Author: Babajanian Karo

TITLED CHESS PLAYERS GROWING IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 2, ARMENPRESS: The International Chess Federation
awarded the Armenian young chess player Davit Zakaryan with an
honorable title of FIDE master of chess. As the Armenian Chess
Federation informed “Armenpress”, Zakaryan won this title for his
successful games in the chess tournaments. The number of Grandmasters,
International Masters and FIDE masters is one of the international
rating criteria in the country.

Armenia is currently ranked in the 4th place in the world chess and
each Armenian chess player’s new title strengthens Armenia’s positions
in chess.

NGOS WILLINGFULL TO MEET AND SUPPORT THE SYRIAN ARMENIANS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 2, ARMENPRESS: A meeting with the representatives of
public organizations and movements on supporting the Syrian Armenians
was held in the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora. As “Armenpress”
was informed by the Ministry, Minister Hranush Hakobyan expressed
gratitude to the representatives of the Association of Lawyers and
Legal Experts, SDHP, the initiative group of “Support for Repatriation
and Syrian Armenians” and “Support to repatriate families” Facebook
initiative for coming together and supporting our compatriots in this
critical situation.

The minister informed that by the Armenian President’s recommendation
the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora is considered to be the main state
body dealing with the problems of the Syrian Armenians: a working
group is created to examine and study the issues raised by the Syrian
Armenians.

Hakobyan presented all the problems raised by the Syrian Armenians
and informed that the decisions taken by the government will come
into force on July 26, according to which for the first time the
Syrian Armenians who got Republic of Armenian citizenship may receive
their passports in the Armenian Embassy in Damascus and the Armenian
General Consulate in Aleppo. Besides, the Syrian Armenians can get
visa not only in the Armenian diplomatic representations but also in
the Armenian border.

Minister Hakobyan added that the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora
applied the Ministry of Education and Science to discuss and find
opportunities for the Syrian Armenians to enter Universities with
simplified interviews, as well as equal their tuition fees the ones
of the Armenian citizens. As a result the Ministry of Education and
Science has expressed his willingness to take steps for calculating
the amount of 50% of fees, as well as tuition fees discount based on
a person’s social status.

The minister stressed that additional flights will be organized to
Syria to transfer children and organize their summer holidays in
Armenia. The children will particularly participate in the program
“Come Home”.

The working group led by the Chief of Staff of the Armenian Ministry
of Diaspora F. Zakaryan, accepts the Syrian Armenians visiting the
ministry, as well as cooperates with all the agencies concerned with
the subject.

During the meeting, representatives of public organizations and
movements have expressed their willingness to support the Syrian
Armenians, as well as participate in meeting them in the airport and
in case of necessity provide legal advice and psychological services.

The meeting participants were united in the organization of the
Syrian Armenians’ support by the coordination of the Armenian Ministry
of Diaspora.

ARMENIAN EMBASSY TO SYRIA IS NOT GOING TO BE CLOSED

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Embassy of the Republic of
Armenia is not going to be closed, by the time there is not an extreme
situation. The Minister of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan
had a briefing with the journalists on August 2, “Armenian Embassy,
diplomatic agencies continue their normal activities.

Syrian Armenians ask the reporters be restrained while covering the
news on Syria: they may harm the Community.

In response to a journalist’s question Hakobyan was quoted as saying
, she was going to leave for Syria still in March, yet similar
political visits are not encouraged: it can be taken incorrectly by
opposition. The Minister called the journalists and society not to
take her delayed visit to Syria as invasion from the threat.

In accordance with Syrian Human Rights Defense Organization the ongoing
clashes have resulted in the death of over 17 thousand 192 people. By
the info of Arab mass media 11 thousand 897 were peaceful civilians,
while 4348 were security officers. Among the victims there were 7
Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because of
lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

THE SITUATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS BAD IN AZERBAIJAN

12:02 . 31/07

“The constitution of the Republic of Armenia protects religious
freedom, and in practice the government generally respected religious
freedom,” the 2011 Report on Religious Freedom of the US State
Department says.

