Author: Badalian Vardan

168 Zham: Where is Armenia’s economy going?

10:21 * 22.07.14

Below is an excerpt from the paper’s editorial

It is, of course, very early to evaluate the activities of [Prime
Minister] Hovik Abrahamyan-led cabinet given that they have worked for
less than six months. But because the official statistics reveal the
macro-economic records, it is hard to resist the temptation of making
comparisons.

Thus, the National Statistical Service yesterday published Armenia’s
macro-economic indexes for the first six months of 2014. The economic
activity index was 3.5%, which is absolutely normal, with the dynamics
not having changed since last year. Almost all the sectors of economy
have recorded a growth. Thus, in the first two quarters of 2014, the
GDP in agriculture, development, trade turnover and services has
increased by 4%, 0.4%, 5.6% and 4.0%, respectively. The official
statistics suggests an increase in the population’s purchasing power
too. The average salary has increased by 7.1%, with the consumer
prices being up by 4%.

With the salaries in the public sector also having increased since
July 1, next year’s records are likely to be far more ‘glowing’ to
enable Abrahamyan to boast about the higher spending power. But not
everything is so wonderful, as a matter of fact, as the industries see
absolutely no growth. Despite the adopted strategy aimed at developing
the sector, it saw … a zero percent growth in the first quarter.

This naturally causes harm to power producers and the electric
distribution networks. But given the 10% hike in the electric power
prices (starting from July 1), no one is likely to suffer any loss
(except the population). What causes the highest concerns is the trade
index. Everything seems normal at first sight, with the foreign
turnover being up by 1.0%. But while the outnumbering export rates
used to be treated as normal, the situation has changed again in light
of the lower exports. Thus, the export rate in the reporting period
grew only by 0.8% against the 1.1% increase in the imports.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Aravot: Trees stealthily cut in Teghut

09:21 * 22.07.14

Illegal tree cutting activities in Teghut (Lori region) are said to
have raised concerns among employees of the local mine and
environmentalists.

“While they used to cut the trees before our very eyes and later deny
the fact, they now do it in a very skillful way, turning the trees
into stumps and burying them under the ground to make the traces
invisible,” an employee of the mine told the paper, adding that the
owner is now considering a plan for exploiting gold and uranium mines
that have been uncovered recently.

Artur Grigoryan, a lawyer and an activist of the environmental group
Saving Teghut, said he has no doubt that the mine exploiter, Valex
LLC, will decide on such a plan after numerous other violations. The
paper quotes him as saying that a US company, which recently conducted
reassessment activities in the mine, found out that it now works based
on a completely new project that hasn’t even received an expert
approval.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Commandos: Levon Hayrapetyan’s arrest is a result of hard work of
Azerbaijani and Russian secret services

by Nana Martirosyan

Tuesday, July 22, 23:05

A Karabakh businessman Levon Hayrapetyan’s arrest is a result of hard
work of Azerbaijani and Russian secret services, the Karabakh war
hero, Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosyan (Commandos) said at today’s
press-conference.

He thinks that Russia’s leadership has nothing in common with
Hayrapetyan’s detaining, but the case was fabricated by the efforts of
representatives of the Russian secret services. He also added that
Hayrapetyan’s contribution in development of Karabakh, financing of
the army, his intention to open a military college in Karabakh have
become the reason for the Azerbaijani scheming. “Baku had a target –
to liquidate Hayrapetyan, but will not manage to do that”, – he said.

For his part, Colonel Artur Aleksanyan expressed bewilderment that the
Russian court refused to change the measure of restraint. He also
added that as far as he knows, president of Karabakh and high-rank
officials of Armenia have been dealing with the case at the top level.

