Author: Badalian Vardan

Armenia’s needy farmers living near Azerbaijan border to receive greenhouses

15:48, 16.08.2014

YEREVAN. – The socially disadvantaged farmers of Armenia’s Tavush
Region will receive polyethylene greenhouses.

Eric Baghdasaryan, who is an expert from the Fund For Armenian Relief
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Program (FAR BCPP), told the above-said
to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As per Baghdasaryan, high quality polyethylene greenhouses are already
obtained from Israel, and the first seven greenhouses should be
distributed this month among the farmers of Berd city.

Along with the greenhouses, a drip irrigation system will be installed
to enable farmers to save water.

In his words, FAR has decided to partially subsidize the greenhouses,
and the expenses will amount to about $3,650 per farm.

“According to our calculations, the farmers will be able to pay the
full amount in several years,” Baghdasaryan added.

The priority will be given to large families with a positive social demeanor.

Tavush Region was chosen for this program for several reasons, one of
which is the scarcity of cultivation land. Another factor is the
region’s warm climate and long agrarian period. As a result, the
farmers in this region can manage with the polyethylene greenhouses
without heating.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

PHILATELIE ARMENIENNE
Les architectes Nokoghaïs Mar et Toros Toramanian honorés par la Poste
arménienne

Le 13 août, HayPost, la Poste arménienne a procédé à l’émission d’une
série deux timbre-poste dédiés à l’Histoire de l’architecture
arménienne. Le premier, d’une valeur de 280 drams est à l’occasion du
150ème anniversaire de la naissance de l’architecte Nikoghaïos Mar
(1864-1934). Il représente le portrait l’architecte-archéologue face à
la cathédrale d’Ani.

Toros Toramanian

Le second timbre, également d’une valeur de 280 drams, est dédié à
l’architecte Toros Toramanian (1864-1934). Le timbre représente son
buste face aux ruines de l’église de Zvartnots. La série est émise en
40 000 exemplaires.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 16 août 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Father Vahram. “The letter by the Azerbaijani spiritual leader
reiterates the main theses of Azerbaijani propaganda.”

August 16 2014

Aravot.am asked the Head of Information Systems of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin, Father Vahram Melikyan whether the news that a
letter has been received from the Azerbaijani spiritual leader in
response to the letter by Catholicos meets the reality. “Yes, we
confirm that a few days ago, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
received the letter addressed to His Holiness by Azerbaijan’s
spiritual leader, also Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikh
ul-Islam Allahshükür Pashazade, in response to the letter by
All-Armenian Catholicos. It is sad that the spiritual leader’s letter
totally reiterates the main theses of Azerbaijani propaganda about the
Karabakh problem. On the other hand, it is clear that in such an
authoritarian society where an anti-Armenian hostility is incited at
the state level, he could not express any other viewpoint and voice
the truth,” responded the spokesperson of Catholicos of All Armenians.

Gohar HAKOBYAN
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Serious Geopolitical Prospect for Javakhk

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 16 August 2014, 16:59

Georgia is building a military base in Akhalkalak, in the place of the
Russian military base which was withdrawn in 2007 by Saakashvili’s
effort. At that time the greater part of the population of Javakhk was
disappointed with Georgia’s decision because the military base
provided direct and indirect employment for part of the Armenians of
Javakhk. And now, 7 years later, Georgia starts building a big
military base.

Georgia’s initiative overlaps with an interesting period when the
West-Russia confrontation has escalated, and the South Caucasus
aspires to becoming one of its key points. Georgia has signed the
Association Agreement with the EU, which indicates a new stage for
security cooperation in the West. In this respect, it is important
whether NATO may have any presence in the new military base in the
course of time.

This is an important issue indeed, and it is not accidental that 7
years after the withdrawal of the Russian base Georgia builds a
Georgian military base in the place of the Russian base in this exact
geopolitical stage. One of the issues on the agenda of the NATO summit
in Wales in September will be the new level of relations between NATO
and Eastern Europe, including Georgia. There is little possibility
that Georgia’s membership will come true but a serious discussion on a
new level of cooperation with this country in the general geopolitical
context is possible.

NATO may empower itself with new tools of cooperation with non-member
countries for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. And it may mean that the
North Atlantic Alliance will receive a possibility or prospect for
being present in Georgia though the latter is not a member. In this
respect the Georgian military base in Akhalkalak has a strategic
importance because it is close to the Russian base in Armenia, is
located in a place where Russian provocations against Georgia are
probable, close to the conflict area of Artsakh which is one of the
probable places of destabilization of the region.

