Author: Badalian Vardan

WORLD BANK MAY PROVIDE ARMENIA WITH $22 MILLION LOAN NEXT YEAR TO REHABILITATE ITS IRRIGATION SYSTEM

ARKA
Oct 26, 2011

YEREVAN, October 26. / ARKA /. The World Bank may provide Armenia with
a $22 million loan next year to help it rehabilitate its irrigation
system, head of WB Yerevan Office, Jean-Michel Happi, said today.

World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved October 25 a
US$18 million loan for the Additional Financing of the Irrigation
Rehabilitation Emergency Project (IREP) for Armenia. The loan will
be used to improve water use efficiency in the selected irrigation
schemes, as well as foster immediate rural employment in seven regions
of Armenia.

The rehabilitation works will include 50 km of main and secondary
canals serving around 52,000 hectares in Aragastotn, Kotayk, Shirak,
Lori, Ararat, and Armavir regions, which will allow reducing water
losses by an estimated 34.4 million cubic meters and will potentially
restore irrigation on about 4,700 ha.

In addition, rehabilitation of another 63 km of tertiary networks
in 19 communities of Lori, Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Armavir regions
will reduce water losses by 9.9 million cubic meters, will improve
existing irrigation water services on over 2,500 ha, and potentially
restore irrigation on 1,760 ha. This project is expected to directly
benefit over 88.000 farmers who will see their farm profitability
and incomes rise

“The World Bank has earmarked $40 million for Armenia to help
it restore the irrigation system. The Additional Financing of the
Irrigation Rehabilitation Emergency Project (IREP is only $18 million
and there is still the $22 million, that may be provided in 2012,”
Mr. Happi said.

Under the original IREP, some 89.4 km were rehabilitated, including
57.7 km in Talin and 31.7 km in Armavir main canals. Water losses
declined by about 96.9 million cubic meters from around 114. Since
joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the total IDA and
IBRD commitments to Armenia amount to USS1, 506 million.

ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS BROUGHT HOME MOST AWARDS IN KRASNODAR PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL

epress.am
10.26.2011 17:31

Armenian photographers received the most awards at the contest as
part of the 3rd Photovisa International Festival of Photography in
Krasnodar, Russia.

Participants from 21 countries presented their work in three categories
on this year’s theme, “The Road”.

Out of a possible 9 awards, 4 were picked up by the photographers who
arrived from Armenia. Photojournalist and documentary photographer
Nazik Armenakian (pictured, below) secured first place with her photo
series “Another Road” (or “Another Way”) in the category “Relationships
between Humans and the Environment”, while Haik Bianjanyan (pictured
below, far right) took second prize with his work “Disappearing
Memories”.

Another Armenian photographer, Anahit Hayrapetyan (pictured below,
far left), took home the third prize for her series “The Life of
Katharine”. And last but not least, Inna Mkhitaryan (pictured below,
second from left) secured third place in the category “Roads of the
Northern Caucasus” for her series “On the Road Toward a Better Life”.

Main photo from Nazik Armenakian’s photo series “Another Road”.

ARTAVAZD PELESHIAN’S FILMS TO BE SCREENED AT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 26, 2011 – 15:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A half dozen foreign writers in residence at the
University of Iowa will address “Why I Write What I Write, and How
I Write It” in a free International Writing Program (IWP) panel
discussion with pizza at noon Friday, Oct. 28, in Meeting Room A of
the Iowa City Public Library.

The Cinematheque series this week will screen the Palestinian film
“The Time That Remains,” plus “Peleshian Shorts” on Wednesday, Oct.

26, in Room E105 of the Adler Journalism Building, Media-Newswire.com
reports.

Artavazd Peleshian is a celebrated Armenian filmmaker who creates
short film-essays that express a poetic view of life through imagery.

The films will be introduced by poet Alexandra Petrova, who was born
in Russia and now lives in Italy.

Cinematheque is part of a UI class, but the public is invited to
attend.

“Why I Write What I Write, and How I Write It” has become an annual
theme for IWP writers, who provide insight into both their writing
inspirations and goals, and their writing practices and techniques.