To remind, the Russian special services have detained one of the
richest Armenian businessmen in the world Levon Hayrapetyan on
suspicion of being privy to the notorious “Kingisep” criminal group.
According to Rosbalt, Hayrapetyan was detained on Tuesday upon
arriving in Moscow from his home in Monaco. Shortly the investigators
are planning to petition the Basmanny Court to arrest the businessman.
They are currently investigating the case of Sergey-Finagin’s
“Kingisepp” group, which together with Alexander Matusov’s “Schelkovo”
gang, is believed to have done a number of contract killings first for
businessman Georgy Safiyev (killed in the United States) and then for
former Senator Igor Izmestyev (who is now in jail for life). And it
was Izmestyev who said that Levon Hayrapetyan was privy to some of the
killings, particularly, those related to the Bashneft oil company.

Levon Hayrapetyan’s arrest attempt to ‘kill two birds with one stone’
– Artur Safaryan

18:17 * 22.07.14

Russia is seeking to “kill two birds with one stone” – reaching an
agreement with Azerbaijan and settling the issue of Bashneft shares.

That is, both the political and economic factors, human rights
defender Artur Safaryan told a press conference as he commented on the
arrest of Russian-Armenian businessman Levon Hayrapetyan.

In the case of the Bashneft shares, Levon Hayrapetyan acted as an agent.

“Of course, the main point is the shares, questions concerning
[ex-president of Bashkiria] Murtaz Rakhimov, as well as Azerbaijan,
where mass media ‘sing’ about what and where has been ordered,” he
said.

“Hayrapetyan has nothing in common with that all. Well all know about
Hayrapetyan’s business was deeper, investments in Artsakh and Armenia.
He had nothing to do with money and did not meddle in oil businesses,”
Safaryan said.

Hayrapetyan’s nephew Gurgen told Safaryan that his uncle was in the
hospital of the Matrosskaya Tishina prison.

A group of human rights defenders headed by Ruben Margaryan intend to
get the restraint changed.

“A petition for a change of the measure of restraint has been filed.
We’ll present all the necessary documents for the court to allow house
arrest, which is unlikely. We are doing our best for Hayrapetyan to be
admitted to decent hospital,” he said.

As to whether Russia violated the law by arresting Levon Hayrapetyan,
Safaryan said:

“According to the law currently in effect, which lists the diseases
that could serve as a ground for not holding a person in custody,
Hayrapetyan has this right, but the court did not consider the fact
and placed his under arrest. It is clear it was someone’s order.”

“New charges against Hayrapetyan are expected to be brought, and his
lawyer will know the charges.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

PRESS RELEASE
Date: July 22, 2014

KNIGHTS OF VARTAN
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Web:

KNIGHTS AND DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN FEATURE WORLD ACCLAIMED PIANIST HAYK
ARSENYAN AT EMBASSY OF ARMENIA IN WASHINGTON

Washington, D.C. – Last month, the Knights and Daughters of Vartan
Washington, D.C. chapters featured world acclaimed pianist Hayk Arseyan at
the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Washington, D.C.

Ani Lodge Commander Jake Bournazian and Dikranouhi Otyag Commander Louisa
Baghdasarian opened the program and welcomed the packed hall. Arsenyan
brought the audience through a majestic musical performance that featured
the works of famous Armenian composers Hovhaness, Khachaturian and Komitas.
Arsenyan also performed a beautiful rendition Prokofiev’s Romeo and
Juliette and delighted the crowd with Schubert’s Piano Sonata. His
performance was passionately concluded with Khachaturian’s iconic Sabre
Rattle, which brought the audience to their feet in magnificent applause.

`I hope that today’s concert will not only be a tribute to our heroes who
gave their lives for the independence of the Republic of Armenia, but will
also be an inspiration for all those Armenians, who even far away from
their motherland, continue to support and assist our brothers and sisters
in Armenia,’ stated Louisa Baghdasarian.

Hayk Arsenyan is a New York based pianist-composer and native of Armenia.
He has appeared in numerous recitals in the USA, Armenia and the Middle
East, including Carnegie Hall. He teaches at New York University and holds
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa. At age 11 he
made his orchestral debut performing his own Requiem for piano and
orchestra.