“Some laws and policies restrict the religious freedom of members of
religious groups, but the government generally did not enforce these
legal restrictions.” At the same time, it is stated in the report that
the Armenian government did not demonstrate a trend toward either
improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the
right to religious freedom.

The situation in this sphere is bad in Azerbaijan, where, according to
the State Department, the authorities confiscated religious materials,
and harassed and detained some members of Muslim and Christian groups.

There were reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on
religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

Though the state department says Turkey is a more democratic country
than Azerbaijan, but two incidents, the murder of Hrant Dink in 2007
and the murder of Armenian serviceman Sevag Balikci on April 24 were
mentioned in the list of religious and ethnic intolerances.

Touching upon the religious freedom in Georgia, the report states
though there were no reports on serious violations of religious
freedom, some systemic issues remained largely unchanged such as the
return and maintenance of disputed church property claimed by religious
minority groups. In this respect, especially the Armenian Apostolic
Church is mentioned, (Armenians are the third largest ethnic group
(6 percent of the population) and primarily belong to the AAC).

The main concern of the church is the return of five churches in
Tbilisi and one in Akhaltsikhe. However, the status of at least 30
other churches claimed by the AAC remained in dispute. Mughni Surb
Gevorg is also touched upon in the report. It is said though the
Ministry of Culture allocated 9,895 lari ($6,925) for renovation of a
disputed church building, Mughni Surb Gevorg, AAC reported no further
action was taken on the church’s restoration.

The State Department says in the report the situation of religious
freedom has improved in Russia, but Russia is still in the list of
countries, where there are problems in the sphere. Besides the Russian
Federation, the list also includes Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iran, China,
Cuba, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Uzbekistan
and Eritrea.

THE FRENCH ARMENIANS PROTEST AGAINST THE AZERBAIJANI CENTER OPENED IN PARIS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 1, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 1, ARMENPRESS: The Coordination Council of Armenian
Organizations in France protests against the Azerbaijani center opened
in Paris. The council statement reads that the program of establishing
Azerbaijani center in Paris was presented to the French Ministerial
Council by the French Prime-Minister Jean-Marc Eyro and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, “Armenpress” reports. “This program
is surprising to be of such urgency now, when three years have passed
since its nomination. Are there not any other priorities in
France?” ,the authors of the letter ask.

The French Armenians remind that Azerbaijan is governed by the “iron
hand” of the Aliyev dynasty: “anti-democratic, racist regime of this
country obviously violates human rights”. At the same time it is
highlighted that there is an anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan,
and Armenians all over the world are considered to be the enemy of
Alieyev’s country.

Coming to Azerbaijani “cultural policy” the French Armenians
stressed and reminded that the very country had destroyed the ancient
cross-stones of Julfa in Nakhchivan.

SYRIAN ARMENIANS CHERISH NO ILLUSIONS CONCERNING NEW LIFE IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Wednesday, August 1, 14:16

The state of the Armenian community in Aleppo, Syria, is stable so far
and there is no direct threat to its security. The zone of military
actions is far from the places of residence of Armenians, says Zhirayr
Reisyan, Press Secretary of National Prelacy of Aleppo, told ArmInfo.

He said that representatives of the Armenian community have already
set up operative groups to provide assistance in emergency situations.

Asked about the number of Armenians who want to leave Aleppo,
Reisyan said that the military actions have seriously destabilized
the situation in the city and many hurry to leave it. Nevertheless,
Armenians have no intention to leave Aleppo forever.

“Not all the Armenian families in Aleppo are able to leave and much
less resettle in Armenia. Those who leave the city will sure be back.

We understand that it is very difficult for them to leave their
hard-warned property and start a new life in Armenia from zero. It
is practically impossible,” he said.

EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ANALYSTS SAY ARMENIA WILL LOSE ACTUALLY THE ONLY GROWTH FACTOR IN METAL PRICES KEEP FALLING

arminfo
Wednesday, August 1, 15:02

In the case of steady decline in metal prices, Armenia will lose
actually the only growth factor, says the quarterly “CIS Macromonitor”,
published by Analytic Unit of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

“In Armenia GDP growth has kept the dynamics, organized in the
second half of last year, it exceeded its level for the same period
of last year by 4.9 percent. A key driver was the industry, primarily
metallurgy (16.6 percent). At the same time, a decline in inflation,
which reached a minimum of 6 years (0.5 percent per annum), continued.