ARMENIA SHOULD AT THE STATE LEVEL SOLVE THE ISSUE OF BEHAVIOR RULES IN CASE OF DISASTERS – PSYCHOLOGIST

/ARKA/
October 25, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 25. /ARKA/. People living in Armenia should be
informed at the state level about the rules and norms of behavior
during natural disasters, said the head of Association of Psychologists
Ruben Aghuzumtsyan.

“After Spitak earthquake in 1988, the government establishment special
structures which death with psychological support of people, but now
population of Armenia is not ready to overcome the consequences of
natural disasters physiologically and physically”, he said in the
international press-center “Novosti”.

On December 7, 1988 in Armenia took place a destructive earthquake
which almost completely destroyed two cities in the north of Armenia –
Spitak and Leninakan (current Gyumri) and over hundred villages.

Several other cities were destroyed partially.

In the epicenter of the earthquake – in the city Spitak (north of
Armenia) the earthquake was 10 points. That day, according to official
data, 25 thousand people died, 140 thousand became invalids and half
a million of people became homeless.

Aghuzumtsyan said that at that time Armenian people have suffered
a serious shock which, however did not become a learning experience
for people.

He also mentioned the specific character of Armenian mentality
hindering to overcome mass panic during natural disasters. “The main
problem is the lack of state thinking in Armenian people. We all live
very isolated from each other and do not want to get united for the
solution of such large-scale problems”, he said.

Scientific worker of the Institute of Geology of Armenian Academy
of Sciences Raffi Durgaryan said that to ensure an adequate level
of preparedness and awareness it is not necessary to have weekly
repeated eathuakes.

“The fact that people die in an earthquake, the nature and natural
disasters are not guilty. People who behave improperly during the
disaster and people who build seismically not firm and non-stable
buildings are guilty”, he said.

Population in Armenia should understand that the country is in
seismically dangerous zone and be prepared for such phenomena.

On Sunday, in Turkey, in south-east province Van an earthquake with
magnitude of 7.2 took place . In its result, over 2.6 thousand houses
were ruined. According to the recent data, 366 people died and 1300
people suffered.

Epicenter of the tremors was 150-160 km from the borders of Armenia.

Earthquake of 3-5 points was felt in Yerevan and the nearest
settlements. .

ANC SEEKS TO FORM POLITICAL FRONT AGAINST SARGSYAN REGIME – COORDINATOR

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 25, 2011 – 15:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition
bloc sees organization of nation-wide protest rally against Serzh
Sargsyan’s regime and presidential resignation as the only way to
restore democracy in the country, ANC coordinator said.

At news conference in Yerevan, Levon Zurabyan noted mobilization of
political and social forces and creation of a social front against
current regime as priority tasks with the Congress.

ANC will announce further plans at Oct 28 rally, Zurabyan said,
not ruling out the possibility of resumption of non-stop actions.

SERZH SARGSYAN’S FEARS AND PUTIN
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:25:15 – 25/10/2011

The so-called first part of Serzh Sargsyan’s state visit to Moscow can
be considered as a “farewell” meeting with Medvedev. Of course, there
will be other occasions for Serzh Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev to meet
as presidents but the farewell has been bidden already. The Medal of
Honor was handed to Medvedev, a few days ago Serzh Sargsyan had also
awarded Sarkozy. He thanked Medvedev, perhaps there were also hugs.

The key episode of the Moscow visit will be today, on October 25,
when Serzh Sargsyan will meet with the Russian prime minister but
already de facto president Putin. This meeting will decide how
effective Sargsyan’s visit to Moscow was.

The key issues which will be discussed during that meeting will be
related to intrigues inside the government of Armenia, as well as the
establishment of the CIS Free Trade Agreement and the Eurasian Union.

Serzh Sargsyan will try to get guarantees from Putin that he will
not support Robert Kocharyan’s political plans, secretly or openly,
or will not encourage Bargavach Hayastan Party’s political plans
against the Republican Party, while Putin will try to get guarantees
from Serzh Sargsyan that during the Moscow meeting of the CIS leaders
Serzh Sargsyan will confirm the signature of Armenia to the Free
Trade Zone agreement, and will ensure that there will be no issue of
parliament approval. Besides, Putin will also try to get guarantees
from Serzh Sargsyan regarding membership to the Eurasian Union.