Armenian Embassy First Secretary Karen Israyelyan and Third Secretary Anna
Naghdalyan were present for the performance. `The Knights of Vartan
appreciates the Armenian Embassy’s willingness to provide this prestigious
venue for this event so that we can feature and support performances by our
musical artists for the greater Washington, D.C. Armenian community to
enjoy,’ stated Jake Bournazian.

Following the concert, the members of the Ani Lodge and Dikranouhi Otyag
gathered for a special dinner, where former Commander Margie Satian was
honored for her steadfast leadership. All the members expressed their
satisfaction and pleasure with the evening’s success, particularly
the
excellent performance of Hayk Arsenyan.

The Knights and Daughters of Vartan appreciate the graciousness of the
Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for their hospitality and contribution
to the Armenian American community.

Photo Caption (L-R): Armenian Embassy First Secretary Karen Israyelyan,
Hayk Arsenyan, Jake Bournazian, and Louisa Baghdasarian

Editor’s Note: Photograph attached for print at publishers discretion.

###

PR#: 2014-02

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 21 2014

Golden Apricot International Film Festival: beyond borders

This year’s Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in
Armenia was a very special occasion for me. Not only were the two
films I produced, `Kusursuzlar’ (The Impeccables) and `Ziazan,’ having
their Armenian premieres, but I also had the honor of being part of
the jury of the Armenian Turkish Cinema Platform (ATCP). The ATCP is
organized under the umbrella of the cooperation between Turkey’s
Anadolu Kültür nongovernmental organization and the Golden Apricot
Film Festival, which marked its 11th anniversary between July 13 and
20. The ATCP’s aim is to establish a common network through which
filmmakers from both countries can cooperate and produce films
together. The ATCP gathers twice a year, once in Ä°stanbul and once in
Yerevan, to award production grants to documentaries and short films
that are to be made by Armenian and Turkish filmmakers and have the
potential to become co-productions between the two countries.

At a time when the two countries do not enjoy diplomatic relations,
the ATCP is one of the most important steps in normalizing the
relationships between the people of these two countries and to begin a
constructive cross-border dialogue. It isn’t at all surprising that
this initial step has been taken by culture organizations, for it is
always individuals from this sector who have an open mind and are
willing to take risks for positive transformation. Thus it is
especially important to point out the determination and efforts of Ms.
Melek Ulagay and Ms. Susannah Harutyunyan, who have proven how cinema
can be a means for mutual understanding.

`Ziazan,’ directed by Derya Durmaz, was a one of the short film
projects supported by the ATCP and which I had the chance to join as a
co-producer. The making of the film was one of the most enriching and
educating experiences I’ve ever had. We were a mixed Armenian and
Turkish crew and we gathered to shoot the story of a 4-year-old
Armenian girl who was trying to cross the Armenian-Turkish border in
order to reach her favorite chocolate. Our bilateral collaboration
with filmmakers Arevik Avenesyan, Hasmik Hovhannisyan and Aram
Xachatryan was such a fruitful endeavor that the film went on to win
several prizes as a short film and through its extensive press
coverage emphasized how a child’s innocent outlook on life and human
relationships proved the futility and absurdity of politics. The
film’s optimism became a glimmer of hope for a future of peace and
mutual recognition.

Thus when we got together to examine the 10 projects that were in the
ATCP selection this year, I cannot emphasize enough how excited I was
when I saw the quality and potential of all the projects. They all had
different subject matter but were all focused on themes of
reconciliation and recognition of the past in order to build a
brighter and shared future. Several projects that originated from
Turkey all had a common point of view in underlining the enrichment
and influence of Armenian culture that was lost in Turkey after 1915.
Several of the projects originating from Armenia were focused on
rediscovering one’s roots in Anatolia with the companionship of a
Turkish protagonist.

