Author: Badalian Vardan

Albany Times Union , NY
Dec 10 2011

Armenian memorial site is consecrated in Troy park

Monument to 1915-17 victims, a 5-year project, will be installed next year

TROY – The scent of burning incense hung over Riverfront Park Friday
afternoon as a brief service was held to consecrate the Armenian
Heritage Monument.

The monument will recall “the sacred memory of the Armenian people
murdered by the Ottoman Turks,” said the Rev. Vincent Kumjian,
referring to the killings of Armenians from 1915 to 1917.

More than five years have been spent working to develop the monument.
Now, the granite memorial will be erected in 2012 after the city
finishes renovating the park along the Hudson River.

The city’s Armenian roots are strong, said Mayor Harry Tutunjian,
whose father, Nazar Tutunjian, arrived in Troy from Armenia in 1963.

“Troy was the home of the second Armenian church in the country,”
Tutunjian said.

“Armenians came to Troy in the late 1800s. Our families were scattered
all over the world,” the mayor said. “Troy became a home to many of
our people.”

Many of the Armenian immigrants settled in the city’s Beman Park and
Hillside neighborhoods.

I’m proud of my heritage and prouder still of my father’s sacrifice
which embodies the determination of the Armenian people to this day.”

About 418 people of Armenian descent live in Troy, according to the
recently released 2006-10 American Community Survey Five-year
Estimates. An estimated 447,580 people of Armenian descent live in the
United States.

Tutunjian pointed out that many Armenian-Americans have built
businesses and gone to success in the U.S. Richard Hartunian, U.S.
Attorney for the Northern District of New York, was among the crowd of
about 50 people who attended the ceremony.

The Rev. Bedros Shetilian and the Rev. Stepanos Doudoukjian sang
prayers and blessed the site at the north end of the park.

About $15,000 has been raised so far the monument project, said Ara
Altounian, Past Commander of the Knights of Vartan and co-chair of the
Monument Committee.

The Knights of Vartan is an Armenian fraternal service organization,
while the Daughters of Vartan is an associated group.

Altounian said the committee and the service organizations have worked
hard on the monument project for the last five years.

Troy is fitting site for the monument, Altounian said, as it welcomed
Armenians with jobs.

CHIEF OF MILITARY POLICE SACKED

Tert.am
10.12.11

The chief of the Defense Ministry’s Military Police, Aram Ter-Sahakyan,
was sacked yesterday evening, the local daily Hraparak reported,
citing its sources.

Ter-Sahakyan. who was appointed to the post after Vladimir Gasparyan,
the incumbent chief of Armenia’s Police, reportedly had certain
disagreements with his leadership.

The paper says the head of the Ministry’s Supervisory Department, Armen
Sahakyan is going to replace Ter-Sahakyan as the military police chief.

SARO HARTOUNIAN: “THIS OUTRAGEOUS ACT OF PURE PSYCHOLOGICAL TERROR MUST BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS”

hetq
11:24, December 10, 2011

They arrested my brother Nareg today on false and unsubstantiated
charges and ordered him jailed for 60 days. Without due process, no
appeal, no bail allowed, this outrageous act of pure psychological
terror must be exposed for what it is: a shameful act designed to
intimidate Nareg Hartounian and my family into submitting to outright
extortion.

This goes beyond Nareg and the Hartounians; the overwhelming corruption
in Armenia’s legal system and the state apparatus is a threat to the
future of Armenia as well as the Diaspora. If such abuses of power
can be imposed on one Diasporan Armenian with impunity, then all
Diasporans who wish to help their homeland are at risk.

Nareg, myself and my family have decided to say “enough, no more!” to
the rampant victimization and corruption in Armenia, which is now
extended to Diasporans. We need as many voices as possible to send
the message to those responsible that such violations of human rights
cannot be tolerated.

ARMENIA CONTINUES PROSPECTING FOR URANIUM

news.az
Dec 9 2011
Azerbaijan

The Armenian government has said that is continuing prospecting for
uranium in response to concern from environmentalists.

“Geological work carried out by the Armenian-Russian mining company
meets the classic standards for geological prospecting,” the government
said in a statement, News.am reported.

The statement was posted on the Facebook page of the prime minister’s
assistant. This was a response to a statement from the president
of the Sustainable Development NGO, Armen Parsadyan, on PM Tigran
Sargsyan’s Facebook page demanding an end to the search for uranium.

Parsadyan said that a group had been created to coordinate the
anti-uranium movement.

The Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said a year
ago that uranium had been found in the southern Syunik Province.

ARMENIA AND DIASPORA RELATIONS SPOOFED IN MUSIC VIDEO
By Liana Aghajanian

ianyan Magazine

Dec 9 2011

Update: As of Friday, 1:30 p.m PST, the video has been taken down.

