency reported on May 23.

“There are no problems that Turkey and Azerbaijan cannot resolve with
mutual support,” he said. “The countries must coordinate their forces
to resolve any problems.”

He added that Ankara senses Baku’s support over talks on Turkey’s
joining the EU.

The minister said there are forces willing to create discord in the
relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, but despite this, the
countries continue to enjoy successful cooperation based on fraternal
relations.

Bagis said further that the world community must condemn the Khojaly
genocide committed by Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani
civilians during the 1990s war and discuss the continued occupation of
Azerbaijani lands by Armenia. “But the world community remains silent
about these crimes.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, chairman of the Europe-Azerbaijan
Society Taleh Heydarov stressed that the organisation was established
in Europe five years ago.

“We want to tell European politicians about the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue,” Heydarov said.

“Together with our Turkish friends we will tell them about Azerbaijan
and Turkey in Europe. We will do everything to strengthen the
friendship between our two countries.”

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 Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.

APA, Azerbaijan
May 24 2013

Ali Hasanov: `Time works in favor of Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh conflict’

[ 24 May 2013 17:31 ]
`In fact, Armenia resources have been depleted’

Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. `Azerbaijan will liberate Nagorno-Karabakh
from separatists sooner or later. Don’t think that we will banish the
Armenians from there, after removing separatists. They were born and
live in Nagorno Karabakh. Those who have the right will continue
living there. However, we will eliminate Armenian separatist regime in
Nagorno-Karabakh and prevent Armenia from supportinh this regime. This
is definitely going to be,’ said chief of socio-political department
of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov addressing the seminar
of the Youth Union of New Azerbaijan Party on `Role of the youth in
social-political life of the state’, APA reports.

Hasanov noted that time works in favor of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict: `We are becoming stronger. Armenia is weakening day
by day and people are leaving the country. If it continues, there will
be not more than a million people and they will be elderly and sick
people, who can not leave the country. In fact, all resources of this
country have been depleted. A group of separatists has built business
around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Nagorno Karabakh is used for
drug cultivation, drug trafficking and other illegal activities. It is
impossible to go far in a such way.’

He said the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia didn’t
increase the resources of Armenia: `On the contrary, it has become
difficult to find an Armenian that will protect the regime. It will be
impossible to maintain the outdated tanks and vehicles of Russia. If
Armenia had used Azerbaijan’s projects, million of dollars would enter
their budget every year. We are positive. If we lose our patience, we
will use other means.’

Al-Akhbar, Lebanon
May 24 2013

Beirut: The Syrian Market in Bourj Hammoud

By: Anas Zarzar
Published Friday, May 24, 2013

Syrian vendors dot the alleyways of Beirut’s Bourj Hammoud
neighborhood. Here, refugees take refuge from dependence on foreign
aid. Their motto is to sell a lot and profit a little, just to help
make ends meet.

Refusing to accept certain negative stereotypes, some Syrians have
taken the opportunity to look for small business projects in the area.
The result is a market that has come to be known as the `Syrians’
Market.’

Our Syrian guide, who arrived in Beirut from the Damascus countryside
a year ago, took us through the largely Armenian Bourj Hammoud,
passing by the famous `Mano: The King of Basturma’ and through the
popular Marash market. The area’s tight alleyways and modest shops are
a reminder of some neighborhoods on the outskirts of Damascus.

Soon, the accents of vendors hawking their wares took on a distinctive
Syrian lilt. Our guide explained to us that when this market opened
about six months ago, its low prices quickly made it famous. In the
beginning, there were just two stores until the offerings soon grew to
include food, clothing, and household wares.

A number of customers gathered in front of a small shop selling canned
food, produce, and bread. The shop has earned a good reputation
because its owner, Abu Ahmad, prices his merchandise carefully.
The shopkeeper escaped with his family from the city of Rastan,
located in the countryside of the Homs governorate. He spent many
months moving between Lebanese cities, living off assistance offered
by philanthropists, before he finally settled down. Despite this rough
journey, he’s full of the good humor that those from Homs are known
for.

We asked him about the secret of his shop’s success. He replied,
`Since the day I took over managing the shop, my motto has been to
sell a lot and profit a little. This way you gain doubled earnings and
the prayers of the poor.’

`I ate canned food with my family for months. That is why I understand
very well what my merchandise means for poor people looking for
sustenance,’ he said.

One of his customers said, `Here, you buy four sardine cans instead of
three from another place, which means you get more food for the same
price to feed your large family.’

Mowaffak al-Nouri, a 24-year-old from Aleppo, is busy arranging the
vegetables and fruits at his shop’s entrance while his brother Mufid
works the scale. The two brothers, who escaped the fighting in their
home city, were able to find a place in the Syrians’ Market. Their
sales and pricing policy does not differ much from their neighbor Abu
Ahmad.

Lebanese landlords and capitalists have taken note of the profits that
the Syrian refugees are bringing in. In return, they’ve increased the
shops’ rents.

Mowaffak confirmed this. `The landlord suddenly raised the rent from
$400 to $800 and without prior notice. When we objected, he suggested
sharing our profits while keeping the rent as is,’ he said.

But Mowaffak and his brother preferred to give up the room they live
in and turn the shop into a place of work during the day and a place
of residence at night, `so that no one can steal our hard work and our
modest success.’

Abu Khaled has a different story. This Syrian refugee used to own a
brick-making plant in the city of Raqqa. He escaped the city seven
months ago when it was overtaken by war and destruction. In Beirut,
Abu Khaled, who is in his 50s, worked on construction sites in return
for a meal and a place to sleep, which was often the construction site
itself.

He finally found what he was looking for at the Syrians’ Market. It
became a home and a place to work, as well as a place to practice his
hobby of playing the oud. Abu Khaled helps shopkeepers arrange and
sell merchandise in return for food and lodging.

We asked him about his family. He said that he has a wife and five
children. `Every day I try to call them to hear their voices, but no
one answers.’

This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.

“Free Cheese” Of Customs Union

As soon as the news about rise of price of gas became known, a wave of
protest rose in Armenia. `Experts’ emerged who stated that if Armenia
joined the Customs Union, it would buy gas at `internal price’.

However, the wave of protest was not strong enough to make the public
think about an alternative. Moreover, the government assures that the
gas price will not grow much.

Russia has passed a law according to which beginning with 1 January
2015 citizens of the CIS will leave for Russia with foreign passports.
It will mean that Armenians will need a visa to travel to Russia.
Again, if Armenia does not join the Customs Union.

Remittances have a crucial social and economic role for Armenia. The
bulk of the state budget and business income goes to a handful of
people while most people live on remittances. And loss of Russia’s
labor market would have a negative impact on the social state of
citizens. However, it will hardly make the Armenians take to the
streets and demand to join the Customs Union.

Besides, Armenia is likely to pass a law according to which young
migrants must serve in the Russian army even if they have passed their
military service in their countries. Again, if that country is not a
member of the Customs Union. As a result, a generation of Armenian
young people will prefer staying at home to serving in the Russian
army.

Most of Russia’s steps are aimed at persuading Armenia and others that
there is no alternative to the Customs Union. However, each of these
steps cuts the number of people who link their lives to Russia, and
they have to face their homeland. Former migrants will live and work
at home and maybe even do a revolution, as Tigran Sargsyan put it. If
the CSTO troops, that is the Russian troops, do not hinder them.

And one more thing. If all the migrants leave Russia, this country
will be paralyzed because it lives at the expense of hard work and
humiliation of migrants.

Naira Hayrumyan
13:37 24/05/2013
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