We awarded the main prize to Sevda Usanoglu’s short film project `A
Blurry Pastel Painting,’ which is an ambitious cinematic inquiry into
the concept of ethnic identity and collective memory, linking the past
to the present. The `special mention’ title was granted to Mesut YaÃ…?ar
Tufan and Ara Shirinian’s documentary project `On The Steps of
Tchouhadjian,’ a documentary project discovering the life and music of
Armenian composer Tchouhadjian with the aim of presenting the
forgotten treasures of Turkish and Armenian common cultural history.

Our three-day workshop during the festival reminded me of the
importance of discussion and exchange, not only through the festival’s
ATCP sidebar but by the festival’s initiative in showing Turkish films
to the Armenian audience, such as `Once Upon A Time In Anatolia,’
`Araf’ and `I’m Not Him,’ among others. At this point there is nothing
to say but long live cinema and its power to bring people together and
overcome barriers — something we can sometimes forget amidst the
kafuffle of the industry.

Morristown Green
July 21 2014

The spirit of Morristown’s Sandrian Camera will live on, as gallery

July 21, 2014 by Kevin Coughlin

The sad news: Sandrian Camera finally is bowing out after 87 years in
Morristown.

The happy news: It will be reborn as the 70 South Gallery, and retain
many of Sandrian’s staffers.

A “past customer and personal friend” is purchasing the photo shop,
which will remain open during “a fantastic facelift” and continue
offering high-end print services, owner Peter Sandrian Jr. told
customers on Monday.

He did not disclose the buyer’s identity.

In addition to providing photo editing and printing services,
including printing on canvas and metal, the new gallery will host
photo-related events and display works by local professionals and
amateurs, including area high school students.

Coming soon…70 South Gallery. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The gallery is envisioned as a “central location where they can
collaborate, admire and share their work in order to develop their
craft; and to provide local residents with a high-touch photo
experience,” Sandrian said.

Citing stiff online competition, the Sandrian family announced the
closure last December. Its Clinton store was shuttered in February,
and the family has been liquidating its inventory ever since in
Morristown, where Sandrian’s father, an Armenian immigrant, opened a
portrait studio in 1927.

The long goodbye has been emotional for family members, who forged
bonds with customers spanning decades.

“I’m very pleased,” said Peter’s wife, Kathy Sandrian, who met her
future husband while running a gift shop next to Sandrian Camera.
Their children became familiar faces behind the counter, and Myles
Sandrian said earlier this month that he may remain so.

Although changes in the photo industry eroded the family’s business,
“I think the business will come back in other forms,” Kathy Sandrian
said.

“I’m very happy that people can still get their photos printed. If you
don’t print them, you will lose the joy of them,” she said.

Huffington Post
July 21 2014

To Rebuild A Father-Daughter Relationship, One Photographer Created A
New Family Album

The Huffington Post | By Katherine Brooks

Photographer Diana Markosian’s parents separated when she was seven
years old, her mother leaving her father in Moscow to begin anew in
California. From that point on, Markosian and her brother scarcely
heard from their father. With no pictures for posterity and no formal
goodbye to remember, they even forgot what he looked like.

“Growing up, my father felt like a secret that was being kept from
me,” the artist wrote for Lens Culture. “My mother shared with me a
handful of stories that made me want to know him, touch him, invent
him.”

Fifteen years later, Markosian decided to reconnect with her phantom
parent, traveling to his home in Armenia — where her family once
resided — to piece together a relationship with a man she hardly
knew. The reunion was bittersweet. “For so long I was determined to
have a father, so I had invented one out of a man I thought existed,”
Markosian reiteratd to Lightbox. “But the man standing across from me
didn’t recognize me. I didn’t recognize him, either.”

To cope with the awkward sensation of meeting a figure who, for so
long, has existed only in imagination, Markosian began the aptly named
“Inventing My Father,” a photographic exploration of her past, present
and future living and getting to know her dad. The work has taken
place over the past two years, during which Markosian moved in with
father, in “the same gray, decaying Soviet building” she once lived in
as a young girl.