A notable progress has been made in public finance – state budget
deficit fell to 0.2 percent of GDP. However, EDB experts note that
in case of sustainable drop in metal prices, the country will lose
almost the sole existing growth factor, making its economy vulnerable
to the effects of negative external factors,” the report says.

I WAS NOT RECEIVED BY THE LEADERSHIP, OLYMPIC CHAMPION ARMEN NAZARYAN SAYS
Gohar HAKOBYAN

July 31, 2012 17:23

Twice Olympic champion, thrice world champion and six times European
champion, wrestler Armen Nazaryan is in Yerevan now. He left Armenia
in 1996 and lives in Bulgaria. As soon as he entered that country,
he was granted the Bulgarian citizenship by the order of the Bulgarian
president. Moreover, the Armenian wrestler holds the title of honorary
citizen,is loved and accepted. Armen Nazaryan’s name is written on
the walls of FILA and Bulgaria Halls Of Fame. During a conversation
with , Armen Nazaryan, an Olympic champion of independent
Armenia, was sorry that he wasn’t able to participate in these Olympic
Games because of an injury, “These games would have been my 5th Olympic
games, unfortunately, I was injured in recent months and lagged behind
in training. I would like very much to participate, because I was
close to an Olympic medal. Admittedly, my age is not the best one –
I am 38 – but I am experienced and sure of myself.” The sportsman
wishes that one day his sons, Edmond and Grisha, will win Olympic gold.

Armen Nazaryan remembers the 1990s and the reasons for leaving Armenia,
“I am not offended, but I want to assert that I was the first Olympic
champion of independent Armenia. 196 countries participated in the
Olympic Games and thanks to me, the Armenian Tricolor was raised
in Atlanta (USA), at the Olympic Games, moreover, presidents of 120
countries were present at the Olympics and were watching the matches
and presidents of 80 countries met their sportsmen as heroes. No one
met me…. I came to Armenia victorious and I was not received by the
leadership within 5-6 months after that. Those problems had always
been there and the government was different at the time.”

He says that if the conditions at the time had been the same as today,
he surely wouldn’t have left Armenia.

CONSTRUCTION OF GYUMRI N 6 MUSIC SCHOOL TO START IN 15 DAYS

Noyan Tapan
31-07-2012

The construction of Gyumri N 6 music school will be realized by
“Kanaka” Company.

The relevant agreement was signed with the company today.

The program for reconstruction of Gyumri N6 music school is implemented
by Mediamax, Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and Australian Do Something
organization.

“Kanaka” will start the preparations within coming days and the
construction will start on August 15. The building is scheduled to
be ready in July 2013.

“Kanaka” OJSC has a history of more than 15 years of operation on the
market. Over the past years, the company has been building several
schools. In particular, the company realized the construction of
Gyumri Oyunjyan school-college and capital repairs of the secondary
school of the Myasnikyan community of Armavir marz.

***

The story started 23 years ago.

A few months after the devastating Spitak earthquake that killed 25
thousand Armenians and left hundreds of thousands homeless, 24 year
old Jon Dee organized the Rock Aid Armenia project in London. British
rock stars recorded a top 40 cover version of Deep Purple’s Smoke on
the Water and helped to release the special “Earthquake Album”.

Revenue from the single and album sales was contributed as aid
to Armenia.

In 2009, the Armenian Mediamax media company decided to honor the
participants of Rock Aid Armenia and contacted Jon Dee who lives
in Australia and heads the Do Something organization that he set up
with tennis star and former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash. As Jon was
planning to re-release Rock Aid Armenia’s Smoke on the Water to raise
additional funds for Armenia, Mediamax and Do Something joined forces
to implement the Armenia Grateful 2 Rock / Rock Aid Armenia project.