NATO’s presence in Georgia may act as a factor of restoring the broken
balance in the region. The balance has been broken by the shortsighted
policy of the Armenian government, surrender of the country’s
sovereignty to Russia, abdication of foreign policy and sovereign
interests by Armenia.

>From this point of view, the presence of NATO in the region stems from
the state interest of Armenia. On the one hand, the dominance of the
Russian-Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance over the issue of division of the
Caucasus through a military scheme will be reduced. On the other hand,
such presence may act as a factor of balance in protecting the
Armenian-Georgian relations from the Russian provocation which Moscow
will certainly try to do or at least consider doing against Georgia
which has associated with the EU.

At the same time, the presence of the Georgian military base, if it
becomes a lodgment for NATO’s presence, stems from the interests of
Javakhk, acting as a factor of security against the
Turkish-Azerbaijani expansion a strong wave of which is observed in
Georgia and Javakhk is certainly one of the targets.

The presence of NATO in this region may change essentially the
geopolitical importance and regional role of Javakhk. Javakhk may
assume a regional role in international projects of Turkey’s
containment.

It would be interesting to observe the reactions of Russia, Javakhk
and Armenia to the Georgian military base, who will torpedo this
process full of prospects for regional balance for the sake of the
security of Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk, and what the foci will be.

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Azerbaijan’s propaganda produced no results, expert says

17:10 16/08/2014 >> POLITICS

Azerbaijan’s propaganda presenting Armenia as a side that was a winner
on the battlefield but on the whole lost the war does not produce any
results, political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told reporters
on Saturday.

According to the expert, at the negotiating table Azerbaijan continues
to build its relations with Armenia as with a side that lost the
conflict.

However, the analyst said, the situation has not changed and Armenia
remains in a dominant position on the border.

Now it is time for our military success to directly influence the
negotiation process, Melik-Shahnazaryan concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

Feast of Assumption of St. Mary to be celebrated tomorrow

August 16, 2014 11:40

Tomorrow, on August 17, the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast
of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Holy Mother of God. In the calendar
of the Armenian Church, this feast is the fourth of five major feasts
that are commemorated, and is the oldest one dedicated to St. Mary.

On the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Ceremony of the
Blessing of the Grapes is conducted, and the harvest for the entire
year is blessed on that day.

In the Holy Bible, there is little information concerning the details
of St. Mary’s life. As a result, the story of her Assumption has been
preserved and passed on to us through the Holy and Sacred Tradition of
the Apostolic Church.

Following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Holy Virgin remains in
Jerusalem, and lives under the care of St. John the Evangelist. For
nearly 12 years, St. Mary lives by praying, fasting, and often
visiting the empty tomb of her beloved Son. During one such visit to
the tomb, the Archangel Gabriel appears and gives her the news of her
imminent assumption to heaven.

St. Mary relays the news to her relatives and all Christians, asking
them to bury her in the valley of Gethsemane. St. Mary also asks the
Apostle John to celebrate a Divine Liturgy, so she may receive Holy
Communion one final time. After receiving Holy Communion, St. Mary
returns to her room. As the Apostles prepare to mourn her death, St.
John asks the Mother of God to leave an image of her face on a board
of wood. St. Mary takes the board, crosses herself and brings it close
to her face. Moistening the board with her tears, she asks God that by
means of the board, people would be cured from disease. As the
Apostles surround St. Mary, an indescribable light appears. The Son of
God and the angels of heaven appear in the room. Seeing Christ, St.
Mary dies.

St. Bartholomew the Apostle was absent and did not participate in the
burial service of St. Mary. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he wishes to
see St. Mary for the last time. Per his request, the Apostles open the
tomb, yet they do not find the remains of St. Mary. According to His
promise, Jesus Christ had delivered His mother to His heavenly
kingdom. The Apostles give the board of St. Mary to St. Bartholomew
for consolation.

According to Moses of Khoren, St. Bartholomew brings the board to
Armenia. It is kept in the Province of Andzav, in a location called
Darbnots. Years later, a church is built there in honor of St. Mary,
and a convent is opened.

The Armenian Church has a deep and abiding respect towards St. Mary.
Special emphasis is placed on her being a mother, her honesty, her
unique spirit of humility, her virtuous behavior and her unselfish
dedication. For Armenian women, the Holy Virgin is the embodiment of
virtue, pious motherhood, and the protector of family sacredness.

Artsakhpress.am
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Hraparak: Armenian TV journalist cruelly beaten

10:36 * 16.08.14

Information was circulated on Friday that TV journalist Gevorg
Khachatryan, who works for the Kentron TV company, was brutally beaten
by people of Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan.