The series’ images mine time, presenting old snapshots of her
seven-year-old self and material relics of her once-whole family, as
well as contemporary portraits of long lost relatives. There are
photos of old swing sets, folded hands, suitcases full of letters and
ominous mirrored reflections. In one frame, her father has added text
to a simple photo of Markosian mid-snow angel: “I am searching for the
little girl in her, the little girl I used to know. The one I was
close to. In myself, I am looking for the remains of those feeling I
once had for her.” In another, a man — her father — has been clearly
removed, cut out of a family photo by Markosian’s mother, leaving a
ghostly scene behind.

Disparate and intensely emotional, the various photos present not one
person or one family, but a fraught relationship fractured by distance
and unavailability. Like a child’s collage or the visual spiderweb of
an elaborate investigation, “Inventing My Father” doesn’t make up for
lost time, but attempts to connect one lost era to another.

“I didn’t want to be defined by something in my past,” Markosian
explained to The Huffington Post. “I wanted to meet my father and get
to know him for who he was rather than the man my mom made him out to
be. This piece has helped fill in gaps, confirm impressions, and offer
proof where none existed before.”

For more many, many more photos in the series, head to Markosian’s
website here:

Diana Markosian is an alumna of Columbia University’s Graduate School
of Journalism. She has reported from Russia’s North Caucasus region as
well as Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and her images have appeared in
The New York Times, Foreign Policy and more. Her work is set to go on
view at Portland, Oregon’s Blue Sky gallery in January of 2015.

Will Armenian-Russian Gas Deal Be Revised?

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 21 July 2014, 18:07

The Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reisi has announced that soon the
minister of energy of Armenia Yervand Zakharyan will visit Iran to
discuss transportation of the Iranian gas across Armenia and the gas
price.

Official Yerevan has not commented on the ambassador’s statements, he
neither dismissed, nor confirmed. The ex-minister of energy Armen
Movsisyan and the foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan used to leave for
Tehran after such statements and apparently asked the Iranian side not
to corner the Armenian side. Apparently, they “explained” that they
cannot allow transportation of gas via Armenia and buy Iranian gas
more cheaply because according to the deal with Russia Armenia must
buy Russian gas for 30 years.

The Armenian government has tied Armenia’s hands for 30 years but this
is just a paper which can be discarded any time in case circumstances
change.

And the circumstances are obviously changing. Although Iran and the
West have decided to put off the final agreement on normalization, the
U.S. Secretary General has announced that the United States unfreezes
the Iranian bank accounts of 2.8 billion dollars.

Another important circumstance is the U.S. sanctions on Gazprom, with
Europe preparing to do the same.

This means that Georgia, having signed the Association Agreement with
the European Union, may join the sanctions and announce that it will
not allow transportation of Gazprom’s gas to Armenia or limit supply.

In other words, the Armenian-Russian gas agreement may lose its force
because Gazprom will not be able to supply gas to Armenia, at least
with the former quantity and prices. And Armenia will have the ground
for denouncing the deal. These are not empty scenarios but a realistic
prospect. And Armenia must get ready for it, discussing the Iranian
proposals. Unprecedented prospects are opening up for our country, and
it depends on the extent of our freedom to what extend we will benefit
from those prospects. The government of Armenia has cornered itself,
however, psychologically it is even less free than the corner allows
for. As soon as a person crosses the invisible circle which it has
drawn for itself, it suddenly feels its power and abilities that
enables the freedom of actions.

A vivid example of this is the Armenian army. Despite the tough
pressure of Russia, the leadership of the army has announced that
Armenia needs peacekeepers and will be fighting for every patch of
land. And it has produced its effect.