In October 2009, Mediamax invited Ian Gillan from Deep Purple, Tony
Iommi from Black Sabbath, Geoff Downes from Yes/Asia and Jon Dee to
Armenia. Under the Armenian President’s decree, they were awarded
an Order of Honor. It was later that Brian May from Queen and David
Gilmour from Pink Floyd were given their Orders of Honors by the
Armenian Embassy in London.

Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes and Jon Dee visited the Octet
Music School in Gyumri during their trip to Armenia. If there has ever
existed a painful blend of poverty and talent, then it was vividly
exposed at the Gyumri Octet School of Music. Many of the students come
from underprivileged families in Gyumri. Their music school has been
made up of “domiks” (metal sheet dwellings) that were left over from
the 1988 earthquake. The promise to rebuild these temporary premises
with a proper building has not happened. Despite their dilapidated
premises, the Octet Music School has kept producing talent year
after year.

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has been sponsoring the
underprivileged students of the School for many years. A hint of hope
came to the school about 5 years ago when a very special couple from
the United States, Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Janet Mardigian visited
the students, accompanied by the FAR Board of Directors. “I would
never forget those children, tears were coming to my eyes every time
I recalled their beautiful musical performance” – said Mrs. Janet
Mardigian. They have never stopped thinking about the ways that they
could help the children.

The children’s performance also struck the rock heroes Ian Gillan,
Tony Iommi and Geoff Downes. Together with Jon Dee, they announced
that they would help to rebuild the school. By the end of 2009, FAR,
Mediamax and Do Something signed a trilateral agreement to achieve
this outcome.

In March 2010, Mediamax and Do Something organized two charitable
concerts by Ian Gillan with the Armenian Symphonic Orchestra in
Yerevan and raised 45.000 USD. Over the past 2 years, a total of
USD 110.000 has been raised for rebuilding the school – the Armenian
Government, Geoff Downes, EMI Records and Orange Armenia also made
contributions. Armenian President Serzh Sargsian pledged to support
the project with AMD10mln (or 25.000 USD). This money will soon be
transferred to the school account.

In 2010, Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi set up the WhoCares ad-hoc
super-group to raise funds for the Octet school. In May 2011, Edel
Music released the first single by WhoCares with 2 brand new songs
– Out of My Mind and Holy Water. In July 2012, Edel Music released
the WhoCares album that comprises the 2 songs from the single and
unreleased and rare material from Gillan and Iommi’s back catalogue.

Gillan and Iommi will make an advance payment of 15.000 USD for the
school and the rest will be transferred after the album sales. A
fundraising dinner in Sydney is currently being organized by Jon Dee
and the Mayor of Ryde, Councilor Artin Etmekdjian, under the auspices
of Archbishop Aghan Baliozian and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The FAR Board recently briefed the Mardigian Family Foundation
about these extensive fundraising efforts. The following day, their
Foundation informed FAR that it will almost triple the funds raised so
far. This generous donation is extremely important and it allows FAR,
Mediamax and Do Something to launch the construction of the school –
a tender for selecting the construction company will be announced
within a month.

The dream of having a new Octet Music School is now very close
to becoming a reality. Ian Gillan once called the Octet school a
“great symbol”. Indeed, this cause that started 23 years ago is a
great combination of Philanthropy and Art that are coming together
to support these talented young children.

FORMER HEAD OF ARMENIA’S OLDEST PARTY SEEKS ASYLUM IN FRANCE – NEWSPAPER

news.am
August 01, 2012 | 06:05

YEREVAN.- All remember the letters sent by head of Ramgavar Azatakan,
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, addressed to Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, Zoghovurd daily writes.

In his letters Harutyun Arakelyan accused Sargsyan of stealing millions
from Nairit plant, Armenia’s chemical giant.

“After voicing accusations Arakelyan disappeared. It was disclosed that
he had found shelter in Strasbourg. According to the daily source,
Arakelyan is engaged in seeking asylum in France. However, reliable
sources also said Sargsyan set sights on Ramgavar Azatakan party. He
waned to become the leader of the party but it did not happen due to
many reasons,” Zhoghovurd writes.