Mr Khachatryan was dismissed, but he is afraid of speaking of that.
Two of his friends said he “said too much of Tsarukyan,” which was the
reason for the attack.

Worried Mr Khachatryan called the newspaper later and tried to refute
the reports.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Golden Wheat Festival Aims to Improve Local Economy of Vardenis

Friday, August 15th, 2014

A Vardenis woman prepares dough for the Golden Wheat Festival

YEREVAN–On Aug. 5, ONEArmenia launched its new crowdfunding campaign
in partnership with Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (HDIF)
to fund a Golden Wheat Festival in Vardenis, a small town located in
the rural region of Gegharkunik.

Vardenis does not have a steady source of income and the motive of the
Golden Wheat Festival is to grow and support the local economy. The
average salary of a person in Vardenis is about 150 dollars, and fifty
percent of the population is unemployed. Numerous local businessmen
and women have been called upon to participate in the festival and
sell their handmade goods, foods, crafts and beer, all made of wheat.

HDIF began organizing similar festivals several years ago. This summer
the organization has planned the Sheep Shearing Festival in Halidzor,
Taraz Fest in Old Arpeni Village, and the Shamshadin Honey and Berry
Festival. These thematic events aim to enhance tourism in Armenian
communities meanwhile celebrating local crafts and culture.

HDIF estimates that approximately three thousand guests will attend
the Golden Wheat Festival in Vardenis. As a result of the festival it
is also estimated that over ten small businesses will be activated
within the area.

The Golden Wheat Festival will take place on September 20th in
Vardenis. ONEArmenia’s #ONEBus will provide transportation to and from
the festival. Anyone interested in taking the #ONEBus to Vardenis can
reserve a space by contacting [email protected].

The campaign launched by ONEArmenia and HDIF is due to last until
September 5th. To support the initiative please visit ONEArmenia’s
Indiegogo page!

Non-profit funding platform ONEArmenia was founded in September 2012
to stand with the change-making individuals and the organizations they
represent, using social media and crowd-funding to involve anyone with
an Internet connection in boosting projects that are geared toward
making tangible changes in Armenia now. The ONEArmenia network makes
it possible to not only raise money for a project based in Armenia as
a worldwide community, but to also track the progress of said project
with complete access to financial information.

US deeply concerned about Armenian captive’s death

11:12, 16 August, 2014

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. State Department issued a
statement on the death of the Armenian citizen Karen A.Petrosyan, who
was taken captive and killed in Azerbaijan. As reports “Armenpress”,
the U.S. State Department particularly stated that the United States
is deeply concerned about the death of Karen Petrosyan, which,
according to a number of allegations, was not due to natural causes
and was recorded, when he was under
the Azerbaijani control.

Among other things, it was stated: “The U.S. offers sincere
condolences to Mr. Petrosyan’s family. We call on the Azerbaijani
government to conduct a full and transparent investigation of this
incident and publish the results.

We remind the Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia of their
obligations under international humanitarian law, especially their
obligation to treat humanely all those taken into custody. We call on
both Armenia and Azerbaijan to grant the International Committee of
the Red Cross access to all detainees and internees held for
conflict-related reasons,”

WHEN WILL AGREEMENT WITH EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION BE SIGNED?

Roza Hovhannisyan, Reporter
Country – 14 August 2014, 23:51

After it is signed by the Russian prime minister, the agreement on
membership of Armenia to the Eurasian Economic Union must be ratified
by Kazakhstan and Belarus according to their national procedures,
said the minister of economy of Armenia Karen Chshmarityan during
a press briefing on August 14. He said after approval by Kazakhstan
and Belarus Armenia will ratify it. “I don’t think it will happen in
one or two days, it will follow an agreement,” the minister said.

At the same time, he said the Armenian side does not know when
Kazakhstan and Belarus will ratify it. In answer to the question
whether it is possible that the Russian market will prefer Turkish
agricultural products to Armenian ones, Karen Chshmarityan said,
“I think you should ask that question to the Russian Federation.” He
said growth of sales of Armenian produce in Russia is forecast hence
exports must be boosted. “A lot of work is done in this direction. The
prime minister has called a meeting and instructed the ministries of
agriculture, economy to expand the list of products on the Russian
market and boost exports. Of embargoed 57 items Armenia exports 37
worldwide and 31 to Russia. Exports amount to up to 84.5 billion
dollars of which 67 million to Russia,” Chshmarityan said.

In answer to the question whether the consequences of sanctions
on the Armenian economy have been estimated, the minister said,
“It takes time. When replacement imports are considered, it favors
our economic entities. As to transit of goods via Armenia, there is
no such a restriction.”

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