Such statements are needed in the sphere of politics and diplomacy.
Not the Iranian ambassador but the minister of energy of Armenia must
announce about the Iranian alternative. The Armenian foreign minister,
not the Georgian ambassador should have announced after the trip of
the Armenian president to Tbilisi that Georgia is not going to revise
its current relations with Armenia until it joins the Eurasian Union.
The silence of Armenia in this and many other issues sounds funny.

– See more at:

L’ADHESION A L’EEU VA-T-ELLE COMPLIQUER LES RELATIONS DE L’ARMENIE AVEC L’IRAN ?

Cooperation

L’Iran est incertain concernant ses relations avec l’Armenie dès
lors que ce pays du Sud du Caucase adherera a l’Union economique
eurasienne dirigee par la Russie, a declare vendredi l’ambassadeur
de la Republique islamique a Erevan.

S’exprimant lors d’une conference de presse, Mohammad Reisi a declare
que l’Iran n’a qu’une vague idee de l’Union que forme la Russie, la
Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan et que l’Armenie prevoit de rejoindre
cette annee.

L’EEU, appele a devenir fonctionnel le 1er janvier 2015, impliquera,
entre autres choses, un espace economique commun des quatre anciens
pays sovietiques et l’application de droits de douane communs a
la frontière.

“Nous ne savons toujours pas ce que cette union economique impliquera
exactement, nous ne pouvons pas encore porter de jugements”, a
declare Reisi. “Lorsque nous aurons une idee precise de ce qu’elle
est, nous serons en mesure de dire si elle repond a nos interets ou
si elle affectera nos relations economiques [avec l’Armenie].”

Le diplomate iranien a egalement parle de la possibilite de transiter
le gaz naturel iranien vers l’Europe via l’Armenie. Il a dit que le
gouvernement armenien envisage une telle option a l’heure actuelle.

Il n’a pas precise s’il faudrait des capacites supplementaires etant
donne que la section armenienne du gazoduc Iran-Armenie a un diamètre
plus petit, qui le rend a priori inefficace pour etre utilise en
transit. Beaucoup pensent que l’Armenie a utilise des tuyaux d’un
diamètre plus petit dans la construction de la section qui a ete acheve
en 2008 a la demande de la Russie qui, apparemment, aurait empecher le
transit de gaz iranien vers l’Europe et ailleurs a travers l’Armenie.

L’ambassadeur iranien ne s’est pas perdu dans des speculations a ce
sujet. “Peut-etre a ce moment-la [quand le gazoduc Iran-Armenie etait
en construction] il n’y avait pas de moyens financiers suffisants pour
construire un pipeline d’un diamètre plus grand. Pour etre honnete,
je ne connais pas les raisons … Peut-etre a ce moment-la il n’y
avait aucune intention de transit de gaz naturel vers la mer Noire,
en Europe, ailleurs, et maintenant quand il y a une demande pour cela,
ils doivent commence a envisager cette option “, a declare Reisi.

A la question des journalistes pour savoir si c’est le gouvernement
de l’Armenie qui envisageait cette possibilite, le diplomate iranien
a repondu : “Ce sont tous les gouvernements, dont celui de l’Armenie,
qui sont interesses.”

La declaration de l’ambassadeur iranien est remarquable compte tenu
de la recente declaration du vice-ministre iranien du Petrole, Ali
Majedi. L’agence de nouvelles ISNA a cite le fonctionnaire comme
disant en mai que Teheran est pret a exporter du gaz naturel vers
l’Europe via l’Armenie.

D’autre part, lors de la conference de presse, le diplomate iranien
a egalement parle du conflit du Haut-Karabagh. L’ambassadeur Reisi
a declare que l’Iran considère qu’il est très peu probable que
les hostilites entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan reprennent dans la
zone de conflit. Il a de nouveau souligne que Teheran est contre le
deploiement de troupes etrangères sous forme de maintien de la paix
dans le Haut-Karabagh.

lundi 21 juillet 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com