I wanna be a spyurqahay. Or do I? That’s what a just released spoof
video from the CivilNet media channel of non-profit and think tank
Civilitas Foundation tries to address. The four minute video features
an Armenian take on “Billionaire,” a hit song by American singer Bruno
Mars and Travis McCoy of alternative hip-hop Gym Class Heroes (although
he might be alternatively known for dating pop star Katy Perry).

Seated on Northern Avenue in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, a street
mocked for its monstrous, lavish and mostly empty sky-high buildings
built for Armenian Diasporans who like to vacation in the Republic
during summer, Hayk, a lonely, guitar-strutting local Armenian dreams
about becoming a spyurqahay, or one of the millions of Armenians who
compromise a world-wide diaspora, with high concentrations in Moscow
and Los Angeles, or more specifically, the city of Glendale.

The video highlights cultural differences and social norms between
Armenians in the diaspora and local residents, opening the song with
the line “I wanna be a spyurkahay so freakin’ bad, have some facial
hair I never had,” an ode to how quickly diasporan Armenians can be
spotted and singled out when in the country.

It then launches into a comedic depiction of Armenian lives abroad,
where paintings and photographs of beloved Mount Ararat hang on
every wall. Thanks to the Armo-rap styling of Narek Markarian and
Sergey Sargsyan, better known as the Armenian Comedy duo, we get an
explanation of what life as a diasporan who visits Armenia must be
like, complete with courteous hellos from taxi drivers who charge
inflated rates ($50 in this case) to unsuspecting visitors and the
perceptions that wealthy diasporans (read: all), own two to three
houses each, have opportunities to sing with Serj Tankian, of System
of a Down fame, and date perhaps the world’s most famous Armenian at
the moment, newly-single Kim Kardashian.

The video has produced a mix reaction on CivilNet’s own public
Facebook page. “That’s degrading and insulting to diasporans and
local Armenians. Civilitas will do just about anything for a few
‘likes’ these days,” writes one Facebook user, while others are
asking what the purpose of releasing such a video might be. Still,
many are finding it funny enough to share.

Meanwhile, it seems like many have already fulfilled their dreams of
becoming spyurqahays – egged on by worsening socio-economic conditions
and rising poverty levels, Armenia faces a massive emigration problem,
that is depleting the country of its population, who are seeking
better opportunities elsewhere.

RUSSIAN-US TENSIONS WILL NOT AFFECT CAUCASUS – VLADIMIR YEVSEYEV

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 9 2011
Russia

Escalating tensions between Russia and the US would not affect
the conflicts in the South Caucasus. They are determined, firstly,
by internal regional factors, Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the
Center for Socio-Political Studies, told Vestnik Kavkaza. The expert
believes that conflicts between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, would
maintain their status quo.

Georgia approved Russian membership in the WTO in exchange for Russia
allowing it to monitor the foreign borders. There are no negative
tendencies. Russia does not need instability for the coming Winter
Olympic Games, with the hosting city of Sochi in the area. Tbilisi
would not want instability in Adjara, the expert says.

Concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Yevseyev says that it will
be determined by the ability of the sides to avoid violence. There is
a dangerous balance, with regular sniper attacks and trainings. But
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process has nothing to do with Russian-US
relations. The USA is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group. Meetings on
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem were mainly initiated by Russia. The US
president would not want unexpected decisions before the presidential
polls.

The political analyst believes that the events around Syria and
Iran may affect the Caucasus, although the US cannot interfere in the
Nagorno-Karabakh or the Georgian conflicts. The US needs to concentrate
on withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year. It may also reduce its
presence in Afghanistan.Russian-US relations suffered from Washington’s
refusal to give Moscow legal guarantees that the European missile
shield would not be a threat. The framework of the two-day meeting
of NATO foreign ministers had a session of the Russia-NATO Council,
with Russian Minister Sergey Lavrov attending it.

The key topic was cooperation on the European missile shield, where
the sides failed to reach a consensus.US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said on Thursday that US and NATO allies would not allow any
third state to veto the NATO anti-missile system. The project will
be realized and carries no threat to Russia. The missile threat does
not come from Russia, it comes from other states.

Russia confirmed readiness to defend its measures and take
counter-measures against the actions of the NATO and the US.

IN ARMENIA, SLEIMAN REITERATES CALL FOR DIALOGUE

The Daily Star

Dec 9 2011
Lebanon

BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman said that he would maintain his call
for dialogue and for implementing agreements reached by Lebanese
leaders during previous dialogue sessions, on the first day of his
official visit to Armenia.

“We will continue to call for dialogue and work to implement the
decisions of the National Dialogue Conference, improve our democratic
performance and turn to legitimate institutions to resolve any emerging
problem away from violence,” Sleiman said Thursday, addressing members
of the Lebanese community in Yerevan during a ceremony held in honor
of him and first lady Wafa Sleiman.

The president said that Lebanon was preparing for further reforms,
including drafting a new electoral law, implementing administrative
decentralization and enhancing the services sector, especially water
and electricity.