Putin has already taken care of preparations, communicating through
the lips of Ara Abrahamyan on behalf of Serzh Sargsyan that Sargsyan
supports the Eurasian Union and looks forward to it. “Was he telling
the truth, Mr. Sargsyan?” Putin will probably ask.

What will Serzh Sargsyan answer? Will he say he was not telling
the truth because it is necessary to discuss the issue in Armenia
thoroughly, and Armenia can express a stance on the Eurasian Union
only after clarification of the idea, conditions, answers to the
questions on the interests of Armenia, followed by discussion by the
general public in Armenia?

Or will Serzh Sargsyan tell Vladimir Putin that Armenia prefers another
address, the European Union with which we have launched the Eastern
Partnership Programme? In this regard, Armenia has a lot to tell,
and the question is whether Serzh Sargsyan can tell so many things.

Or does he know that if he says something besides thank you and
confirmation of Ara Abrahamyan’s words, Putin may not guarantee that
he will not refrain from supporting Kocharyan’s aspirations.

Moreover, Putin may even try to influence Serzh Sargsyan
psychologically, being aware that there is even no need to support
Kocharyan, it is enough to tell Sargsyan that he will support
Kocharyan. Serzh Sargsyan would not need to worry about it if he
had taken the necessary steps during his three years of office to
place the government of Armenia on a genuinely public and accountable
political basis.

However, Serzh Sargsyan preferred imitation. Meanwhile, imitation
deepens intrigue and cardinal practice in the government.

During the visit Serzh Sargsyan will try to relieve his fears together
with Putin, while Putin will definitely play with his fears, trying
to meet his imperialistic aspirations. Serzh Sargsyan needs to rid of
his fears from real reforms and large-scale replacement of the system
or fear only that, rather than live with thousands of “external”
or “internal” fears which are never relieved or are relieved by
“political death”.

TURKEY FOREIGN MINISTRY CONTRADICTS PM ON ACCEPTING EARTHQUAKE AID

epress.am
10.25.2011

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today in
which it said that Turkey has not rejected earthquake relief aid from
other countries.

“We don’t hesitate to receive assistance from our friend countries. We
haven’t refused aid from other countries. More than 20 countries
have offered to assist us and there are different levels at which
we can receive aid. FIrst is the rescue units; second, the recovery
work in Van, and in these issues, we’ll ask for assistance from those
countries which had expressed willingness in this matter,” reads the
official statement.

Recall, more than 20 countries offered aid to Turkey after a 7.2
magnitude earthquake struck the country’s eastern Van region Sunday.

On Monday, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked
these countries – including Israel and Armenia – for help; however,
said it was able to cope with the effects of the earthquake on its
own. Turkey accepted offers of help only from Azerbaijan.

Epress.am’s Turkey correspondent states that the 180º turn in Turkey’s
position might be tied to the fact that after Erdogan’s remarks,
there was serious criticism against the government for refusing
humanitarian assistance.

ERDOGAN: TURKEY WILL FIGHT FOR KARABAKH HAND IN HAND WITH AZERIS

Tert.am
25.10.11

Turkey will fight for Nagorno-Karabakh hand in hand with Azerbaijan,
the Turkish Prime Minister has said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the statement in Izmir at the foundation
laying ceremony of the Petrochemical Plant.

The event was also attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

“Our two states represent one nation, as well as one heart. That’s
why we will fight shoulder to shoulder with Azerbaijan until the
occupation is put an end to,” Erdogan said.

THE SPANISH MASTERS ALBUM FEATURES SOPRANO ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 25, 2011 – 15:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Zenph Sound Innovations announces the release
of The Spanish Masters, a collection of re-performances® of three
distinguished composers: Isaac Albeniz, Manuel de Falla, and Enrique
Granados.

Sourced from some of the earliest known sound recordings in history,
The Spanish Masters extends the acclaimed technological breakthrough
featured on previous Zenph albums of Glenn Gould, Art Tatum, Sergei
Rachmaninoff, and Oscar Peterson. World-renowned cellist Zuill Bailey
and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian appear on the album, which will be
available on November 8, 2011, PRWeb reports.

Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian launched into an
international opera career following her first prize win at the 2000
Operalia Competition founded by Placido Domingo.

“Every vocal student knows these songs,” Ms. Bayrakdarian observed
about ‘Siete Canciones.’ “Performing them with the composer himself
at the piano was an amazing experience.”

LE MAIRE DE MONTREAL EN MISSION A EREVAN, EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 25 octobre 2011

Le maire de Montreal, M. Gerald Tremblay, se rendra a Erevan, en
Armenie, du 24 au 28 octobre prochain, afin de participer a la 31e
Assemblee generale annuelle de l’Association des maires francophones
(AIMF) dans le cadre de ses fonctions de vice-president et membre du
Bureau de l’executif de cette association. Le maire profitera de la
tenue de cet evenement dans la capitale armenienne pour participer
a diverses rencontres et activites protocolaires visant a renforcer
les liens privilegies d’amitie qui unissent Montreal a la capitale
armenienne depuis 2001.

” Montreal et Erevan etant jumelees depuis maintenant 10 ans, il
importe de maintenir et consolider les relations que nous avons
entrepris. Montreal abrite l’une des plus importantes communautes
armeniennes d’Amerique, avec plus de 30 000 membres, et nous nous
rejouissons du fait qu’Erevan s’affirme de plus en plus sur la scène
internationale, comme en fait foi le choix de l’AIMF d’y tenir son
assemblee generale cette annee “, a declare le maire de Montreal.

31e Assemblee generale annuelle de l’AIMF

Sous le thème ” Renforcer la cohesion des territoires : un imperatif au
service de la bonne gouvernance locale “, la 31e Assemblee generale
annuelle de l’AIMF reunira plus de 200 maires et representants
d’associations nationales de villes de 48 pays de la francophonie.

En plus de prendre part aux reunions statutaires du Bureau de
l’executif de l’AIMF, le maire de Montreal et president de la
Communaute metropolitaine de Montreal (CMM) interviendra dans le
cadre d’un atelier traitant de la gestion des risques majeurs des
territoires pertinents et presentera le processus de mise en ~uvre
du Plan metropolitain d’amenagement et de developpement (PMAD).

Montreal et Erevan : 10 ans de liens privilegies d’amitie

Une journee de cette mission sera par ailleurs consacree aux echanges
bilateraux entre Erevan et Montreal. À cet effet, le maire de Montreal
rencontrera le nouveau maire d’Erevan, M. Karen Karapetyan, avec qui
il s’entretiendra notamment du protocole d’entente signe entre les
deux villes pour la periode 2010-2012.

De plus, suivant un engagement pris lors de sa dernière visite a
Erevan, le maire de Montreal prononcera une conference a l’Universite
francaise d’Armenie (UFAR), devant plus d’une centaine d’etudiants
universitaires. Cette conference en francais aura pour titre ” Les
Grappes et l’innovation : liberer le capital creatif “.

Le maire profitera egalement de sa visite dans la capitale pour
remettre officiellement au directeur du Musee du genocide armenien
(The Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute) un encadrement de la
resolution de reconnaissance du genocide armenien adoptee par le
conseil municipal de la Ville de Montreal en 1997.

En septembre 2011, la Ville de Montreal a recu cinq representants de
la municipalite d’Erevan en mission de familiarisation aux realites
montrealaises de consultation publique et de democratie participative.

En effet, la Ville de Erevan entend adopter de nouveaux mecanismes de
gestion municipale afin de rendre son administration plus democratique
et plus transparente, tout en ameliorant ses services rendus a la
population. Le maire de Montreal profitera donc de son passage a
Erevan pour rencontrer a nouveau ces representants et poursuivre les
echanges au sujet de la democratie participative.

Rappelons que c’est le maire de Montreal, M. Gerald Tremblay qui,
preoccupe par la democratie et la participation des citoyens a la vie
municipale, a cree en 2002 un poste de Protecteur des citoyens et un
Office de consultation publique et s’est fait le promoteur d’une Charte
montrealaise des droits et des responsabilites unique dans les annales
du monde municipal, laquelle est entree en vigueur le 1er janvier 2006.