Sleiman voiced hope that Lebanon would exploit its maritime oil and
gas resources in the coming years, adding that exploration would
begin soon.

He said that Lebanon would continue to improve its national
capabilities to defend itself against any potential aggression
and continue putting pressure on Israel to implement U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to Israel’s summer 2006
war against Lebanon.

Sleiman also noted that Lebanese of Armenian origin living in Lebanon
and those in the diaspora “constitute a natural bridge of communication
between Lebanon and Armenia.”

Thousands of Armenians fled persecution by Ottoman authorities to
Lebanon during World War I and obtained Lebanese citizenship.

Sleiman acknowledged the presence of “difficulties and problems”
obstructing opportunities for communication between Lebanese
expatriates in Armenia and Lebanese at home. He also spoke of the
absence of a direct flight between the two countries and administrative
difficulties.

“Operating a direct flight between Beirut and Yerevan is still a
subject of interest and study,” he said, adding that bilateral ties
could be enhanced by intensifying visits and the inking of bilateral
agreements.

Reducing the cost of transporting goods between the two countries and
investment opportunities are significant as well, according to Sleiman.

Earlier Thursday, Sleiman and his wife toured the Matenaradan
Manuscript Museum with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Sleiman voiced hope that stability would prevail in Arab countries
that are currently witnessing upheaval.

“We and you are closely following and are concerned about the
developments that are taking place in the Arab world and in Syria,
out of our desire for the future stability of these states and the
well-being of their people, but without interfering in their internal
affairs,” he said.

Sleiman will meet Armenian officials, including President Serzh
Sarkseyan Friday.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily
Star on December 09, 2011, on page 1.

THE WORLD’S LONGEST AERIAL TRAMWAY
Nate Berg

The Atlantic Cities

Dec 8 2011

In a unique solution to a transportation concern, officials in Armenia
have built what’s being touted as the world’s longest aerial tramway.

Unlike some of the new gondola systems being built in heavily urbanized
areas in South America, this tramway connects a remote village to an
even more remote historic monastery, Tatev, one of the country’s most
visited tourist attractions, as Armenia Now reports.

Dubbed the “Wings of Tatev,” the roughly 3.5-mile route cuts
a direct path to the 9th century monastery over a dense forest
previously traversed only through winding roads. It’s estimated that
the 11-minute trip on the tramway cuts more than a half hour out of
the trip, and enables wintertime visiting when roads are impassable.

Located in the southern tip of the country, the tramway was constructed
over about 11 months at a cost of roughly $18 million.

Much of the funding was donated by a businessman toward a larger
project aimed at reviving the monastery. It’s estimated that about
20,000 people will ride the tramway each year.

By comparison, gondola and tramway systems recently built in dense
slum areas in Venezuela and Brazil are expected to carry between
15,000 and 30,000 passengers a day.

RIA Novosti reports that the Tatev tramway takes the title of
longest tramway from the 2.48-mile Sandia Peak Tramway in Santa Fe,
New Mexico. The Tatev tramway officially opened at the end of October.

AUSTRALIAN FM TO VISIT ARMENIA NEXT YEAR

news.am
Dec 7 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Tuesday, which was first day of the 18th Session of the
OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) FMs’
Council being convened in Vilnius, Lithuania, became significant by
the joint statement of the heads of delegation of Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries and FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, whereby the importance
of the Karabakh conflict’s peaceful resolution was reaffirmed.

On the same day, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian attended the informal
meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) FMs,
during which the FMs discussed the next meetings of the CSTO statutory
agencies.

Edward Nalbandian also had a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian FM
Konstantin Grishchenko, during which they examined political dialogue
and reflected on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

In Vilnius, Armenia’s FM also met with his Australian colleague Kevin
Rudd. During this meeting the interlocutors explored the avenues for
expanding bilateral relations and cooperation issues, and reflected
on the regional issues in the South Caucasus. Kevin Rudd informed
that he plans to visit Armenia in the first half of 2012, MFA Press
Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

ARMENIA AND FRANCE TO DEEPEN COOPERATION IN SECURITY AND DEFENSE

news.am
Dec 7 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan, who is in France on a working visit, met with his French
colleague, Secretary General for National Defense and Security, Francis
Delon. The parties stressed that the Armenian-French friendship is
the foundation for greater collaboration, and they agreed to deepen
cooperation in the domains of security and defense.

Arthur Baghdasaryan also met with Thierry Mariani, French Secretary
of State for Transport for the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable
Development, Transport and Housing, and with Patrick Devedjian,
Hauts-de-Seine Department Council Chairman. During this meeting they
discussed the deepening of Armenian-French cooperation.

Armenia’s NSC Secretary also met with Anne-Marie Descotes, director
of the Agency for French Schools Abroad. In addition to future
deepening of cooperation in the education sphere, the interlocutors
also examined the matter of founding a French high school in Armenia,
NSC Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.